Western Pleasure Spurs - Long or short?

Question

I am going to get some spurs for my western pleasure horse - the "humane ball end" kind, with just the ball at the end and no rowel or anything.

I was just wondering if what is "better" - the longer bands or shorter bands. For example - at our local tack shop, they only have 2" spurs, they look really long and like I would touch him with the spurs without even realizing it. But the 1" spurs look really short and like they wouldn't be as easy to use. And they do make 1.5" spurs but they look long in the picture...

Pleasure remember this is Western Pleasure, and you aren't supposed to move your legs a lot.

My horse isn't spur trained (like spur stops, etc. like a lot of pleasure horses) but he's been ridden with spurs. I know how to use them, etc.

So please don't criticize or tell me how to use them, unless it goes specifically toward the length of the spurs.

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

I agree completly with "Kari M".

Answer 2

I love ball spurs, long is a must with them to get your point across though. It will also keep leg movement to a minimum.

Answer 3

neither-this just shows your laziness as a horseman.with proper diet and exercise program and proper training they arent needed.dont waste your money.

Answer 4

I like a longer spur myself. I have long legs and need that extra little bit to touch the horse with out moving my legs as much. Remember the less ques the judge sees the better

Answer 5

in my experence with round ball spurs, they dont work as well,

Answer 6

Longer spurs are better :)

Answer 7

Two comments....a longer curved shank on your spurs will assist you in making very subtle cues on your horse.....they are called equitation spurs.  

http://www.showmeagain.com/default.asp?P...

If you use a short shank, it requires more movement from your heel to press that rowell against your horse.  It's a movement that the judge can clearly see.  Team ropers prefer a shorter shank  when they pitch their rope they're up in their stirrups...they DO NOT want an unplanned jab with the spur against their horses's sides.   A short shank prevents a lot of that.

That humane "ball" can be a source of aggravation for many horses...it doesn't provide a clear "cue"....and consequently you'll get a lot of tail switching which is undesirable in the pen....judges prefer a quiet profile on the wall.  Little if any tail banging.   The rowell shown on the above link is one that is commonly used while showing.

Answer 8

If your horse is young you should'nt need spurs I only use Spurs on my dads horse because he is older and he don't move to my commands.

But if you must get them get the 1.5 inch

They are in between the long and short.

Answer 9

I would go with the longer spurs.  When the spurs are longer, you don't have to move your leg or foot nearly as much to cue your horse.  Subtle movements are much better than obvious movements.  You want to be able to cue your horse and not have the judge notice that you have moved at all.  Hope that helps!

Answer 10

Hey! So I ride western pleasure, as well as barrel racing...and yes I hate spurs...before you use spurs, have  you considered simply moving your legs less noticeably?? I was competing in a western pleasure class last season and I was the only one without spurs on. At the end of the class, I placed 1st and the Judge thanked me and said she appreciated seeing a rider who could communicate effectively with her horse w/o Artificial aids, just keep this in mind, okay? Anyways....the spurs you are looking at seem pretty docile...so yeah i suppose they aren't too bad...but just remember that the more stuff you have to put on to ride your horse well, the worse you look as a rider.