Young children riding in spurs...... * Rant *

TicTac

TicTac

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What are your thoughts?

I teach 2 young girls at my yard. 1 is 10 and the other is 12 and they own /share a 5 year old green new forest pony. Neither of them are particularly good riders but of the 2, the 12 year old is more competent with her ability to stay on and steer!!!

The mother of the 2 girls hacks the pony out but has admitted to me that she is not a very experienced owner / rider but is, in my estimation competent enough. She does however ask for a lot of advice which she doesn't always listen to. But I don't have a problem with that.

I was teaching the girls regularly untill before we had all the bad weather, once it improved the mother said that she would start the girls lessons again at the end of march. Fine by me. Yesterday the younger of the 2 girls ( the 10 year old ) was riding the pony in the manege.This girl has very little co-ordination at the moment and is prone to constantly doing the ' pony club ' kick. ie legs away from the saddle from the thigh up and kicking the pony in a flapping motion which she was doing yesterday.......
.......with spurs on!

I diplomatically approached the mother and said, " you can tell me to mind my own business if you like but I wouldn't advise your girls riding their pony wearing spurs" and then went on to give a brief reason, to which she replied, " well a friend of mine said it would be a good idea to teach the pony to go forward and to stop him from stopping all the time"

I left it at that and thought that maybe I shouldn't have said anything and just let them get on with it. I get frustrated sometimes as a little knowledge is a dangerous thing and among other things I can see the pony suddenly having a bucking session and dumping the child and then them come running to me to sort the problem out.

In my opinion , spurs when used correctly by an establised rider can be a usefull aid but not on the feet of a 10 year old who can barely control the pony!

Rant over!!
 
I hate seeing spurs being used in the place of hard work.

I know people who feel like they HAVE to use them with tricky horses, and meh! they arent my horses and i dont ride them, but i halso know people who will whack on a pair of spurs literally because they dont know how to use their aids.
 
Maybe it would be better for the children to learn to ride the pony forward so it does not stop without spurs!!!!!! just a thought :)

Mother and friend are clearly in the game of blaiming pony and not rider.

I wont even let my daughter have a crop as I think she is far too young at 5, but I also see children of her age with them and it drives me mad.
 
Ah poor thing, agree a 10 year old that hasnt got proper co ordination shouldnt be wearing spurs espeacially if shes still doing pony clubs kicks!!!! I dont mind children wearing spurs if they have the ability to use them, i was out competing my 16hh ID at 13/14 and wore spurs but i was jumping bs newcomers and went on to foxhunters at 15 so must have been doing something right i also had a great deal of instuction regualary and on how to use them. So i think its and ability thing rather than age.
Ive just joined my 6 year old in the pc and have noticed they have to have the card signed by the Dc to use them if the proved there nessary and they can use them correctly, which i think is a great idea.
 
I think irrespective of the age of the rider spurs should only be used when the rider has a good stable leg position and can wear the spurs without jabbing or niggling.

I'd rather see a 10 year old wearing and using spurs correctly (which you do sometimes see in the show ring) than an adult wearing them and using them badly which you also see a lot. Saw a horrific dressage test done by a woman in spurs who couldn't keep them off the horse's side and he reacted badly to them everytime she made contact. Would have been much nicer if she'd taken of the spurs and used a dressage whip to back up her leg.
 
My daughter when she was 10 had lessons just on how to use spurs, a few years on and never once has she even marked a horse with them or jabbed!

but then she is also a championship rider
 
I dont like seeing spurs on people who are not balanced in their seat, and do not have good enough legs to keep steady.
If i ever need spurs which i avoid like the plague, i only wear one, as my right leg is far stronger than my left so hence i only wear one on my left and they are the little stubby ones
 
T-Bag said:
My daughter when she was 10 had lessons just on how to use spurs, a few years on and never once has she even marked a horse with them or jabbed!

but then she is also a championship rider
Click to expand...

What he said.

In the OPs case then yes I wouldn't be happy. However plenty of kids are capable of using them correctly. And at 21 I might "look old enough" for spurs, but I wouldn't want to without a few lessons!
 
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