How Do You Use Western Riding Spurs?
After you are able to hold your legs still while riding, you can introduce spurs. Using spurs before you have control of your legs can result in you constantly spurring your horse when you don’t mean to. Soon your horse will become “dead to the aids,” where he no longer listens to you. Pick out a shank length that enables you to lift your heel up only slightly to use the spur. Short-legged riders on round horses should use short shanks; long-legged riders on skinny horses need long shanks. Find a rowel that matches your horse’s temperament. Dull horses may need a spur with more points; hot or nervous horses will be best ridden with fewer, blunter rowels, or even a ball end. Choose spur straps that match your discipline or your chaps. In horsemanship and pleasure, blending straps with chaps gives you a good presentation, while in rodeo and cutting you may want to go for flashier spur straps. Press the little round knobs on the sides of the spurs through the slots on the spur straps. Thi
