Comments on: To Spur or Not to Spur

By: Valerie

Valerie — Wed, 04 May 2011 19:33:13 +0000

I like what Curt Pate has to say about spurs. ” When you are a good enough horseman to use spurs correctly you are generally a good enough horseman to not need them.” That is true very much so in the sense that timing and feel is the key to getting a horse started without becoming insensitive. Too much is placed on horse behavior and not near enough on the rider. A really good trainer is simply a really good rider.

By: Self-Carriage, Part 1 – America’s Horse Daily

Self-Carriage, Part 1 – America’s Horse Daily — Wed, 04 May 2011 13:44:53 +0000

[...] You need to work on three things to maintain it: No. 1, the rider must have correct balance and aids use; No. 2, the horse must understand what you are asking him to do; No.3, the horse must have [...]

By: Correct Rollback Position, Part 1 – America’s Horse Daily

Correct Rollback Position, Part 1 – America’s Horse Daily — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 10:01:31 +0000

[...] with contact, you can also use your leg aid: Just rock your feet a little bit to round your horse up, round his back and frame him up a little [...]

By: Never spur a willing horse | The Other Blokes Blog

Never spur a willing horse | The Other Blokes Blog — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 00:26:51 +0000

[...] views are very much in line with an article by Martin Black, entitled To Spur Or Not To Spur. Spurs should not be used as the primary signal. First, if we are asking the horse to move off [...]

By: Stretch That Topline – America’s Horse Daily

Stretch That Topline – America’s Horse Daily — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:02:34 +0000

[...] the same time, you continue his forward motion. Squeeze with your feet and legs to keep going forward. Don’t let him go to the forehand: Drive him [...]

By: Slowing Trot Rhythm – America’s Horse Daily

Slowing Trot Rhythm – America’s Horse Daily — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 16:51:32 +0000

[...] the horse gets too slow, first, push her forward with leg aids, and then use artificial aids such as a spur or [...]

By: Dana

Dana — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 03:05:18 +0000

I have a 8 year old QH that I have had since he was 8 months old I broke him out and have spur trained him well enough to ride with out a briddle. If you have spurs on he will change leads, pivot, and drop his head. If you don’t have spurs on he will do the same thing your heel just gets tired of putting it in his ribs he is trained off of his first 3 ribs and when you put your heel there he does what he is supposed to. I Belive that a good trainer teaches a horse so respond off there legs before they ever put spurs on so the “bucking or swishing of there tail” doesnt’ happen. Spurs for my gelding just make it easier to respond such in a pleasure class.. so my tip would be if you want to spur train your horse train with your legs first & off the first 3 ribs behind your cinch then put spurs on.

By: mary diaz

mary diaz — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:07:09 +0000

She’s 4, not a baby, and long ago needed to accept whatever is needed to “turn it up a notch”-she needs a bit-snaffle-and lots of forward riding to make her accepting of the aids. I would get a bit on this horse and use the crop with more force than I suspect you’re using-when she gets lazy with that, especially if she backs her ears or makes any show of resenting it, start wearing English spurs and then go to the Western spur, as some horses find the English spurs annoying if they really do need a spur.I have ridden lots of young horses, and find the “lazy” ones the most likely to “sit” on you and create bigger problems.If she’s rearing, she’s sulling and using this attitude to make you back off.

By: Lonnie Antal

Lonnie Antal — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:34:33 +0000

I have a 4 year old filly that I have trained from a yearling. She responds easily off of my leg laterally and moves forward well enough. She has a very laid back personally and is, well quite frankly, lazy by nature. When I need to ‘turn it up a notch’, leg alone will not do the job, but when I try using my western spurs on her, she hates it. She gets very agitated and will even rear if I even slightly touch her. I then tried wearing my English spurs and this seemed to work much better. I am wondering if ‘bumper western spurs’ would be similiar and do the job. She will respond to a crop, but I would prefer not to have to carry one. I like to ride with the ‘less is more’ philosophy – I use a bitless bridle and a treeless western saddle, so I am looking for the most natural solution.

By: Fran Smith

Fran Smith — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:12:23 +0000

What an awesome opportunity to learn some “common sense” training. Thank you very much and especially thank you to Martin Black who is willing to share this information.
Frances N. Smith
AQHA Member
Yuma, Arizona