Spurs

[MontyandZoom]

I am generally a pretty crap rider so this will probably sound really idiotic but, those who use spurs - what do you use them for.

I have ridden Monty in spurs before for flatwork as a way of giving him clear aids. However alot of people I see doing xc or sponsored rides use them in a jabbing motion to get the horse to go faster.

Zoom has been playing horseball for two weeks with her owner and I noticed she had spurs on her boots when I went to pick her up. Zoom (as the name suggests) is super fast and nippy as she is ex-polo.

Do some people just use them as a matter of course? (not critisising, just genuinely interested)

 

[Stacie_and_Jed]

They are used to back up the leg!

I.e. if a horse is dead to your leg or if your legs are not strong enough. Also like you said, for clear aids.

I will never understand why they MUST be warn in top dressage levels though.

 

[Kayfm]

Hi Montyandzoom, how r you ! I use spurs on my warmblood to assist with the aids in training. My horse is very big and it does help me work with him. My trainer insists I train in spurs. They are short neck spurs so nothing to drastic. Dont use them for hacking etc.

 

[Peacelily]

My impression for being a MUST in top dressage is showing that you have complete control over your leg/aids that you can give the aids in such a controlled way that having spurs isn't really an issue as you'd be using them as sympathetically as if you didn't.

*i think....maybe.....might not be....*

 

[Cash]

I use mine on my ISH:
For schooling sometimes, to back up my leg and for impulsion (5'3 rider with pretty short legs, 16.3 more than capable of pretending he doesn't notice me

)
For XC, as when he spooks he tends to back off pretty rapidly and occasionally 'freeze', and as pony club kicking doesn't do anything, i need to remind him i'm there lol

 

[dwi]

With Daisy I wear them all the time, for schooling to sharpen the leg aid so she doesn't ignore it and for xc and SJ to give a quick reminder if necessary, certainly not to make her go faster!