To spur or not to spur

E

eahotson

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 June 2003
Messages
4,850
Location
merseyside
Visit site
That is the the question.Have a very nice, safe genuine little welsh cob.He has helped me a lot with my confidence but forwardness with me isn't always his thing.Decided to try some western particularly trail because I thought it would suit us both.Went to a western trainer who told me a That he is very on his forhand (which I suspected) and that if a horse is on the forhand he will not be forward and if you tap with a stick he will buck (which he does sometimes) because he has no other option.Western trainer hates spurs with a passion.We did a lot of rein back and turn on the haunches which definately helped.Then i had a big personality clash with him which was a shame but it happened.
I have an English instructor and a new (and very experienced western instructor) and both want me to wear spurs.They have never helped me personally in the past.
I have seen some western spurs which look horrendous but are not actually and am contemplating using those as they may suit me and him.Any thoughts?
 
I do not mind spurs at all. Are for certain work I would say you almost need them.
However, forwardness is not one off them IMHO!
I own a welsh cob and she can be a bit on the forehand and is not always very forward ( she is if she wants to be :) ).
I would say transitions if you best friend. I try to do a 100 each session just after the warm up. This really takes her off the forehand and gets her more off then let and forward. May be a a pain but swear by it.
I may be slain for for this but I eel a good instructor would not tell you you need spurs for those issues, yes for more refining work maybe lateral work etc but other then that no.
 
I spoke to my trainer at the weekend on the subject of spurs - I'm riding 2 very different horses at the moment (both are 6), one is super sharp and hot, I'd never dream of using spurs with her at the moment as she's a bit mental anyway and I need her to slow down, not go forward. Other one is super lazy and doesnt respond much to the whip. Some people have told me they dont agree with using spurs on a young/green horse as it makes them dead to the leg, which I can understand.

However trainer (a very wise man with vast experience, now in his late 60's) reckons that for a lazy horse transitions are obviously key, and in order to get better transitions at first using some training spurs or small spurs can be a good thing. He said if you are the sort of person that kicks and kicks then they are no good because yes they will deaden the horse to the leg. But if you do one short sharp kick (providing asking from a squeeze has failed) with the spurs and then leave him alone, you should get a good response and the horse will learn to be more forward next time rather than requiring the short sharp kick. Combining the spur with the use of the voice (a cluck or click noise) should get the horse to learn to recognise what you want and then you can eventually just use the voice to get the reaction. As time goes on and you are getting better reactions you shouldnt have such a lazy horse. He did say though if the spur got no real reaction then he'd take them straight back off and think of something else to try - dont keep on kicking and kicking with spurs on if they are not getting the desired reaction, you'll just make things worse.

I'm going to be told I'm wrong about the use of the voice as I normally am on here, but if you look at European dressage riders especially the Germans they all use their voice with their young horses and ok so you cant use your voice in a test, but when you need a reaction when schooling at home the voice is another valuable tool.

So should you use spurs? I dont see why you cant try them, as long as you dont kick and kick and use them in a short, sharp manner and then leave him alone entirely with your leg when you get the reaction then you will be fine. If you find you dont get a better reaction with spurs on then you need to look at other alternatives and take the spurs straight back off.
 
Well they both say I would get more response from him with spurs and he can be a bit ignorant sometimes.He goes beautifully for English instructor.I find spurs difficult to use personally, the rein backs etc have definately helped us.With first western instructor he got me doing these and then trot from halt and it really went well!
 
To spur or not to spur - it's your leg that's in question! If your toes are out and your heels constantly nagging the horse then you need to sort that out and you'll probably find that the pony improves dramatically.
 
I have never understood this thing about not using the voice although I know you are marked down in dressage if you do.Its used a lot in driving though!
 
No I don't nag with my legs English instructor nags to death if I try that and she has broken the habit.A sharp kick or occasionally two or three quick kicks and thanleg off when desired result happens does often help.
 
Current western trainer thinks that i don't always make him aware o fwhen I am really serious bout somethng i.e I am a bit of a passive rider andI think that may be true.
 
Last edited:
I don't mind spurs at all, but haven't really found them to make much difference. (tbf only ridden in plastic spurs) I used to have a very lazy newfie and the only things that worked were schooling and changing his diet!

I think even if you do use spurs, they won't really help the forehand problem, he might go faster but they won't necessarily help him carry himself better. What happens if you do loads of transitions (literally four or five strides of each pace, and halts) using a stick if he doesn't respond to the leg straight away. Does he start to pick himself up more? My horse is similar (lazy and prone to go on the forehand) and teaching him walk to canter helped, he loves it, it fizzes him up a bit and gets him sitting on his hocks more.
 
Pigeon said:
I think even if you do use spurs, they won't really help the forehand problem, he might go faster but they won't necessarily help him carry himself better.
Click to expand...

Pigeon has it correct. Your horse must first start working 'uphill' and be through from the back end, lifting the back and not leaning on the hands.
If you make your horse more forward I.e. Faster without lifting the front end your horse will feel like it is ploughing into the ground. Obviously this is incorrect as the horse won't be lifting or creating impulsion.....just running

So spurs...... Well if you think you can use them correctly to get the correct reaction from your horse then go for it.
 
I usually ride with spurs - they are there if I need them, and they do make the horse work that bit harder and I find it helps to lift and round the horse. As others have said, transitions are v useful to get the horse more responsive and light, especially if incorporating some back ups within the transitions. Also you may find that you can sit better as your position isn't being compromised by constantly having to kick and nag with the lower leg - you can become quieter and more effective.
 
I use spurs on mine, not to make him go faster, but because he evades the leg by pretending every time I touch him means canter... and with spurs I can give much clearer signals to him. However I totally second that they don't make a jot of difference to the forehand issue... thats all about getting their hind end engaged rather than making them more forward. If forwardness was all it took we'd be there already instead of just when I'm on at him!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top