How to Select a Spur? (Western Pleasure Showers Only)?

Question

A lot like the numerous bit questions, but for the advanced horse, how do you select the best spur? I asked this question on the western pleasure specific delphi forums, and haven't gotten any response, so I thought it might be food for discussion here.

All the discussion about spurs as me thinking, as well. I don't get to show much, but I do prize the level of training that I have been able to achieve with my older horse. It sounds like most of ya'll (the WP showmen) have gone (back) to the rowel spurs.

How DO you select a spur? Is it like a bit, and you want to go with whatever your horse responds best to? Are certain spurs for certain issues, just like bits can be? (I can't see the difference, but some spurs are designated as cutting horse spurs, reiners,etc.)I just spent the last couple of years getting my old horse spur broke in several senses of the word. I had let myself believe that he resented spurs, and so hadn't used them on him before that. I've got quite a few spur cues on him using the long ball spurs, and after insisting that I AM going to ride in them he has come to be comfortable with the standard use of them. He still does not like my rowel spurs though.

Is spur type an issue? Why do the rowels seem back in vogue again? What is your thought on this?

For the record. I an not talking about training green horse using spurs, I am talking about the high level work, two track, shoulders in/out, haunches in/out, extention, collection, etc. For you dressage riders, you ride a higher level horse in full bridle and spurs for the degree of finess you can get. Same with the well trained WP horse, but on a loose rein to boot.

Answer 1

I totally disagree with your first posters.

Riding with spurs does not have to cause resentment, fear or discomfort, if you ride intelligently. Of course your horse will resent the spur if you ask everything with it, without warning. But if you use a spur as it's meant then your horse will understand the whole deal. First you ask with calf pressure. If your horse doesn't respond, you turn your toes outwards and apply light pressure to your horse's sides with the spurs. If he still ignores it you roll the spur up their side - not raising your legs and slamming it into them, but rolling up in an irritating but not that painful motion.

I'm assuming you know these things, just making a point to people who say spurs are evil. I ride with spurs all the time, and I'll be entire days go by without me touching my horse even lightly with one. I too show, and my horse needs to be polite, accepting and respectful of my spur. She is. She does not swish her tail or complain when I ask cues of her, she is not afraid of the spur, she just knows that it's there to back up my soft leg cues if she ignores me.

Bob Avila has some excellent articles on spurs, both selection and use, that you would probably enjoy. You can go onto "Horse and Rider" magazine and back order them (he had more than one article on the topic) I also suspect spurs are one of the topics addressed in Bob's book, maybe try to track that down.

As for different types, I think that there are several factors that come into play. First is the horse. What type of spur does your horse work best in - that is their personal preference. Secondly, what type of rider are you, and how long are your legs? Riders with short legs, such as myself, need a shorter shafted spur so they don't accidently ride with pressure on their horse's sides. Riders with a long leg can do well in a longer shafted spur. Also, if you don't have independent legs, if you tend to grip when your horse spooks, if you are a bit impatient, then you will require a different type of spur (if you use one at all) than a rider with excellent leg control.

Spur type is NOT an issue in the show ring. I highly doubt any judge can even tell what type of spur you're using, most exhibitors wear chaps and only a small portion of the spur pokes through the spur slot, and who can tell across the ring what type it is? What they will notice is how your horse responds to the spur; does he wring his tail, raise his neck, pin his ears, or ignore you?

I have the ball spurs, and have liked them. Nowdays I'm riding with a blunt rowel. Why? My mare seems less likely to lean into the spur. With the ball she sometimes would almost push back, with the rowel she moves over lightly and politely. If she worked better in a ball spur I'd have no hesitation going into the ring with that type.

So try to track down some Bob Avila info, his articles had good photos describing the different types, how they work, and who they suit.

Answer 2

Western Pleasure Spurs

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.



RE:

How to Select a Spur? (Western Pleasure Showers Only)?

A lot like the numerous bit questions, but for the advanced horse, how do you select the best spur? I asked this question on the western pleasure specific delphi forums, and haven't gotten any response, so I thought it might be food for discussion here.



All the discussion about spurs as me...

Answer 4

Spurs are not only used on a lazy horse that needs them, but also for someone who may have a weaker leg and needs the extra reach a spur provides. The finesse work you're talking about is great and using spurs is not a bad thing as long as you're using ones that your horse is comfortable with.



