How to choose the right spurs
When you as a rider have reached the so-called 'spur maturity', you need to look out for the right spurs. When choosing the right spurs, your horse's well-being is of course the top priority.
Beginners should therefore start by riding with Rounded spurs or ball spurs, which have a short spike. The rounded versions are also suitable forsensitive horses rounded versions.
Choosing the right spurs
Age and level of training of horse and rider
Only when you have abalanced seat and acalm leg position will you be able to use the spurs correctly and sensibly. In addition to inexperienced riders, spurs should also be avoided with young horses at the beginning. They should first gain confidence in the driving aid of the flat leg and learn to understand the aid and react to it appropriately.
In the further course of training, spurs with a soft action should be used initiallySpurs with a soft action and the action should only be increased if necessary. In various training phases, spurs with a stronger effect can be helpful, after which you should switch back to a softer effect.
Character of the horse
The character of the horse also plays a relevant role in the choice of spurs. Sensitive horses usually need softer spurs, for exampleBallwheel spurs, while blunt or lazy horses often need clearer signals.
Distance between horse and leg
The distance between the horse's belly and thigh
As banal as it may sound: riders with short legs usually manage with shorter spurs, as the distance between spur and horse is quickly closed. The situation is different for riders with long legs. Long spurs are more suitable in this case, as they can still guarantee a calm leg position. The upward curved Swan neck spurs are suitable, for example, for shortening large distances to the horse's belly.
Sensitivity of the coat
For particularlySensitive and delicate horses (skin & coat), in Change of coat or in shorn horses should rather softer spurs or spurs with wide wheel should be used. Our fair Rider spurs with the flattened plastic end or our Comfort roller spurs especially on. The wide wheel rolls gently when it touches the horse's belly, preventing friction in sensitive areas.
Large selection of spurs
With the huge selection of spur models on the market, it is not easy to find the right spur model.
What is behind the different price ranges, materials and qualities? The most important thing is that the material of the surface does not pose a risk of injury to the horse. SPRENGER spurs are made of high-quality, break-proof stainless steel or argentan and have no sharp edges that could injure the horse or damage the leather of the boot.
The perfect fit with SPRENGER spurs
The spurs in the ULTRA fit line can be bent to fit the rider's foot perfectly. The unbreakable material remains stable in any shape. In addition, the ULTRA fit EXTRA GRIP models have a high-quality rubber cover that protects the boot leather and at the same time ensures a perfect fit without slipping. The perfect fit is rounded off by the special Balkenhol loop, which prevents the spur straps from exerting any uncomfortable pressure on the foot and prevents the spurs from slipping.
Spurs with wheel or without - which is sharper?
As with any piece of equipment, there is no general answer to this question. Used incorrectly, even the most horse-friendly spurs can cause discomfort. Some horses also react more strongly to spurs with a flat spike than to wheel spurs. Used correctly, serrated wheel spurs can be used to give tiny signals that contribute to gentle aids and fine communication between horse and rider.
Nevertheless, it can be said that spurs with a flat neck end can have a stronger effect than rounded ball spurs. With wheel spurs, the thicker and rounder the wheel, the softer the effect. Wheels with a serrated wheel therefore have a somewhat more punctual effect than smooth ball wheels. For all spurs with a wheel, it is important to clean hair and dirt (especially when changing the coat) so that the wheel can always turn freely!
