[Super_Trooper]

I use them depending on the horse and the situation...I used them on my horse Trooper all the time, only at shows with Rebel, havent at all with Buddy and I dont know about Veruca yet....

[alr001]

Originally Posted by AQHA1972

I wear them all the time. I don't even take them of my boots, because I'lll forget them if I do. As a Western Pleasure rider, spurs are a necessity.

thats weird...I alwas thought since your guys's horses go so slow in Western Pleasure you wouldn't want to use them...why do you need them? Just wondering, I know nothing about western and I've only ridden a true western horse once...she was VERY comfy tho...

[lms]

Only on advanced horses.

[charismatic]

Originally Posted by AQHA_Gizmo

I answered "No way!" I have never worn spurs, nor do I ever plan to. I am pretty sure this was in someone's signature once, but it said: Good riders shouldn't need them, bad riders should be allowed them. That is totally true. If you are a good enough rider, your seat, voice, and legs should be enough to encourage the horse to go forward without any artificial aids. If you are a bad rider, you shoudln't get them because you would probably end up relying on them too much. That is just my opinion, though! I am not one of those people, though, who are like: Oh my gosh! That is so mean! Because it is not mean, just unnecessary!

AQHA_Gizmo

Very untrue. All horses and riders should be able to go without spurs, but some disiplines(like upper level dressage) would be very different if you couldent use spurs.

Spurs allow you to send signals to the horse without moving around too much. They also allow you to communicate with your horse more easily.

I don't use spurs on my own horses, because there not at the level where they need them. I use them alot on other horses, doing everything from dressage to jumping under 4'(Don't quite trust my leg over jumps higher then that yet).


Spurs are for advanced rider, but i think saying that good riders wont need them is very wrong and actually quite strange.

[arabianlvr87]

Only now and then on Mona.

[Blistering Winds]

World Champion Reining horses are ridden on spur. Why? Because you want a pinpoint clear signal that is NOT given from your leg as a whole. You can teach a horse something different to do within INCHES of the other cues with a set of spurs.

For example, the guy I work for, he has a horse that if your leg is 2" back, he'll shift his hips, if you want a kick ON PURPOSE, you touch just below and stretch your ankle out and touch with your spur.

To TURN, you ask with leg, if you wanta FAST turn, you set your spur and he'll roll back BEAUTIFULLY

it is CLEAR CUT Precision cues that spurs allow you.

I even see it on Blister. You want to turn and go left or right, use your legs and seat. But if you want a roll back, you must set the spur on him and he sets back and turns to the other way.

[my_cadbury]

Cadbury used to be sensitive, and i wouldnt dream of using spurs. But now that i ride him quite often, he is getting SO SO lazy and will barely even pick up his feet at the trot. Its totally awful as no matter how much i kick, use leg, or rise faster, he still wont speed up, then i BOOT him and he jumps forward, goes at a slight working trot for a couple of strides, then plods again. I used spurs the other day and found they didnt make a great deal of difference. But from now on, i am definitley using spurs, until he starts to listen to me better and actually have a go. I am sick of being more tired after a ride than he is!! Lol! So i put sometimes, but soon it will be 75% of the time..

[thoroughbred_01]

i never have and never will anless i really need to

[IdRatherBeRidin]

i have and i know how to use them but i prefer to use a crop

[Millieluvsu]

never had the need to and probably never will.