Would you use spurs?

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noodle_

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For a lazy b1tch of a horse?

Canters lovely on one rein (almost got walk-canter). Not so much on the other as she struggles - which is fine - its weaker for me (dodgy back) so will work on that

As for halt to walk and walk to trot, cue squeeze, slap, kick slap etc.... i do millions of transitions but makes no difference. Shes had 2 other riders on her who also struggle as she is purely lazy (see other posts on the checks we have done..!) Trot to canter left btw she is so excited to do it she springs into it which i give her tons of praise for.

She will work lovely one shes going but my god shes lazy. I dont want to switch her feed as her temperament is lovely, but just want her more forward!?

Spurs or other...? I ride with a schooling whip and have been known to carry two but still no difference.

Suggestions welcome. and yes i will be having lessons again soon but im currently working every hour i can and cannot fit them in for another few weeks :(
 
I do use spurs, but here are my qualifying comments:

- I'm not a professional rider, and had never used spurs before. So I made sure I started with them while in a lesson with my instructor.

- I only started to use them after I had really got to know my mare, and knew when she was genuinely unable to do something, and when she was just being a mardy cow.

- I am very very aware of my foot position, and I know that I don't do 'Penguin Feet' when riding with spurs.

- I use them in the same way I use a schooling whip - if she doesn't respond to the leg squeeze, then she gets a spur 'jab'.

- I use them because she can be sullen/nappy/stroppy and doesn't always respond to the leg as she should and can.

- I have lessons with a couple of good instructors on and off, and I made sure that both of them were happy that I was putting them on for the right reason (which is to enable me to school her, and push her forward when out napping out hacking without exhausting me as she ignores my puny leg squeezes) rather than for the wrong reason (to push her into trying to do something she couldn't do by simply adding jabby things to my feet.)
 
Thank you for replying :)

I am very flappy with my legs purely as i have to be as she dosent move! but normally i can sit very quiet and still and just ride!

But she makes me "flap" my legs to keep her going. If i sit still she dosent move/stops. She dosent get the i squeeze and you move forward and stay like that until i tell you otherwise (she is 5 tbh and stil learning)

I am going to (hopefully)! blast her round the field later to see it that gets her going more forward etc /perks her up. :)
 
I dont use spurs.
I had one lazy horse and i thought "ah spurs" - nope the horse refused to move and planted himself until they were removed - he went sweet as a nut from that day forward.

I personally would invest in a damn good instructor and take their advice.

good luck xx
 
Worth a try, my boy can be lazy sometimes when schooling, i use a schooling whip, and sometimes i use spurs, as the whip tends to get in the way of my hands :rolleyes:

I use the rollerball spurs and they just help me give a more definate aid, and help me out when jumping at a show.

I sometimes find as well that if my boy has had a hack out or a warm up & then a blast around the cow field before going back into the school he is a lot more responsive.
 
I have used spurs, when sjng my old cob - not for speed so much as for a little finer control, especially regarding take off points. I would happily use them for clarity in higher level schooling if I thought the horse warranted it. I wouldn't use them routinely on a lazy horse, tbh - the risk of making it dead to the leg and spurs is too great.

I would look at getting a good instructor in to make sure you're not blocking the forward movement in any way, and to look at other methods of schooling to get the horse in front of the leg (which may include using spurs as a temporary back up to leg aid).
 
thats fine! i appreciate the comments - i havent bought any yet hence asking :)

I will try to get my instructor out (whos brilliant btw!) next week - but i just have had NO time to plan/get an instructor out the past few weeks :o
 
yep and i do use them on big girl who is far too smart and knows damn well that i have a dodgy knee and am therefore weaker with my leg on that side:rolleyes:
she knows when i'm wearing them and they rarely have to be used but if i don't wear them then she takes the pee!

eta, i don't wear them on my boy just madam
 
noodle_ said:
thats fine! i appreciate the comments - i havent bought any yet hence asking :)

I will try to get my instructor out (whos brilliant btw!) next week - but i just have had NO time to plan/get an instructor out the past few weeks :o
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Good luck :)
 
From watching a good instructor working with a lazy horse.

Stop using your legs and use the whip instead. Don't be afraid to use it hard - Your mare is allowed to be quiet but she is not allowed to be disobedient which is what she basically is. Praise when she reacts well - this is best as voice praise. Also be very positive in yiur mind that she WILL move forward.

Once she is being sharper moving off then re introduce the leg. But remember EVERY leg aid MUST have a result - if it doesn't back up with the whip smartly.

I would also have her checked by the vet to see if there is a reason why she is lazy.
 
I've started using them recently. Got a lazy sod of a horse when it suits him. Its definetly lazyness not fitness as once he isn't in a school he has lots more energy. Using under the advice of my instuctor and just when I really need them eg eventing dressage tests when you aren't allowed a whip or if he is really taking the p. Normal schooling/hacking is done without.
 
No, I would teach her to go off your leg. A horse can feel a fly land on their skin, spurs will only make her more dead to your aids, not to mention cause unneccessary discomfort. Spurs should only be worn by experienced riders for refinement at a more advanced level.
 
I used them on a lazy so and so. I am a strong rider, but he just refused to acknowledge my leg aids. I only used them for a couple of weeks, and after that the message got across, and I dispensed with them. But all horses are different. Personally I would rather use spurs as a 'get moving' aid than give a horse a thump with a whip if it is continually ignoring your legs.
 
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