When Is My Horse Ready for Spurs? As a Rider, When Am I Ready for Spurs? And How to Find the Right Spur.

You and your horse have been working together for a little while now and you're becoming quite the team! But you can't help but wonder if maybe there's more... maybe there's away to elevate your riding experience to a whole new level... Let’s dive into the exhilarating world of using spurs in dressage! Whether you're a classical dressage rider or a western dressage rider, spurs can be a fantastic tool to enhance communication with your horse and add a whole new level of precision to your ride! Let's discuss!

What Are Spurs?

Spurs are worn on the heels of your riding boots, designed to enhance subtle leg cues to your horse. They come in various styles, from rounded to roweled, each serving a unique purpose. When used correctly, spurs can help you refine your aids and create a more harmonious partnership with your equine friend!

Why Use Spurs?

Here are some fantastic reasons to incorporate spurs into your riding routine:

Enhanced Communication: Spurs allow for more subtle cues, helping you communicate effectively with your horse without overwhelming them.
Precision in Aids: With spurs, you can direct your horse with precision, making it easier for him to understand the difference between your leg cue to him and the normal leg movement that happens when riding. This will allow you both to execute complex movements and patterns with greater ease.
Boost Confidence: Using spurs can help you feel more secure and in control, as they can help make communication between you and your horse more clear and your horse will offer more precise responses to your aids.
Style Points: While this is a bit of a silly point... Let’s face it, spurs can be another way to add an extra touch of bling and personal style to your riding outfit (assuming you and your horse need them for the reasons mentioned above). Who doesn’t like extra bling? Ha!

How Do I Know When I'm Ready to Use Spurs?

You're ready to think about adding spurs to your ride when:

You feel confident, stable, and secure in your position most of the time. You can keep your leg quiet and relaxed with your heels down at the walk, trot, and canter. You don't need to "grip" with your knees and thighs to keep yourself secure in your saddle. For more insight into developing a secure dressage leg position, check out THIS and THIS!
You can keep your horse going at the walk, trot, and canter most of the time without having to grip, squeeze, kick every stride, or push with your legs all the time, every step of the way. You understand how to give clear forward aids and your horse understands them.
You understand how to give clear directional aids with your legs. Left leg means move right. Right leg means move left. Your horse responds accordingly. Leg yields are a great exercise to test this. Learn more HERE!

How Do I Know When My Horse is Ready for Spurs?

Your horse is ready to start learning how to ride with spurs when:

He understands basic gears - "Go", "Whoa", "Turn Left", "Turn Right"
He understands your forward aids well enough that you don't have to kick, squeeze, grip, or push every step of the way just to keep him going. He understands how to go forward and keep going. He should understand and be able to go from walk to trot, trot to canter, and even from halt to trot.
He should understand directional leg aids. He should know that left leg means move right. Right leg means move left. He should move off of or yield to your leg. Check out THIS article for how to teach your horse to yield to directional pressure on the ground and THIS article for how to teach your horse to leg yield under saddle.

What Kind of Spur Should I Start With?

Regardless of whether you're riding English/Classical dressage or Western dressage, there are two basic spur types I like to recommend.

Blunt end-type spurs: "nub" type spurs. In the English world, you'll see these often referred to as "Prince of Wales" spurs. The length of the neck will vary. As a general rule of thumb: the longer the neck of the spur, the less you'll need to touch your horse and, therefore, the more precise your leg cues can be. You'll need to take into consideration how secure you feel in your position and how responsive your horse already is.

Blunt end English style spur
Rowel-end spurs: for the purpose of this article, we're talking about any spurs where the end rotates or "spins." Rowels can be smooth or have points. Contrary to what some may say, rowels do not automatically make a spur stronger. In fact, sometimes the opposite is true! I actually prefer smooth rowel spurs (especially the "roller ball" kind!) because I find the horses are actually more comfortable and more responsive! The rowel "rolls" off of their side rather than "grabbing" or "poking" their skin.

Tips for Using Spurs Effectively

To ensure you and your horse have the best experience, keep these tips in mind:

Start Slow: If you’re new to using spurs, begin with gentle pressure and gradually increase as your horse becomes accustomed to the cues.
Be Mindful: Always be aware of your horse’s response. If they seem confused or resistant, reassess your technique and adjust accordingly. Be sure you're taking your leg OFF in between cues. When riding with spurs, less is more!
Practice Makes Perfect: Spend time in the arena practicing with spurs to build your confidence and your horse’s understanding of the cues.
Stay Balanced: Maintain your balance and position while using spurs to ensure your cues are clear and effective.

Conclusion

Learning to ride with spurs can be an exhilarating addition to your riding toolkit! Using spurs correctly opens up a new world of communication and precision, allowing for a deeper connection with your horse.

If you'd like extra guidance in your journey with your horse on this topic, shoot me a message!

I have a fantastic virtual coaching program for riders anywhere - and it's way more than just your basic, glitchy PIVO lesson!

I also offer in person coaching anywhere in the Los Angeles area... either at my farm in Shadow Hills or at your ranch!

Send me a message. I'd love to talk with you about your horse and your journey!