Spursuader Spurs

[CeeBee]

Anyone tried these? Harvey can be completely dead to the leg and using a whip gets no response unless done very sharply and on a regular basis!
I have never used spurs before and these are supposed to be suitable for a novice to use. Any advice?

 

[CeeBee]

Apologies for the bump - anyone? Or recommendations for other 'kind' spurs?
I know they are not a replacement for good schooling, but going out for a hack is getting very tiring!

 

[Jennyharvey]

I would only really recommend any type of spurs for a competent rider who has good lower leg stability. If i was riding a slow or lazy horse and they were not responding to my legs, then i would have to increase my own energy and either use a stick, or flap the reins on the neck, anything to get the horse moving forward. Even a firm slap with your legs, anything. But what is important is to let the horse move forward. So you want to give with the reins, even ride on a long rein, and allow the horse to move forward without you holding onto his head. So when you ask for go, use whatever energy required to really wake the horse up, either shouting or a loud noise might even work, and let them run with you for a few strides. What you want to achieve is to get the horse more responsive to your leg. with a horse that is unresponsive to your leg like this, its possible that they will become unresponsive to spurs also.

 

[CeeBee]

What you want to achieve is to get the horse more responsive to your leg. with a horse that is unresponsive to your leg like this, its possible that they will become unresponsive to spurs also.

Thanks Jenny. I guess I didn't really think of it that way, but I'm sure you are right. Harvey can just be so lazy! Don't get me wrong, I'd much rather I had to get him going than to have problems stopping...
He is pretty unresponsive to a stick too, unless I hit him really sharply, which I don't really like doing. I'm not a novice as such, having owned horses for over 30 years, just a pretty cr*p rider! I have never used spurs before, so thought that as these ones were suitable for a novice, they must be pretty 'kind' (as far as spurs can be)
But I do take your point, so watch out fellow Bedfordshire peeps for mad woman decked out head to foot in hi viz flapping like a bird trying to take off from a massive horse!