Spurs when riding someone else's horse...

[Cruiseonamiro]

I used to wear my spurs only when schooling on the flat, but now wear them every time I ride - even for hacking - as they are only small. Now I feel like I can't ride without them! The problem is when you are asked to ride someone else's horse - do I take them off, or leave them on? It seems almost rude to leave them on - but they are an aid which would only be in use if necessary, as they really are only wee - i'd say no more than 1cm long. I've come to rely on them, but I don't feel like I can ride something else without taking them off! Do people have a problem with spurs?

 

[Halfstep]

I ride with spurs no matter what I'm on unless there is a specific reason not to (i.e. the horse will dump me). They are a refinement of the leg aids and if you have short legs like me they help to clarify the aids.

 

[carthorse]

When examining at PC B test I never minded if a rider changed horses and continued wearing spurs if
A] they asked the owner
b] they were able to use their leg without using the spur

Having said that I remember my daughter used to help at a dealer's yard when she was younger and one day she got off one horse [ with spurs on ] and was told to ride another .She got a leg up and went up the drive, the horse napped and she instictively and quickly used her spurs and 'oh dear' she flew.
It had only been backed a week, she should have asked first!

 

[Patchwork]

You just ask the owner! Nobody will be offended by the question and you will be told if the horse has a problem with spurs or the owner would rather you didn't use them for any reason

 

[seche]

I only use tiny ones anyway as my horse marks so easily! - All mine are quick off the leg, I cant bear it when horses arnt so make sure mine are all the time so only use spurs in competition.
I would ask, but most people untill I know exactly how they ride I would say no too soley for the reason they could end up in space for lunch!

 

[kerilli]

i've got long legs so don't use them much, and would never use them on a horse i didn't know.

 

[kick_On]

Just ask (i would ask you to remove them, if you didn't ask) - As i don't normally schooling with them and tend only use for comp. But will use to schooling if horse NOT of leg!!!
But will be good for you if you can ride without, why don't you try and ride without, it will secure your seat and improve leg squeezing/holding horse between hand and leg.
You can use always use a schooling whip or if not listerning schooling whip in either hand

 

[RachelFerd]

agree with lots of the posters. best thing to do is just to ask the owner - it depends on their preference, and the level of horses schooling and whether they are used to spurs.

Tia hasn't been ridden with spurs yet - she is fairly sharp by nature, so haven't felt the need yet - as she advances and I want to use clearer aids, I will probably use them for competition and occasional schooling, but as yet she doesn't need them, and would quite possibly react badly to start with.

Ferds is also sharp by nature, so I only wore spurs for competition and for XC schooling - I would advise people to take spurs off when riding him for the first time as he is 'funny' with new people anyway and needs to learn to trust the leg with each person who rides him.