Spur

A spur ( plural: the spores ) is attached to the riding boots curved piece of metal with a pin or wheel, which is used when riding to support the leg aids. The spur can be used in two different ways: on the one hand, with the spur a much more precise signaling as possible with the large surface area and therefore more diffuse leg pressure. So in this type of application it is used to refine the riding. On the other hand, the spur but can be used in a disobedience of the horse as a means of coercion.

Depending on fixing the boot, a distinction Anschnallsporen ( fixing with straps around the instep and before the paragraph ), Anstecksporen ( guiding and receiving hole in the paragraph in which a spur is inserted with the corresponding mandrel ) and stop spores (fixed mount).

Nature

The length of the spores varies from 15 mm to several centimeters, and depends on the Riding and the size ratio of horse and rider. For the riding of (relative to the rider) rather small horses, the use of so-called gooseneck spurs offers in which the mandrel is performed in a swan neck shaped double bend upward to allow the rider touching the horse without pulling up the heel. Top spores can cause bleeding injuries, but also blunt spores can cause trauma under the skin. In the past, spores ( medieval knights ) were used with sharp spikes. In South America, one meets such to sometimes today. In Europe and North America such spores are not approved not in use and at tournaments.

In the English Riding Dressage or when the lower leg are the saddle girth. Here comes mostly a spur with a short spike is used which is worn in the heel area of ​​the riding boot. It also wheeled spurs are used. The wheels are only a few millimeters above the thorn out, the teeth are flat or missing altogether.

In Western riding is ridden with outstretched legs. Here one uses the usually longer spurs with star wheels (wheels with blunted spikes ) that are attached to the heel western boots. In Western tournaments this star spores are required standard equipment. Contrary to popular opinion spores are all the more gentle, the larger the wheel, since a larger wheel rolls easily on the horse's body. The spores sometimes shown in Western movies with large wheels are therefore only particularly sharp when they have spaced out, pointed prongs. Ring that Western spurs usually also has a function: With a well-trained, finely tuned and consistently ridden horse 's leg you have, ideally, no longer used, but the horse is already responding to the ringing of the spores. However, this high level of education reached only a few horses and even with an excellent rider.

Box stirrups are partially used in the Iberian Riding instead of spores.

Use

Spores are used in sensitive areas of the abdominal skin. The use of spores is therefore subject to advanced riders, as there is constant spur unwanted use with a rider with ungefestigtem seat and restless legs, which can cause injury to the horse to irritation and possibly. It then creates " spores holes" in the fur or even sores on the skin. Also, the horse must be trained accordingly so that it can interpret the spores aids correctly.

Spores can be used in different ways.

The most common is the use of driving. To this end, the spur is inserted just behind the belt.

The second possible application is taught in classical dressage and called effet d'ensemble. The effet d'ensemble acting congregating, so rather braking. To the spur as far forward as possible, used immediately behind the belt. With a well-trained pair is the mere leg rotation, which is necessary to the spur to bring the horse to gather the horse.

Saying

The phrase " the spores earn" goes back to the custom that a medieval European squire at his consecration as Ritter ( Accolade ) received a pair of spurs as a sign of his knighthood. These were used, together with the sword as an official recognition feature of the equestrian order. But these insignia had only through the personal probation in a battle or a tournament ( buhurt, joust ) be "earned". Today you have to earn the spores through skill, as spores may only be used when a calm and correct leg position, and the independent Hilfengebung be controlled in all situations.

With spur wheel without teeth

Spurs with star wheel ( Western Riding )

Medieval spores