Spurs!

I completly agree!

hmmm I guess and that's why im thinking of using them for training my wb but once he knows what im asking, im planning on ditching them. That's just me though :) id feel much more of a sense of accomplishment if ultimately I could get those responses out of him without the spurs. That's my goal anyways

Yes, it's only till they get what I'm asking. It helps them figure it out.

I want to start training Blu without the use of spurs. I want him to be soft and alert. If I have to, I will step up to the use of the dull spurs. I don't like pointy ones! Lol. But, overall, I am hoping Blu and I have great training coming up! :-D

I totally agree. I wish you luck with your goal! :)

I guess I have gotten to this point with my horse. I've ridden him on several occasions with no spurs and he still knows what to do. The reason I still use tham is that it's actually easier for me. One of the things spurs do for us is they extend our reach and allow us to give them cues in many different areas of their barrel. I use them often for reaching back and tickling him underneath and behind the girth to lift his hips and back for a lope. I don't think it would be a pretty picture if I tried to reach all the way back there with bare heels. I ride in equitation rowel points with a three inch shank. They're dead useful for getting my feet to places they couldn't normally reach (while keeping my seat correct.)

I guess with english it's a totally different game though. You guys tend to use the bit more than we do, and the spurs you use really don't extend your reach that much anyways.

On that note, it seems this thread has had one oversight. I notice that most of the spur advocates are western riders, and the opposition is english. I could see myself wearing spurs in english but not really using them very much. You guys just don't seem to use them as much if my observation is correct. Anyone mind explaing the use of spurs in english to me?

it does seem that its the enlgish riders, myself included, that are against them. To be honest, I've never come across them in the english world. I've even worked at equestrian centres and im not sure anyone there even owned a pair.

From what im guessing so far, is that they are used in much the same way as you have described. More effective commands when teaching etc

Im thinking of using in the capacity of getting my green horse to listen and to get a little more impulsion out of him. He's not pretty good at ignoring my aids most of the time lol

My husband prefers spurs on his TB because he seems to have "dead sides" when he rides him. Even though my husband has strong legs, his TB just is lazy at times. If he doesn't have spurs on, he carries a crop to tap him with. I never have worn spurs. If I get on this same horse, I don't need spurs or a crop to get this guy going. It's just a difference in rider. I have a "hot seat." My legs are certainly no stronger than my husband's.

So, again, I'm not against spurs, I just don't need them at the level that I ride at. And the whole point of this thread was not whether we agree with using spurs or not. The original question from horseluvr was that her horse has sensitive sides and responds to her legs, but she HAS to wear spurs to compete.

So at least in the english world, my opinion - only my opinion - is if you have a horse with sensitive sides and is responding to your legs, why wear spurs to begin with? Horseluvr says her pony club has this rule in order to show. :roll: Again, no one has ever heard of this rule except in upper level dressage. Whatever. To each his own.

Horsluvr, I'm glad your horse is responding and you haven't gotten hurt. Good luck in show season this year. I really hope you do well.

I have seen spurs that were little more than the metal band going behined the boot. They didn't even have a nub sticking out. Maybe you could find some like those so you wouldn't accidentially use them.

those maybe are bumper spurs for barrel racers. If they have a bumpy sticky thing on the insid ethan that's probably what they are. If not maybe really short english spurs!

Dressage is my life, and I am pretty sure spurs are never required. They can't tell you that you have to use them.

I have used them before, but I try not to for dressage. It makes them dependent of the spur and I find it is best to just use your leg to teach these things. Otherwise, use in moderation.