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Posted on 12/30/2004 7:01:16 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
Good point. But:)...that is why I use them all the time. I think your point would mostly be a problem for the occasionaly user of spurs.
I was told by a trainer, that it is best if you use spurs to put them on and leave them even if not riding. You "subconsiously" learn to always remember they are there and compensate.
Becky
I think that's good advice. You have to ride differently.
Ok, I've went back and read the discussion Hair and I are having. But:)...no offense Hair:), this is not really answering my question. I'm curious what others gut reaction is/would be if they went to see a horse, and the person showing it had spurs on? Would you immediately think the person mean for using them, or there were problems with the horse, or something else? IOW's what would you think, if anything at all?
Becky
Why?, because they are hard to keep in place, or something else? I did have that problem with a cheap pair I had once. The ones I have now, western ones, have been fine. I've had them for 11 years. I think getting the "fit" right is the key to that. I have a small foot. Can usually wear child sizes. I finally got chold size spurs, and have no problem now.
Your statement about spurs being a pain, is why I don't like carrying a crop. It either takes up a hand, or if it's hanging from your wrist gets in the way. or gets caught on stuff and breaks the wrist strap.
Becky
Should I just let the others answer? Am I not capable of answering it? :~D
OK - answer the question... I'd think you were a cowboy like my friend Bob, I wouldn't think you were mean, I'd actually think you were the type to have taken action and not let the horse get bad habits. I wouldn't necessarily think the horse had problems based on your spurs, even though I would want to see if he is rideable without them to fit into my life. :~D
Okay, you answered:). I hope I didn't offend you. I'm just thinking maybe having spurs on gives the wrong impression to people, and maybe I should show horses for sale without them on.
Becky
It was just because the ones I had are hard to keep in place. And I ride with close contact on most horses and am not used to it. I am not opposed to wearing them if it would be easier on them than thumping on them all the time. I haven't needed them on Bay, or Cyn, or most of the horses I've ridden. I tried them on my mustang years ago, and found the cheapo clamp-on ones to be a lot of trouble so I switched to a crop.
There are people who might be put off by them. I won't say there aren't. Especially young girls that are beginners. But it is one of the tools in their sport, and it would be better to just say to those types that it's a tool, it allows you give subtle cues and get a quicker response. That it isn't a torture device. They'll have to learn that a lot of the tools we use in training on horses look harsh. But they are what allows us to match the horse's strength and get them to do our bidding. They can be used kindly or harshly.
I LOL at this. I know how you meant it. But amongest the people I ride with "being a cowboy" is not a good thing:). When we say someone is a cowboy, we are usually implying they're the sink spur, whup and ride, buck em out type. Funny how words mean different things in differnt groups.
Becky
OH, very good reply I'll have to remember that.
Becky
I think when you talk about those ~cow-boys~ you say it with a swagger. Means something different, but it's all in the voice ;~D
It depends.I knew you and knew the trainer that I sent Sarah Lee to and considered it a tool yall know how to use and that yall always wear them, in case needed. No big deal. If I was looking at a horse from someone I didn't know and they had them on I would ask questions to try to decide if this was a strong willed horse that I wasn't ready to handle , or just a rider used to wearing spurs. I would not want a seller to take them off just because...The buyer can ride the horse without spurs and see for themselves, can't they? That help any?
We always wear spurs except on young horses just starting out. Why is it mean to wear spurs? For heavens sake, you aren't hurting the horse, you are cueing it.
Well, I will admit I didn't use them on my old mare but she was very good with leg or heal pressure and the one time I did ride with spurs (forgot I even had them on) she bucked. She was always a real problem for my husband if he rode her because he will not ride without spurs (except for the babies) and she really disliked them. She may have been hurt with spurs in her previous life before I got her.
A lot of horses have been trained with spurs so rather than needing them because they are hard to handle or something, it's the way they have been trained.
I probably wouldn't think about it at all unless they were using them inhumanely. I just figure everyone wears spurs - we do out here.
Yes, that's my problem. A crop is in the way. Spurs live on my riding boots. I'm more inclined to not want a horse that requires a crop, that tells me that the horse won't respond to legs.
Great birdhunt pic! I hunted pheasant with my Labrador when he was living... actually, my little cocker mutt was the better flusher, but Logan brought 'em back.
I have a funny story about a goose a friend just winged and was in a lake. His Labrador went out to get it... that bird was very much alive and very much beating the crap out of the dog on the way back. He thought the bird was gonna drown the poor dog and was yelling for him to drop it. They are a big, strong bird!
I slide it down the gutter in the saddle, when I carry one and don't want it in my hand. Or hook it on the saddle.
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