OriginalRebel
Posts: 93
Joined: 4/18/2014 Status: offline
|
Probably the only riding discipline I have never done is western riding and this thread, along with its link is specifically about western riding. I can’t comment on the use of spurs and western riding but I will comment on spurs in general. I’m an ex show jumper and dressage rider. As I moved up the ranks in dressage I started using spurs. For anyone who has indulged in classical dressage at a level beyond medium, you will understand that moving the lower leg against the horses side will move the entire leg. This causes the knee to turn out and the hip to rotate, which in turn draws the leg up. When your sitting deep into the horse and encouraging the horse to lift his back, the last thing you need is tension in the entire leg. If your training a horse in piaffe/passage, touching the horse under his belly will assist greatly. If you look at dressage spurs they usually have long shanks and very soft rowels, unlike the harsh wheel that seems to be used for western riding. Its not about hurting the horse, god forbid, to hurt a horse with a spur is darn right criminal. A spur is an extension of the leg and merely caresses the horses side. Push a horse and it will resist by pushing back against your hand, heel or calf. Touch with the gentlest of touches and the horse will respond positively. Riding, no matter what discipline, is all about understanding that the horse responds to the most subtle of actions. A dressage whip should never be used to hit the horse but to touch. Like a spur is an extension of the heel, a whip is an extension of the hand. Of course horses can spook, rear, buck and do all manner of things to get you off but do you really hold on with the lower leg? No, you relax your pelvis and upper thighs into the horse, keeping your heels away from its sides. I don’t care what the horse does, if spurs are dug in then the rider clearly shouldn’t be wearing them. I’ve jumped on horses that are petrified of spurs and once a rider has caused that kind of damage, its very hard to overcome. I worked for a while with Richard Maxwell in ‘natural horsemanship’ and understand the importance of horse and rider bonding. After a hard days work, me and my horses would ride through the woods with no saddle and no bridle. We would swim together in the river and play games.
|