I could not have said it better, Alison. A crop or a spur is
either an extension of your arm or your leg, and used properly makes training
much more clear to a horse. Most of the problems with our horses is that
lack of "go forward"ness. Sure, our little darlings will go like heck,
even run away, when they want to; but when they don't, they shy, buck, rear,
refuse etc. Those things usually happen when forward impulsion is
lacking, which is when I might tap with a crop, or when lateral flexion is
lacking, which is when I might bump with a spur. Renie
#1673
I often ride both my horses the first
ten miles of a ride in spurs and dressage whip. Trust me, its not for
lack of go! However, there are moments of lack of Go FORWARD, that
I bless having whip and spurs. The horse is between leg and hand and the
tap of a spur or whip is the cue they are used to feeling to assist
focus. It makes me and my horse safer in a crowd if I have better
control. I would much rather touch them in the side with a spur, than
whomp on their side with my heel if they are not paying
attention.
My ride buddy rides with just a right
spur, since her horse is stiff to that side and reacts much more evenly if she
cues the right side with a spur. These are tools; used correctly, they
are less harmful to the horse than the rider who refuses to use them when
appropriate and thumps on the horse instead.
