Swan neck spurs, Competition legal ??

[Bertiegolikely]

Hi There,
One fed up competitor here. I was wondering if anyone knows how competition legal are swan neck spurs ?
My ace dressage trainer (BHSI) gave me a fab pair of swan neck spurs and my mare goes very well in them. Ive worn them for dressage and showjumping at home and at a BE event with no problems.
Then two weeks ago i was pulled up at a riding club comp for wearing upside down spurs ! I explained what they were but still i had to take them off and ride without. The next week at different riding club comp, again i was pulled up for wearing them, once again i rode without. This weekend i thought i was safe at another BE event but during my warm up a helpful steward told me my spurs were upside down, completely frustrated i tore them off and put on a prince of wales pair.

I just want my little mare to perform her best which she does with these spurs what with her being slighly behind my leg, but i don't want to get into a discussion about who is right about which way my spurs go just before i enter a dressage test, and both times i would of been able to ride with them had i turned them upside down.
Which makes no sense at all, if a riding club wants to enforce a rule surely they should be educated enough to recognise which spurs are which, and which way they should point etc ?
I would have more understanding if i had bought them from Germany or somewhere but they are from the Mark Todd range and bought from Derby House.

Just wondered if anyone else has had similar experience and the best way to deal with it ?
Thanks

 

[teddyt]

Check the rules of the competition that you are entering. If they are allowed, photocopy the rule book and take it with you. If there is no mention of them being banned, either by name or by statement of size then ring the relevant authority to double check. If they are ok then ask for a letter stating that.

If there is no mention of them being not allowed then they are allowed

 

[ester]

I don't have a rulebook here but pretty sure BRC says spurs may be worn but that they must be within a certain length and that they must point downwards only. Hence those spurs would be against the rules.

I will check the actual wording tonight.

 

[carthorse]

Allowed in BD ,I believe , but not in riding club or BE as , I think they both say ' if they are curved then the shank must be pointed down ' RC have a limit to the legth in jumping but not dressage , in BE I think there is a limit of 3.5 cms

 

[royal]

Hmmm.....does anyone know if they are ok to show in? (at qualifier level and above)....

 

[Louis]

Thats daft. I wear swan necks for the reason they were designed- my legs are not near my horse with normal spurs as he is wide and with the swan necks they reach the horses sides! Don'tneed them for impulsion etc, just accuracy!