Spur recommendations for dressage

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I put a post in New Lounge a few weeks ago and cannot find it so thought I would put a new one in here.

Firstly, I was wondering who worse spurs when competing their horse? I am only doing Prelim and Novice at the moment, but yesterday she seemed a bit flat (we had a very hard week) and I kept thinking that spurs would just give her a little more impulsion for the medium work for example.

I do own some spurs that I used to ride Hannah in for the Elementary tests, but they are quite long and I think they may mark Grace because she is so fine skinned (and marks when you look at her
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).

Any suggestions (pictures welcome too
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)???

Do you think spurs are suitable for Novice and Prelim tests? I have heard people saying they should not really be needed at that level, but like I said, usually she is ok, but because we have been out a lot this week, I just felt she needed something a bit extra. Yesterday there was only me in the Novice class without them too, which I was interested to see.

Thanks,

Rebecca x
 
I use spurs at Novice/elementary (actually I always compete in spurs). I think spurs are very useful to refine your aids. I use smooth rowled Stubben spurs (M in the picture) - they are very gentle and do not mark the horse an they roll smoothly over the skin.
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I also have long blunt dressage spurs (O) which I use on more lazy, older horses.
The only ones which have ever left a mark were short ball ended ones, the rowled ones never mark at all.
 
i use spurs all the time - at home i use long blunt ended ones. Out competing i use stubben long ones with a smooth rowl on the end. i use them in lessons too. Gives a bit 'extra' and id rather see someone just using their leg occasionally than nagging and kicking all the time.

i use these for competing and a version of those but smooth ended for everyday. They are very long - you cant really see in the picture that well.
 
Are you just going to use them for competing tho? I would discuss with Jo or Spencer about using a rowl first. She might be better with just a blunt ended spur - both mine go well in blunt ended ones at home. I wouldnt ride in rowls all the time, but you would however need to get her used to them a bit. Perhaps start off with a blunt on and see how it goes, but i definately wouldnt start off with rowls. I got my blunt ones on ebay for £10.
 
Thanks... I have a pair of blunt ones, but because she is so thin skinned I think they will mark her which would be awful. She marks so easily, so I really want to try something that will not cause this to happen.

I was hoping to school maybe two times a week in them, and then use them for competitions. I don't want to be using them all of the time really.
 
im afraid rowls will mark her more - get smooth ended blunt ones they shouldnt mark her. Archie is thin skinned and the smooth ones dont mark him - he can sometimes get marked off my rowls tho.
 
Just had email back from the ebay shop where I bought my bit (Sprenger) and I have it in writing that the smooth rowels will definitely not mark a thin skinned horse. I am sooooooo confused! Although I have seen some with bling on them
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I had the total opposite experience to P_G! The smooth rowels didn't mark at all, but the blunt ended ones did (v. thin skinned horse). Because the rowels move freely over the skin you would think they wouldn't mark, whereas the blunt ones could create pressure points.
 
ah, but there is a difference to 'blunt' ended and 'smooth' ended - mine are 'rounded' off at the end and really nice so they should never be able to mark, infact i actually cant see how they would
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Have to agree with madmare here, (sorry P-G), but the only ones I've had mark horses are the blunt ended ones......both the smooth, bobble ended ones and the ones that are cut off on an angle.

I use both the smooth ended rowels and the spikey rowels. People are always suprised when you try the spurs on your hand.......the rowelled ones run smoothly over and the non rowelled ones 'jab'.
 
Thanks Bananman... so do you not think the bling ones with blue tack is a good idea then???
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I think I will order some of the sprenger ones in that case, as like I said I have written confirmation that they will not mark so the worst happens and they do mark I could always send them back and get a full refund.

Do you think these are suitable:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SPRENGER-KLAUS-BAL...VQQcmdZViewItem
 
I just love the bling ones... looked everywhere, none with blue tack on
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I don't have anything bling on my pony (17hh of her) but my dog and cat have bling collars and I LOVE THEM!!!

I would like som subtle bling for Grace... I have been thinking of the bandages with Swarovski (sp?) crystals on but can't find any for some reason
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How good would they look under the lights???
 
you cant wear bandages to do your test in tho! Get her a 'bling' browband instead!!

(i still find it odd that smooth ended spurs rub - ive never had a problem, i guess different horses and all that).
 
I'm not sure about bling brow bands to be honest... something just doesn't sit quite right with me and them
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I think would look ridiculous in one
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I'm not sure about bling brow bands to be honest... something just doesn't sit quite right with me and them
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I think Grace would look ridiculous in one
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I use the Mark Todd 'roller ball' spurs - similar to the smooth rowel except the rolling balls are made of plastic - no marking what so ever... i got mine at hickstead but my local tack shop do them too (Frogpool http://www.frogpool.com/prodcat-829.html)

I have a Pure Bred Arab with the thinnest skin ever - he has been absolutely fine with them and they have improved our upward canter transitions and direct transitions no end!
 
Impuls spurs are quite popular, don't use them myself though, I use square ended ones for flatwork on Castle sometimes, and round ended ones for jumping and hunting with him most of the time.
 
I would avoid blunt ended spurs if your horse is thin skinned,
either go for implus or smooth rowel

Blunt / Ball spurs apply direct pressure and do not roll over the skin - both are more likely to mark the skin and both give a nasty jab in the sides (which may be desirable???)
 
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