using spurs

Uh huh, how long have YOU been riding? You don't use spurs with a horse when they're 'acting up'. Your trainer sounds like a real piece of work.

Okay, my apologies. I thought you were directing it at me.
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Imo spurs should be for refining, NOT of reinforcing. That's what a crop/whip is for !

" You don't use spurs with a horse when they're 'acting up'"

That is not necessarily true. There are horses that a swift punch with the spurs, when they are acting up, will settle them down faster than any thing else. And others that if you'd punch them with a spur when they are acting up, will dump you in a heart beat. And there are horses that you simply can not use them on, period, no way, no how, never.

Some horses simply do better with their use and others do not. I prefer not to use them, but I have a couple that need them.

They are especially helpful with some folks with very short legs or very weak legs.

"spurs should be for refining, NOT of reinforcing. That's what a crop/whip is for"

Not necessarily, some horse will blow completely up with the use of a crop/whip, but a spur works just fine. In fact, I see a lot more that will blow from the whip, than from a spur.

I used to use spurs but no longer do. I actually lost one about 15 years ago, never replaced it, never used the other one again and have never missed having them.

I dare someone to ride Ronan for an hour without spurs/a whip/kid-kicking and be able to walk normally afterwards.


Ha!

Anyways. Spurs are for refinement of aids. I have no problem with them so long as they are used properly. We are working on Ronan being more responsive, but it is a long road.
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LOL
I don't generally use spurs, but I have met a few horses where they were beneficial to both training and my leg muscles.

I ride with spurs when I'm in lessons working with courses, or when I'm competing. When I'm schooling at home spurs come off, and so does the martingale. In lessons spurs are used as refinement, putting his body where I want it, martingale is 'just in case' (and because it's a pain in the butt to remove from my breastplate...). Would I use them on trails? No way. I don't think I would need them... I'm sure there are some people who DO need them, but most horses should not need them on the trail.

I've ridden a few that don't listen until you show them your spurs are on. After that they are angels for the rest of the ride.

Ok first my horse is very hot headed. I don't abuse my horse with spurs. The crop doesn't work on him, instead he rears up or crow kicks every time you use a crop on him. The spurs are much more effective and I ONLY use them if I need to! I use leg pressure the rest of the time. And like someone said above about their horse, once trigger knows I have them on he generally minds like a perfect angel the rest of the time. I'd much rather wear the spurs and not need them, then need them and not have them- in example when he freaked with a crop and ended up me on the ground and him stepping on my leg. I'm sorry if I sound harsh, but in my opinion to each there own and I was just voicing my opinion on whether I agree with spurs or not. I didn't mean to cause an argument.
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