I have to use spurs on my very lazy QH gelding, but not because he's lazy, it's because I had some nerve damage in my left leg from an old injury (playing football) and it's not as strong as my right. I can't ride with a spur just on the left, so I use both.



Just continue using what your horse is comfortable with. The only time you really need to pay any attention to what kind you're using is when you make sure it is legal for you to show in. As far as I know, you can show in any western type spur, fixed or rowel, as long as it is not sharp or causing noticeable raw marks on the horse's sides.

Answer 5

The only time I have seen anyone show in the ball spurs is in the horsemanship classes and not the pleasure classes. Then the spurs are used as just an extension of the riders leg to minimize the movement of the leg when asking for the difficult manuveurs of the patterns, hence most western equitation spurs have longer shanks. Most of the pleasure riders use roweled spurs with long shanks that are angled down. They want the meduim shanks to help get their legs under the horses belly and to aid in lifting the horses back and maintaining collection so they can ride with the drapped reins. The degree of the rowel (how may rowels it has) just depends on the sensitivity of your horse. I have spurs that range from just a nickel rowel (plain round rowel) to the rock grinder rowel (16 rowels). Many of the spurs available are made so you can switch the rowels out and not have to have several pairs. Hope this answered your question.

Answer 6

I have to use a deep spur with some length to it so I do not have to move my leg much...only the position as to achieve subtle cues...I do use a small rowel with blunted points.....I dont put a spur stop on my horses as I noticed that when you leg up a horse for extended gaits as they are now asking for in WP classes that spur trained horses will stop on you.....this I learned from a friend who told me....but I have never had any use for the spur stop. I think you just need to experiment with some different ones and see what works best for you and your horse.

Answer 7

I use ball spurs, they are less agitating to the horse. If they are working for you, keep using them. If the horse is responding without them, no need to use them. Alot of WP people just buy fancy spurs so they can look purty..lol.. If you use blunt rowels, they really do no more than a ball or bump spur, and of course the pointy ones will poke and get their attention more. Simply put, if it ain't broke....

Answer 8

HEY ALLY & BABY--- SPURS ARE ONLY CRUEL IF THE PERSON RIDING THE HORSE USES THEM THE WRONG WAY!!!!!!! OTHER WORDS THEY ARE FINE!!!

yes, just like you said pretty much spurs are like bits- how good or bad your horse reacts to them- i do western pleasure shows sometimes and i don't really think that spurs matter (what kind you use) show-wise just what works best for you and your horse- but try not to use anything to big. there are spurs for different reasons and stuff, (roping, bull riding, just plain 'ol riding, dressage, and way more) but i just use the regular ones, my gelding is young but slow in the arena (fast on trails and almost any where els-- its weird) but anyways i use them to 'bump' him and get him to 'wake up' mine are simple and little, and i purchased at my local tack shop.

you could also use bumpers, but i prefer spurs my horse reacts much better in them, and they keep him in place and moving.

but when you are talking 'style' still the spurs still don't really matter but if you want something stylish then look for stylish spur straps, for my gelding i have a whole tack set that has a sheriff' star' on it and i got spur straps with a pretty similar resemblance. so ya, anyways best of wishes & good luck showing im sure you'll kick butt;-)

Answer 9

I like a longer spur myself. I have long legs and need that extra little bit to touch the horse with out moving my legs as much. Remember the less ques the judge sees the better

Answer 10

Whoa lady, First off spurs are on a have to have basis. If you don't need them don't get them. If yor horse comes off your leg, you don't need them. If he gets pissed when you use them, you don't need them. SPURS ARE NOT FASHION. They are used for the lazy horses that has brick walls for sides.

You broke your horse into the spurs... NOT A GOOD THING.

The more you use them the more you will need them. You are making your horses sides become desinsitized. YOU DONT WANT THAT.

IF you need spurs you start out with the smallest ones possilbe. I don't know who told you that you need spurs but whoever that was you need a second opinion. I hate spurs and only use them when my legs have given out from over use. You horse will resent you later for using spurs.

Just cause you don't like the answer doesn't mean you need spurs... your going to hurt your horse!

Answer 11

i have to tell you this...i don't really like using spurs but if you want to use one then go with the blunt end...it is nothing but a smooth tip and it will do the same thing that other spurs will do without the marks on the horse's side like the other ones...