Spurs - a musing/questions

ecrozier

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Hi all!
Just after some thoughts/advice really. Roo isn't getting any smaller (funnily enough) and I'm not getting any taller/longer in the leg, and whilst most of the time it isn't a problem, sometimes he can be a bit 'flat' to my leg when doing flatwork/dressage. Sj, he's a bundle of energy (too much, in fact, today, as we had a serious brake failure but that's a whe other story).
Anyway, do carry a whip, but think actually a pair of rollerball spurs might just do the trick as when in my dressage saddle on the flat I feel confident I have enough leg control not to poke him inadvertently etc.
Tried them on in lesson yesterday and instantly got the reaction I wanted ie more responsive to leg aid when used spur, so could try once with side of calf then tickle with spur if not sufficient attention paid!
However, he did throw in a few humpy back/buck moment in reaction to the spur!
I guess what I'm asking is should I persevere? Is this normal for a younger horse feeling spur for the first time?
He's very ticklish, I almost wondered if I might be better with a small round headed standard spur than the rollerball as might be less 'tickley' if you see what I mean?
And if it is normal/worth persevering, would you just ride in them and ignore the bouncing?! Or use for hacking initially when not much leg required?
 
Ah that's interesting - maybe she like roo was reacting partly to the sensation partly to the tickling?
Did she do something similar? Chucking back end around whilst actually coming off leg much better?!
 
Lol roo has a fairly bouncy back end at the best of times! Think I will try a pair of rounded end ones.
 
My girl got the right hump at rollerball spurs so I bought a pair of the short 'button' ones and she was super with them, have yet to find a horse that does over react to them...
 
Weird creatures aren't they! He wasn't bucking lots, just sort of skipping about a bit, so he might get used to them? But might try the rounded end ones just in case he is totally fine in those, save the potential for eating sand whilst 'getting him used to' the rollerball ones!
 
In my opinion a stick /schooling whip, is just a blunt instrument. Spurs used correctly support the leg aid and can be used with finesse(hopefully:o)Furthermore , when you carry a stick it alters your position and ballance, Your horse reacted to the spurs, well that shows they worked !Hopefully he learned from the experience.It takes self discipline to use spurs well. personaly I almost never carry a stick.
 
Just to add, I use the metal rollerballs as they glide more than the plastic ones. I also almost never ride with a stick.
 
I must admit, I struggle riding with a stick! I am constantly faffing with it as hate it being on the 'wrong' side but am rubbish at swapping it over. Hence my thought that we might just be better off with spurs. Over fences I don't necessarily 100% trust myself to be totally accurate with them but on the flat I am pretty confident I can refine the aid to an acceptable level.
As you say mike - he def felt them, and in a weird way I was glad he did skip about a bit as actually I want a reaction, and the skipping was times with when I was aware I had used the spur, so that was reassuring.
Thanks, will try bobble end ones and if no good maybe try and borrow some metal rollerballs!
 
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