Sorry, but Spurs ...... (hides)

[Gentle_Warrior]

I have a heavy weight cob cross, he is 15.3hh and 16 years old

He has his moments out hacking, but generally he is immune to my leg. he does not listen ! I am constantly nagging and squeezing, using heels even pony club kicks - (very rare though) and FLICKING (not beating), him with schooling whip. And this is out hacking !!! I have tried everything, lots of changes in paces etc I do stop nagging as soon as I get a more forward pace. He is VERY bad on roadwork, which I know he does not enjoy, but can be hard when cars are queing behind us !!!

We VERY rarely school as he is EVEN worse in there. He has has spent a LOT of his time at riding schools except for the past 3 years when I bought him. He had everything from mediocure to begineers riding him, so I cant blame him switching off. He never was chosen for the higher level lessons. It becomes a real battle of wills.

Would you use spurs ? (short ones)

Before comments start, this is a last resort, and my first port of call before buying and using, would be my instructor to ensure that I have the correct leg position to be able to use them safetly. And of course lots and lots of practice in school before hacking with them.

He is fine in saddle, back, teeth and tack, is comfortable and relaxed in field (to relaxed obviously).

It just amazes me, he feels a fly land on his huge bum, but ignores my leg aids !!!!

Please help me

 

[RLF]

yep I would

 

[The Original Kao]

TBH i'd rather see someone ride in spurs to help teach a horse to move off the leg than see someone kick, kick, kick and get nowhere.

 

[merlinsquest]

Yes I would...... and I do......

Merlin has turned into a slug when ridden alone..... In company you would not (and people cant understand why) believe I would need them. But I am bored of kicking and flicking too.

Far better in my opinion than niggling constantly

 

[tricksibell85]

Yes i would - horse i ride can switch off very easily, i ride in spurs if he is being lazy and "switched off"

It isnt nice when i horse isnt listening, esp in traffic.

 

[Smash]

As long as your leg position is stable, then yes, I think this is a situation where the use of spurs is justified.

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

Thanks every one - will be booking a lesson soon so will see what instructor thinks.

I generally dont like spurs, have never used them, but am starting to realise they do have a place !!! (sometimes)

 

[burtondog]

Spurs are good when used correctly.

I had a lazy horse and the first thing my instructor taught me was to STOP using my legs. I'd got into the habit of kick, kick, kicking and my horse had switched off to my legs and even to the stick.

My instructor made me let my reins go loose, grab hold of a neck strap, squeeze once with my legs nicely then if he didn't move off immediately throw everything at him, legs, spurs, stick - and mean it. Only took 3 goes and he soon chose to go off my gentle squeeze instead !!!

I've seen Carl Hester demonstrate a slightly more subtle version of this so it must be good in principle.

 

[rss07]

I agree, I have always been taught that one decent smack is worth 300 little ones, and that by giving small taps you desensitise them to the stick. I think that this has altered slightly with the move towards schooling whips, which give a more effective little flick, but I would certainly go down the route of using a jumping stick, and use the exercise that burtondog describes... otherwise with constant use of spurs you just end up with the same problem, using them all the time they become less effective and the horse will tend to sour.

 

[henryhorn]

Yes I would without a doubt!
If you remember the other post was about using them on a green four year old, using them on an idle 16 year old is totally different.
Start with short ones and if you get no response try longer ones.
Don't forget to start with you may need to be very determined until he gets going, then he will gradually become easier with less pressure.
(see, I didn't say what you expected did I!

)

 

[suzysparkle]

Yes.

If you are worried get those impulse spurs. The are very good.

 

[Booboos]

I see absolutely no problem with using spurs correctly, they are an aid like all the others.

Just some other suggestions trainners have passed on to me that might help:
- raise your whip in the air and twirl it, looks ridiculous but gets some of the lazy ones going
- with a very long dressage whip pulsate it so the end makes a bit of a swishing noise through the air
- move your arm with your whip in it backwards and forwards in big sweeping gestures, ocassionally and almost accidentally touching him with it, I don't understand why it works but it does
- put reins in both hands and tap him on the shoulder with them (this is not one for brute force, merely a tap might startle him into action!).
If any of these work try not to block with the hand and allow him to lunge forwards.

Good luck!

 

[RachelB]

The swishy-whip things suggested by Booboos are a really good idea - we use "flicky/swishy whip" and "scary legs" (take legs away from sides, then "pony Club kick"... after a few goes you only have to take your leg pressure off to get a reaction) a lot at work and it works wonders. I hack out a huuuuuge lazy warmblood type with my schooling whip upwards, ready to swish in the air to make him react if he starts dawdling. It really works, he hates the sound!
I totally agree though that you are right, it would be kinder to use spurs to get a reaction than to keep banging away with your legs and stick.