Why Cowboy Boots Have Spurs? Plus 5 Tips For Using Them

My son-in-law rides his horse with spurs on his cowboy boots, and I never wear spurs. Because we choose to ride differently created confusion for my grandson, he wondered why his daddy wears spurs and I don’t.

Spurs are worn on cowboy boots to aid riders in communicating commands to their horses. A slight touch of the spurs can urge a horse to pick up its pace, move to the side, settle down, or turn. They help a horse focus on the rider and its task.

Many people not familiar with spurs think their use is inhumane. But when used correctly, spurs don’t harm a horse and can be a helpful riding tool.

Why spurs are worn on cowboy boots.

Spurs are metallic instruments worn around the heels of riding boots. They have three main parts, the yoke, neck, and rowel. The yoke is the part that slides around the heel of the boot; some people call this the heel band.

The neck (or shank) extends out from the center of the yoke at the rear of the heel, and it holds the rowel, the spinning disk with points. Spurs are aids intended to help guide the movements of a horse.

These spurs are kept in place by crescent-shaped leather “spur straps.” In olden times, cowboys would fix small pendants to the shaft of their spurs, calling them “jingle bobs” because of the jingling sounds they produced.

You can still buy jingle bob spurs if you like to hear the sound of your spurs when you walk. Check out Tough-1 BS Jingle Bob Spurs for sale on Amazon; they spin and jingle when you walk.

Today some cowboys wear spurs with their cowboy boots as a fashion accessory without any practical function. But most spurs are used when riding horses to command their movements.

You can check out the different styles for sale on Amazon by clicking here. You see spurs with varying neck lengths, rowel designs, and even ones made with balls in place of rowels.

The purposes of spurs on cowboy boots.

Spurs are used to fine-tune command and enhance leg, seat, hand, and voice gestures to control horses. They basically facilitate effective communication between the rider and the horse.

Through subtle signals, a rider can use spurs to motivate a horse to move forward, pick up the pace, move to the side, or even turn around. It doesn’t take much pressure; you barely touch the horse’s thigh with the spur to guide its movement.

And through hours of riding and training horses, learn to understand the messages you convey with spurs. But how does it know how to react? Well, because it has been trained to know what to do and when to do it.

When you release the horse from the spur’s touch, it knows it’s done well. It’s a pressure and release system of training, not unlike many other training methods.

Now, horses aren’t the only ones needing training- riders must be trained too. As they say, riders must ‘earn their spurs.’ If the horse kicks, bucks, pins its ears or just gives off tensed, agitated vibes- stop; you’re doing something wrong!

If you accidentally touch the horse with the spur, you’re giving it mixed signals, so it doesn’t know what to do. The better trained you and your horse are- the easier it is for you to communicate via spurs.

Otherwise, it’s just like you’re speaking louder to a foreigner who wouldn’t understand anyway because they don’t even speak the language. I’ve never been trained to ride with spurs, so I don’t ride with them.

But my son-in-law grew up riding with spurs and loves using them. His entire family rides with spurs and says they wouldn’t want to ride without them. I can tell already that my grandson will grow up to ride with spurs like his daddy.

Do Spurs Hurt The Horse?

Spurs are not cruel inventions; they don’t hurt horses when used correctly. The horse is supposed to feel pressure when poked, not pain.

Spurs that can wound the animal are inhumane, and using them to injure a horse is illegal for obvious reasons. The spurs are an extension of your feet; and shouldn’t be pointy. When you buy your spurs, make sure they are rounded and not pointed before using them.

The tips might become a bit sharp over time so keep an eye out for that. The spur should also not be too long. If you’re unsure, consult a professional with experience riding with spurs to choose the right pair for you.

Also, remember that not all horses need spurs. ‘Then, why use them at all, you might ask, because they are gentler- yes. They tend to elicit quicker and more precise reactions from the horse if you and the animal are both trained correctly to work with spurs.

If you want to ride with spurs but are worried about hurting your horse, some spurs are designed with special ends to prevent injuring horses. One option is the Coronet Soft Touch Roller Ball Humane Spurs.

These spurs have a rollerball in place of a pointy rowel and work great for sensitive horses. The area of the spur that touches the horse is smooth and humane. You can click here to read what Amazon customers say about these spurs.

Did Cowboys Really Wear Spurs?

Yes, cowboy really wore spurs and still do, actually. Spurs have been around since the Iron age. Romans would even use them in combat. However, western movies often don’t use real spurs simply because actors aren’t trained to use them.

Spurs are not meant to serve as a disciplining tool, and riders are well aware of that. They value their horses, and most of the time, they know not to mistreat them.

If you have mastered the art of riding with spurs, don’t shy away from using them. Mere touches should be enough most of the time so put pressure only when and as needed.

Over time, you will develop a nonverbal connection with your horse, and it will probably understand what you want simply by a gentle nudge of your legs. Spurs are beneficial to gain control over the horse, but only if the horse is trained correctly and if and only if used correctly.

The bottom line is that spurs should enhance communication, not distort it. Therefore, use as little pressure with spurs as possible but as much as you need.

Can you wear spurs with any cowboy boots?

Spurs fit most cowboy boots, and you need only check the rear portion of the boots to ensure it has a spur ledge. The spur ledge is the part of the boot that extends beyond the heel and prevents the spur yoke from slipping off.

Every pair of cowboy boots I’ve seen has a spur ledge. My favorite boots for riding are Justin Ropers. I cover these boots and two others in an article you can read here: The 3 Best Cowboy Boots for Western Horseback Riding.

How do you put spurs on cowboy boots?

Spurs are designed to attach to cowboy boots with two small leather straps that connect in front of your boots like a simple belt. The ends of the leather straps fasten to the spur yoke by sliding its holes onto the yoke buttons.

When you put your spurs on your boots, ensure they are tight enough to prevent them from slipping past your boot’s heel ledge, this is your primary consideration. Your spurs should fit snugly but not tight.

If you’re in the market for some new leather straps for your spurs, Amazon has a large selection you can check out here.

Tips for using spurs:

• Don’t ride a horse with spurs unless you’ve been trained in their use. This is critical because improperly using spurs can damage a good horse.
• Only use spurs on horses that are trained with leg cues.
• Cue your horse with your legs even while riding with spurs; only use the spurs when the animal misses a cue or makes a mistake, and then you slightly touch the horse with the spurs to get its attention.
• Adjust your spurs so you can ride comfortably without inadvertently hitting your horse with the rowels.
• Ride sparingly with spurs. My son-in-law rides horses daily but only puts his spurs on when he works cows. His horse gets excited when he rides with his spurs and anticipates a fun-filled day.

Below is a helpful YouTube video explaining how to use spurs correctly.

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