Western Spurs

Western spurs are tools that allow riders to give more precise and refined cues to the horse than using the entire lower leg. Correct use of Western spurs engages the horse’s abdomen and arches its back, facilitating better engagement of the hind legs and enabling the horse to be ridden in a beautiful collected manner. To use spurs correctly, the rider must have an absolutely balanced seat and a steady leg – anything less can cause severe injuries to the horse! However, not only must the rider have the appropriate skill level, but the horse must also have the necessary training and sufficient musculature to be ridden with Western spurs. Otherwise, it can backfire, and the horse may become desensitized.

Are Western Spurs Mild or Sharp?

Western spurs come in various designs – short shank, long shank, curved shank – making it easy to lose track of which type is best suited for you. Additionally, there are different types of spur rowels for Western spurs – mild ones like the cloverleaf rowel and very sharp ones like the rockies rowel. The size of the spur rowel also plays a role – smaller rowels tend to be sharper than larger ones. The larger and blunter the spikes on the rowel, the milder the effect.

We often receive inquiries about the width of our spurs, with comments like "The spur is too big or too small for my boots." Yes, that is possible because Western spurs always need to be adjusted. Usually, a farrier can quickly and perfectly adjust the Western spurs to fit the Western boots. If spurs were pre-adjusted, there would need to be corresponding spur sizes for every shoe size and boot width. The question of whether beginners can ride with spurs can be answered with a "yes and no" – if the rider has a balanced seat, a steady leg, and correct cueing, they can start riding with Western spurs. Most riders begin using spurs with mild cloverleaf spurs.