Kids in spurs

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sassybebe

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I don't want to be too specific but just wanted to know others opinions on this, i know it's different for different kids, ponies etc. Someone advised an 11 year old to wear spurs on my pony that imo shouldn't need them for the level of jumping he's currently being asked to do and i'm not happy about it but i'm not sure if i'm being over sensitive. Feel free to pm me for more details just don't want to say too much here
 
I personally would not be happy with this unless said child has very good legs, I wouldn't trust myself in spurs..my legs just are not still enough to use them effectively.

It is your pony, if you dont want him being ridden in spurs, speak up!
 
Who was it that advised this?
If in your opinion you don't think your pony needs spurs than I don't think you are being oversensitive. Does the rider in question have regular lessons? Is the pony ignorant to her leg when she's out jumping?
I wouldn't let many people ride mine in spurs. Infact only me and my instructor no one else. I think you're right to feel concerned.
 
Someone who told the new people i ALWAYS rode him in spurs (i didn't, am 25 and wore them when i was asking alot more of him.)

He does go better for her when she wears spurs but my feeling is that if she needs spurs then they're not very well matched because i would have said he was very forward, he's a pony that absolutely loves to jump so if he needs to be forced then something's not right.

It's tricky because of various factors but i just feel if she needs spurs then he's not the right pony, i certainly never wore them at that age
 
Im 16 and have never worn spurs!! I have a welsh who can be a 3 year old TB some days and sometimes really laid back and chilled and does need a bit of a push but would never wear spurs with him. I would speak to girl riding your pony and just tell her how you feel about her wearing spurs and how your pony doesn't need them etc. Hope this some help x
 
Your pony you make the rules...that's how it works with mine anyway! Of course there are some 11yo's who are capable of riding correctly with spurs...but (understandably) they do seem to be rather few and far between. If it was me and the person who advised it was way more experienced/qualified than me I would listen and give it some thought but ultimately it should be up to you what happens with your pony.
 
My 11year old sister wears spurs, she started wearing them in lessons only and gradually started wearing them when she schooled on her own. Her leg is very still (better than mine). Her pony is more responsive now and helps them to work on there schooling.

She does not wear them jumping as pony is forward enough.

I do understand where you are coming from and he is your pony and you have overall say on when can and cant be used on him.
 
Do you need to wear spurs on your pony, if it goes fine with out spurs from you or other people then, this eleven year old shouldn't be wearing them, if she can't get the pony going but others can without spurs then she isn't good enough to be wearing them. Spurs are to be used only as a back up for the leg aid on instead of.
 
I used them because i was jumping senior tracks on him and wanted that extra quick response to get out of doubles etc, when i didn't wear them he didn't go any slower and he certainly didn't stop. In general i don't like children wearing spurs but particularly with this pony because i just don't feel he should need them.

Thanks for all your comments i think i will express my concerns the only tricky thing is that he's on loan wvtb but he is still mine so i think i still have a right to speak up
 
LWVTB doesn't mean you have to sell.

Could be that there is something wrong with the pony atm and new home (perhaps understandably, but none-the-less...) hasn't noticed. Or, more likely, someone is suggesting that child (and it happens to adults too!) uses artificial aids rather than actually learning to ride. IMHO this happens far too much because it can produce quicker results than learning to ask properly which will, ultimately, be better for both horse and rider. You might want to suggest child has a lesson with an instructor who knows the pony?
 
Jojo_Pea4 said:
My 11year old sister wears spurs, she started wearing them in lessons only and gradually started wearing them when she schooled on her own. Her leg is very still (better than mine). Her pony is more responsive now and helps them to work on there schooling.

She does not wear them jumping as pony is forward enough.

I do understand where you are coming from and he is your pony and you have overall say on when can and cant be used on him.
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It would very definitely depend upon the circumstances, but most particularly the rider, there are some brilliant young riders out there who would use them responsibly and sensatively, but in general I would not like the ide, for fear of a teenage diva having a tantrum and taking her own inadequacies out on the pony (We've all seen it!!). If she rode in them for lessons and her instructor reccomended them, and I respected the instructors judgement, then I wouldn't have a problem after she'd demonstrated to me that she knew what she was doing.

However I have known people ride in spurs as a fashion statement then as a sensatively and sensibly applied aid, one girl put her pony in a grackle, because she thought it looked cool!
 
However I have known people ride in spurs as a fashion statement then as a sensatively and sensibly applied aid, one girl put her pony in a grackle, because she thought it looked cool![/QUOTE]



I have also witnessed this with a 12hh pony put in a double bridle and the girl in spurs to make herself look like a better acomplished rider.. when the poor little pony needed neither!:mad:
 
I am another one who is very unsettled by the amount of (IMO) very young children wearing spurs on ponies. If, at 8/9/10 years old they need spurs to get a tune out of a pony, I think it is the wrong pony! Again, IMO, there are very few children of these tender years who have enough control of their legs to use spurs correctly.
LVAVTB is as much for you to be happy with the prospective purchasers, as for them to be happy with the pony. If you are not happy with this, you should speak out. Is there any chance YOU could give the child some lessons/support during the trial period, even going to a competition with her? After all, you know the pony better than anyone.

ETA - I have also seen very young children competing with a pelham, with one rein, on the curb, through a running martingale. Oh, AND spurs! When it was pointed out to the stewards, the response was "So, what's the problem with that, then?" !!!!!
 
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but as you are much older than her I am assuming bigger (??) and therefore maybe the pony takes less notice of her leg and aids than of yours? Not saying I agree with the use of spurs for such a young child and would also say that as the owner - you can absolutely say you dont want this to happen. However my pony is out on loan at the mo and his rider wears spurs quite often with him as she is a lovely little rider but he likes to take the pee a bit and can be lazy for her, whereas was always really forward going with me :)
 
Sammii819 said:
Do you need to wear spurs on your pony, if it goes fine with out spurs from you or other people then, this eleven year old shouldn't be wearing them, if she can't get the pony going but others can without spurs then she isn't good enough to be wearing them. Spurs are to be used only as a back up for the leg aid on instead of.
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ditto. i dont think kids should wear spurs unless they completely understand the purpose of them. xx
 
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