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Equestrian spurs are primarily used to refine the aids in higher lessons in all equestrian disciplines. If you touch your horse's belly with the spurs, it tenses its abdominal muscles through a reflex. When used on one side, the horse should step further forward with the hind leg. Ideally, when used on both sides, the horse should shorten the entire abdomen and thus arch the back. This tilts the pelvis, which is a big step towards assembly. "You have to earn spurs first!" Many riding students have heard this sentence. The reason for this is that an unbalanced rider can hit the horse's stomach far too quickly with the thorns or wheel, or constantly use the spurs to propel the horse forward. This leads to a deadening of the aids and thus to an ever more energetic horse. You should only use spurs if you are already sitting independently and your thighs can rest calmly on the horse's belly. In addition, you should be able to feel when which leg moves and how in order to be able to use the spurs in a targeted manner. Spurs are therefore used as a means of refinement and support - not to drive a impulsive or insensitive horse. If you are still learning to keep your horse at the working pace or you have a very energetic horse, the controlled and targeted use of a crop is more suitable. Even young horses should not be ridden with spurs. In the basic training, the horse should first have understood the aids of driving rider's legs.
The four types of spurs most commonly offered are spike, wheel, ball wheel, or button. Almost all riding spurs are made of stainless steel. Here we show the differences:
In addition to these types of spurs, there are other variants, such as swan neck spurs, hammerhead spurs or roller spurs. You don't see these variants very often. Gooseneck spores have an upward shaped mandrel with a soft rounded end. Hammerhead spores are, as the name suggests, shaped like a hammer in the end. At Roll spores is another related spore species of wheel spores. At the end you have a movable roller that slides horizontally on the horse's belly. It doesn't matter which riding spurs you use, you can use all of them to strengthen the thigh aids. Your rider's leg should therefore lie quietly on the horse's belly.
Opinions differ here, as with almost every question about the sharpness of a piece of equipment. The answer is: NO! Because the spur is only as sharp as the rider uses it. With wheel spurs, the larger and blunter the spikes are, the more harmless they are. Wheel spurs slide off the horse's belly more easily than thorn spurs. It is important to note whether the wheel is attached to the spur horizontally or upright. Due to the upward and downward movement of the heel, the classic wheel spur with vertical attachment is particularly suitable for sliding off the stomach. With a thorn spur, on the other hand, you apply targeted pressure to a small point, but you don't slide off as easily. Since all spores are used for refinement, careful handling is advisable. Improper reinforcement, such as constant tapping with the riding spur, leads to deadening of the horse.
In order to ensure the correct use of the spores, they must be cleaned regularly. This is particularly necessary for spurs with moving parts so that they can move freely. If the wheel stops turning, it becomes very uncomfortable for the horse, especially with sun wheel spurs. Thorn spurs and any variant without moving parts should also be checked and cleaned regularly. If the surface that comes into contact with the horse's belly is no longer smooth (due to dirt or even rust), the spores can stick to the horse's skin and cause unpleasant chafing.
How long your spur needs depends on a few factors. If your leg is very long, you should also use a longer spike or gooseneck spur. This will prevent you from getting restless in your leg or from lifting your heel to insert the spur. If your horse is sensitive, very short spiny spurs or button spurs are suitable. You can use these very specifically with small, gentle impulses. No matter what length you use on your horse - the principle "as much as necessary, as little as possible" applies here too!
The best known type of fastening is the seat belt spurs. This is with the Spur straps attached to the riding boot and can be easily buckled and unbuckled. Straps come in many different varieties, such as simple leather or with a glittery buckle. Another variant is the plug-in spur. This is attached via a small hole in the heel of the boot. The impact spur is a fixed attachment that is firmly attached to the boot and cannot be removed so easily.
There are many suppliers of spurs and spur accessories. in the Lepona.de online shop you will find spurs of the brands SprengerStubben Busse and Waldhausen. Which brand you choose is up to your taste. Because spurs are no longer only available in plain silver. Pink-colored spurs, black metal or spurs with brown spur guards are increasingly being used in equestrian sports. The manufacturers also offer matching spur straps for the spurs. These can be made of leather, imitation leather or braided synthetic fibers. Here, too, you will no longer only find classic black straps with a silver buckle - colored spur straps or buckles with rhinestones are becoming increasingly popular.