Spurs - when and how often

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swinfen

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I have just used some very small spurs on my strong but lazy mare for the first time last night. The difference was amazing. She absolutely hates schooling and gets bored very easily. I have never been able to get her to canter on a circle, nor has anyone else, so its not my riding (lol)

However, within seconds of just squeezing with the spurs she turned into a completely different horse - beautiful collected canter all round the school, lovely trotting paces, outline the lot!

My question is, how often should I use spurs? Just when schooling, or all the time? Or every now and then. My initial thoughts are that I don't want to use them all the time - and I don't know why. A friend uses spurs on her horse every day
 
I would ride in them for a while and then start riding in them every other time and then phase them out completly...get her going nicely then start phasing them out
 
i would use them every other day if i was you, and if you can (i know some horses dont take well to them) but carry a schooling whip with you all the time, so that when you use the spurs you give her a tap too. This way she will associate the two, and the day you arent wearing spurs, hopefully she will only need a squeeze and a tap. then you can move it to every 3rd day you school, and gradually fade them out to the point you dont use them. Then when you get to that stage, i would do lots of transitions with just the whip and get her quick off your aids, and if she gets lazy to the aids, pop the spurs back on for a day just to reinforce your aids :)
 
Just because you are wearing spurs doesn't mean that you have to use them, they are to back up your leg aids, not to replace them. My general rule is, ask nicely twice, the third time ... tell.

The art of wearing spurs is not to use them.
 
The art of wearing spurs is not to use them.[/QUOTE said:
Absolutely, spot on. Hacking or schooling don't nag your horse with them all the time. Continue to use your leg and then the spur is there only if the leg needs to be reinforced.:)
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I dont know about using them when hacking, but if you feel they are warranted, then try it for a while, I only ever needed then hunting a mare i had 12 years ago, for the extra inch required to get over a big drain, but they can make a big difference. Friend of mine has a sj yard, has started wearing spurs on everything lately, drives me mad, but he does that in general, his "way" and mine are very different. According to those "that know", if you ride in spurs for a full month, then you will always need spurs to get the same effect. makes them dead to the leg. I would def go with using them maybe every 3rd time, and phase them out. They are a good aid when used properly.
 
Depends how good you are at wearing them without using them :) I was made to put them on for a while, and the horse went much better..but my leg wasn't good enough and I was worried about making him dead to the leg. I fixed my leg position and all that, carried on with just a schooling whip...and then put the spurs back on. I wear them when I jump now, so that I have that extra bit of go if I need them. I sometimes stick them on for dressage esp to help with lateral work.

But, although I choose not to use them all the time, I would be happy to have them on when riding him all the time if needed, because provided you have a decent lower leg its easy to wear them without using them.
 
i had a similar light bulb moment with my mare - initially i put them on whilst schooling IF i needed them - ie if she was not responding i'd use them - then leave them off for the next few sesssions but have them near by to chuck on for a bit if necessary.

i use ask tell demand for commands - and lots and lots of transitions etc to ger her more forward thinking - esp halt-canter or walk to canter - really gets her working up from behind and far more active.

i've never used them for hacks though - only schooling and comps.
 
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