Spurs, help- it's almost as hard as picking a bit !

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Ladylina83

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Hi guys your advice please re picking a pair of spurs.

I have never really ridden before in spurs only a few times but in my lesson on Wednesday ( first one for 2 years after breeding from my mare we are both coming back into work) my new instructor lent me her spurs as my mare was being sluggish off the leg. I found that having them really helped me to focus on the other aspects of my riding ie shoulders back keeping my inside rien of her neck etc and not having to nag with the leg.

I was concious that I should only use them when I needed a back up so kept a constant contact with my inside calf and in turn that really helped to keep my toes in - as a bonus little mare went fantasically ! big smiles all round

So i have been looking for a pair of my own - I don't expect to need them all the time mare is actually really sensitive so it is more of a refined leg aid I am looking for with school work and how the hell do you pick ? This one page alone is a mine field !!

http://www.equestrianclearance.com/westgate_efi/mt_spurs_ladies_mens/index.html#placeholder

I quite like the pow as they look like the ones I had on but what is the diff between the offset and the standard. Also the comb ones ?? are they more subtle ?? and the rubber ball ones ??? Help

Any help appreciated, I'd rather get the most suitable than the cheapest - thanks



( spins round on office chair in confusion)
 
My personal preference is a longer pair as you can keep your leg stiller and use the spur without having to draw your heel up...I have long legs though so that might not be a problem for someone shorter in the leg.
 
I bought a pair of these for my lad...

<http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Plastic-Ball-Roller-Ball-Spurs-/110729591299?pt=UK_Horse_Wear_Equipment&hash=item19c7ff7a03>

Great starting spurs if your mare is sensitive, but will give you the aide you need.

(Hope the link works! First time I&#8217;ve posted a link! Hehe)

ETA - Stupid links!! - On your site/link, they are the Roller Ball ones!
 
Last edited:
Tr0uble said:
My personal preference is a longer pair as you can keep your leg stiller and use the spur without having to draw your heel up...I have long legs though so that might not be a problem for someone shorter in the leg.
Click to expand...

I do have quite long legs (5'9") and mare is only 15.2 so this could be something to have a look at but they look ... well... a bit scary !?

I think the ones I rode in the other night were only about an inch long
 
I like the roller ball ones!!

Just to say you are right about helping with concentrating on YOU. there is nothing worse for your position than having to make a horse go forward all the time!!

A tip (carl hester I think) I found worked too was to make sure horse truly understands what the whip is for (so many don't truly understand) Stand still and tap tap tap harder and faster with the whip until horse moves forward, stop tapping and big reward, repeat until horse goes forward WELL from one tickle/tap.
I found the same works with leg aids, just a reminder when they haven't been doing much lately or have got stale
 
I like the look of these rubber ball ones - thanks every one

I will get some and also dig about for some cheapo 2nd hand pow ones on ebay

:-)

Feeling great for being back in the saddle (apart from the game of buckaroo this morning at 6.45 when she realised someone had changed all the grass in the field next to us into large round black aliens since yesterday!! Thank god for the neck strap)
 
On my really lazy boy the roller ball ones made no difference to him than a kick with my heel. Why don't you buy the same sort that you borrowed from your instructor if they worked?
 
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