Riding with one spur?

[dianchi]

Just wondered if many people have done this?
My Mare is refusing to get off my left leg, my instructor is amazed that she still is a nightmare! Were just starting working towards elem and she is just hanging on it and about as responsive as a wet sponge.
She will move over from the leg but is very reluctant to be in front of the leg. We have tried tapping her up but she tolerates 3 taps and then will buck-as if she doesnt think she needs to be there! Left rein has always been worse but now she cant be! She is super quick off the right leg and has no probs with that!

So my instructor has said to try one spur on my left leg. So just wondered if anyone else has done this and how effective it is?
Thanks

 

[Sarah_Jane]

I think if you are using spurs you should be capable of using them independantly. You should be able to use legs and spurs independantly of each other so if he is not listening to your left leg he only needs a poke with the left spur whilst the right remains quiet.

 

[carthorse]

Agree with that

 

[ihatework]

Hope you don't mind me asking but have you had her checked over by vet/physio, if she is willing to move off the right leg then it would suggest to me that there could be an underlying physical issue.

 

[dianchi]

Ah need to explain a lil further. Yes i can use them independently was just a case of sharpening up to the left side. She was kicked not too long ago on the right side and any extra pressure will bugger off at a great rate of knots in fright. So i dnt want her any sharper to the right and although many say that you can use your leg with out spurs touching would rather not run that risk of ending up on the floor

 

[bellaboo]

My instructor told me to do this, i thought it helped my mare alot as like you say, she was ok on one rein but the other was quite sluggish, this was due to a back related problem, but using a spur on just one leg helped her to strenghten on that side.