On the subject of spurs...

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emma69

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I never used to wear them much, probably more because I couldn't find them in the depths of the boot of my car than for any other reason, but when I did, they would stay on my feet until I got back to my car (I would lose them if I took them off! They didn't bother me, and I don't mind riding in them at all, as I know they only come into play when I want them to. However, on more than one occassion, people told me I was 'crazy / an idiot etc' for getting on sharp horses with my spurs still on. Do people have the idea that spurs are in constant use when riders wear them?
 
i think some people do assume this.
Also, they are sometimes cosntantly in use, on riders with a poor leg position and strength who cannot control it....
 
Depends on your definition of 'sharp' - if it is something which might try and turn itself inside out then I take them off, mainly because in my aim of keeping the horse between me and the ground I would not want to provoke a more violent reaction should the combined contortions of the horse and myself lead to inadvertant spur usage.
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Fair enough, see where you are coming from. By 'sharp' I guess I mean something that could be silly at times, very responsive to aids, skittish etc. My old one, who was a idiotic rearer, would probably be considered 'sharp' for that reason. Generally I preferred not to get on things that wanted to turn themselves and me inside out!
 
anything that can turn itself inside out or whip around very quickly etc i won't tend to wear spurs as the last thing you want to do is jab them unintentionally!

personally i wouldn't describe a rearer as sharp, more nappy! and then i wouldn't have a problem with wearing spurs at all!
 
LOL I would just tell said people that you have control over your lower legs and can handle the sharpest horse with spurs on since they are only used when you intend to use them!
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I wear spurs sometimes on my mare but if I got on something sharp I would take them off because my left toe sticks out slightly and I wouldn't want to inadvertantly nudge an already sharp horse. If you use them correctly and don't have sticky out toes (
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) then I don't see why not? Some of the top dressage/eventing/SJ horses are very sharp and they are all ridden in spurs..
 
QR

My instructor got on Ellie once straight after he had been riding his own horse - with spurs. I pulled a face, knowing how sensitive she is, but he just tutted at me and hopped straight on.

The minute he put his leg on, she went straight up on her back legs! Needless to say, he took the spurs off pronto after that....
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I rode my 18 HH ISH out to the field bareback the other day(Yes I wore a hat),but had forgotten to take off my spurs.It concentrated the mind wonderfully,and the hardest part was getting off in one piece without jabbing him.
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