spurs.... why?

it's supposed to refine your aid, used with seat and leg aids. I have used them only for this purpose and in fact makes you more careful with your heel position!

I don't use them nowadays, although sometimes when my horse ignores me, I do wish I'd put a pair on... :rolleyes:
 
My mare was a lazy horse when I first had her. I rode her with them and they made such a difference. They also come in very handy when she has a spooky moment now and again when out hacking by reinforcing my leg. Nowadays I dont have to touch her sides atall when hacking out, shes off like a steam train and marches on like a little soldier!
 
tallyhohoho said:
it's supposed to refine your aid, used with seat and leg aids. I have used them only for this purpose and in fact makes you more careful with your heel position!

I don't use them nowadays, although sometimes when my horse ignores me, I do wish I'd put a pair on... :rolleyes:
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i was just wondering as ive never understood why people use them. i just didnt no. and i think because it isnt broke i wont fix lol
 
As others have said, they refine the leg aid- makes it sharper. The rider should learn to ride in them though and they are only for those with an independent seat!
 
teddyt said:
As others have said, they refine the leg aid- makes it sharper. The rider should learn to ride in them though and they are only for those with an independent seat!
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i have an independant seat and never dig my heals in as my horse would buck. i dont think spurs are for me but im glad i know more now
 
NOT on a lazy horse ;)
Sorry, I have always had it drilled into me that if your horse is dead to the leg, so you use spurs instead, all you do is make it dead to spurs also. Pointless.
If you can teach the horse to move from spurs, you would do just as well to teach it to move from the leg by simply rewarding the forward movement when you get a reaction. Because if you don't do that with spurs, surely that's when the deadening happens?

Spurs are to refine the aids, and it seems most common to introduce them when the horse is doing more complicated lateral work? They aren't to 'back up' the leg aid (like a whip would be) they just apply the pressure to a much smaller area, so refining the aid...

Although I'm fine with being corrected if I'm wrong :D It's quite likely that I am at least in parts!
 
Nope - sorry but they worked on my lazy mare, shes no longer the way she used to be by any stretch of the imagination. As said earlier, hardly touch her sides now, much better and forward going.
 
Have some lessons with a good instructor, he/she will guide you and teach you how to use them correctly. Thats the best advice I can offer you, that way you wont make any mistakes or upset your horse.
 
Izzwizz said:
Have some lessons with a good instructor, he/she will guide you and teach you how to use them correctly. Thats the best advice I can offer you, that way you wont make any mistakes or upset your horse.
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i wouldnt make mistakes or upset horse. had riding lessons for the last 16 years and been on a horse since i was 6 months old. im only 20 wish people would stop saying have lessons to do this have lessons to do that. i have only just brought my first horse and im just working it all out. i have a very expensive horse ive only had 6 month and a decent livery set up all paid for by myself at 20 while doing university and another college course. im just working out the extra bits you dont get when u dont have a horse. i cant afford a lesson for every little situation.

omg sorry about that i dont mean to have a go at you, dont no where that rant came from. o dear i think i bottled that up.
 
As most of mine have always hacked I wore them when I did actually do some schooling. However I wear mine just about the heel of my boots so I have to conciously turn my heel up to use them if that makes sense???
 
madeleine1 said:
i wouldnt make mistakes or upset horse. had riding lessons for the last 16 years and been on a horse since i was 6 months old. im only 20 wish people would stop saying have lessons to do this have lessons to do that. i have only just brought my first horse and im just working it all out. i have a very expensive horse ive only had 6 month and a decent livery set up all paid for by myself at 20 while doing university and another college course. im just working out the extra bits you dont get when u dont have a horse. i cant afford a lesson for every little situation.

omg sorry about that i dont mean to have a go at you, dont no where that rant came from. o dear i think i bottled that up.
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Dont worry about it, I wouldnt. My daughter is 20 so its water off a ducks back so to speak. Well done you for organising yourself. Obviously I dont know you or your horse so cant offer specific advice, telling you to do this and that as it may be totally wrong for you and your horse. Ive been riding since I was 12 and had a break for a good few years to have a family etc. Now been back in riding for the last 7 yrs and have lessons now, I really enjoy them to be honest.

Do whatever you feel is appropriate.
 
A friend who back and re-habilitates naughty horses will always get on in spurs, she says they help her get out of sticky situations which may have ended in disaster.

Atm, I'm considering spurs with the horse I'm riding atm as he just doesn't move off my leg in a trot, it would be a temp thing just to get it sorted.

Its your horse though you know what would work and what wouldn't, perhaps if you do use them try dummy spurs or impulsion spurs first.
 
Izzwizz said:
Dont worry about it, I wouldnt. My daughter is 20 so its water off a ducks back so to speak. Well done you for organising yourself. Obviously I dont know you or your horse so cant offer specific advice, telling you to do this and that as it may be totally wrong for you and your horse. Ive been riding since I was 12 and had a break for a good few years to have a family etc. Now been back in riding for the last 7 yrs and have lessons now, I really enjoy them to be honest.

Do whatever you feel is appropriate.
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umm i dont no i think it may take some more thinking over and thanks for the help
 
madeleine1 said:
so i could use spurs to just tidy up my riding?
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Not sure what you mean by tidying up... spurs won't tidy anything up :D if you haven't already established seat aids e.g. trot/canter aid using seat only, no leg. Once responsive to THAT, spurs can and should be introduced to assist in lateral movements.

There are four specific points/buttons to use a spur.

In front of girth - moves the shoulders
directly behind girth - moves the horse sideways on all four legs
an inch further behind - moves the horse more on the haunches, less in the shoulders
last button an inch behind that one - moves the haunches only allowing you to turn on the forehand.

You cannot expect to do all this when you rely on your leg so much to get the horse moving and have no seat. The spur pushes these buttons as required but you cannot do it if your horse can't go FORWARD from the seat first.

Once you have established seat aids, and your lower leg is 'free', then consider spurs.

No, they are not to make your horse go faster.
 
gunnergundog said:
To be properly dressed when hunting.
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Ohhhhh yesssss. Of course, forgot. To hunt means not only to be able to sit on a horse and follow a few others, but one must always be dressed the part.

I suppose it helps the ambulance identify you.
 
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I always school one of my boys in spurs as he just goes better when I'm wearing them. He is quite responsive anyway, although sometimes he isn't quick enough off the leg in transitions so I would rather use spurs to give him a clearer aid, than nag him with my legs and make him dead to the leg. Also, he hates it if I tap him with the stick as this usually causes him to have a tantrum and buck!
 
I wear spurs with both of my natives when schooling & competing but never with my ex-racer.

I use them as I find I can give quicker more 'direct' instructions and it seems to work well for them.

My ex-racer is actually quite lazy at times but the spurs aren't there to sort that out. He responds perfectly well to my aids with out spurs (perhaps because he's thinner skinned??) and I therefore don't find I need them with him so I don't wear them.

If I'm riding friends horses I will start without spurs (to see how they go) and possibly try them with spurs to see what effect it has on their way of going.

I won't use them if I don't feel it's a productive aid to use.

Hope that makes sense!
 
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