Spurs at lower level dressage?

[AdorableAlice]

oh well, now we now, all we need is a poke in the ribs, the heights of finesse!

You would be surprised how useful a poke in all areas can be when schooling and handling horses. A poke on the shoulder prevented me being trodden on this morning whilst clipping for instance. You know full well what my words mean if you have been around horses for long enough or if you have ridden a properly educated horse.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

I don't really get spurs at the lower levels. In my opinion, you shouldn't need spurs to do basic walk, trot, and canter work. I am less opposed to carrying a whip. It's there if you need it, but if you don't, it's just there. Not bouncing off of the horses sides if you can't control your leg.

I rarely used spurs on my AM+ horse, but when I did it was for precision. For me, the dressage horse has a number of buttons on their sides, so to speak, the spurs help you refine your aids and you use them subtly and precisely to push those buttons. They're not a forward aid, IMO, but to each their own.

 

[tristar]

You would be surprised how useful a poke in all areas can be when schooling and handling horses. A poke on the shoulder prevented me being trodden on this morning whilst clipping for instance. You know full well what my words mean if you have been around horses for long enough or if you have ridden a properly educated horse.

well carry on poking!

and i will carry on trying to find a better way to get horses to co operate, or more precisely go forwards, but within their level of training so they establish the balance needed to absorb the momentum without falling onto their forehand

sensitization to a soft leg and responsiveness to the use of the seat before moving out of novice and not needing spurs because it all comes in naturally, if you give the poor animals the chance to go through the process.

 

[oldie48]

It isn't about spurs though, is it? It is about having a knock at poor riding skills. Anyone who rides well, has a strong core and knows what they are doing could ride in spurs the length of a small dog and still have a happy comfortable horse under them. I'm glad I didn't read this forum until I'd been riding for quite a long time as when I was making all my mistakes (still make them but probably less obvious!) I really wasn't aware that there was such a critical audience out there.
Sent in error! Just to add many riders don't have well schooled horses and don't have the skills to re-school them, this is not a blame comment, just a fact. Well schooled horses cost a lot of money and it takes years to develop a proper understanding of how to re-school, if riders try short cuts (and I certainly have) it's part of their riding journey and tbh I think kicking a horse along is probably just as unpleasant for the horse as the use of a spur.

 

[Gloi]

I wouldn't particularly object to properly used spurs in lower levels but some I have seen have been giving constant pony club kicks with them. More training of both horse and rider needed before they enter any ring.

 

[LEC]

I have an issue with the amount of kids wearing spurs as unstable in the leg and often PC kicking now, I think the removal of the PC B test or sign off rule is a step backwards for horsemanship.

I don’t see it so much in adults and I do a fair few unaff tests.

 

[Gloi]

There are two in particular at local tests. I wish the judge would say something to them or check the horses after the test for spur marks.

 

[Hallo2012]

at 5'7 on a 13hh pony i HAVE to use them to be able to touch him at all.

i'm not needing them for forwards but to be able to touch him in a precise manner so my aids are clear, i would argue thats actually much more fair on the horse.

 

[Shoei]

I quite despise righteous threads and comments like this (sorry OP).
I would assume the riders you are criticising are out there, trying their best, and wouldn't like to be causing harm or discomfort.

Perhaps the horses get ring fright and back off a bit which isn't the usual feeling or the riders are nervous which can cause us to grip up and the lower leg to start flapping- I don't think 99% would TRY to jab their horse on purpose, repeatedly.

I have always worn spurs on my current horse.
Sometimes I watch videos back and think "bloody hell, I'm riding like crap, and what is my heel doing?"
I don't anyone else chipping in, unless it's in a supportive and helpful way- that is always welcome.

Well said!

 

[nikkimariet]

I’m leggy and ride small, narrow barrelled (hot and usually sharp) horses. In order to apply an aid I’d have to contort my lower without spurs. They allow me to be precise and I’ve mostly worn them all the way up the levels. I did a season at I1 with dummy spurs though as that horse got very hot about leg aids at the time.

 

[GoldenWillow]

It made me wonder if there was a case for saying no spurs until higher levels? I also wondered would this be reflected in their marks or in the comments?

Thank you for this post, this is exactly what I was meaning. Can it, could it, should it be policed in any way, would only allowing them above a certain level be a way of doing this? Or are there other ways.

This wasn't a thread started against the use of spurs, or a spurs bashing thread. More a question about use of spurs in lower level dressage and if there was a case for them to be allowed above a certain level, like double bridles?