Conference noted::equitation

    Michelle,
    
    Since you mention Linda Tellington-Jones, I assume you're somewhat
    familiar with her work. LTJ has advocated reflexive belly work similar to 
    what you described for many years. When asked why she uses it, she said
    that it does help to teach a horse to keep its topline up by
    contracting the abdomen. 
    
    Horses with swaybacks can be helped. Dr Deb Bennett's Conformation
    Analysis books Vol I and II describe the how and why of raising the
    topline pretty well. She also describes the "belly therapy" and training 
    program she used to rehab just such a horse.
    
    Between LTJ's books and Dr Deb's, you oughta get some good ideas on how
    to help this horse. 

    When Algiers' came back from being "broken," he was swaybacked (guess
    they took my request to have him broke too literally!).  It took about
    six months for his stomach muscles to strengthen enough to straighten
    his back, and a couple more to really start to lift it.  Now it is
    perfect.  I attribute it to the following:
    
    .  I rub his stomach with either a grooma tool or one of those rubber
    grooming gloves before each ride and after each ride.  And I used to 
    come out and groom him on days I didn't ride.  This is especially 
    effective in the summer, when he has an itchy stomach and really gets 
    into it.  Its also effective in the winter, although more difficult to 
    do because he gets too wild.
    
    .  I use a short, blunt spur to supplement my leg aids.  My purpose
    was actually dual -- horses that are a little longish through the loin
    tend to be unresponsive to just leg aids because it's harder for them
    to connect and come through their backs.  (They also are more prone to
    develop sway backs).  Goosing them with spurs causes them to cramp up 
    their stomach muscles, thereby lifting their backs and pulling their hind
    ends a little more under them.  Effective for longbacked, unresponsive
    horses and also for lifting swaybacks.  I read this years ago in
    Seunig's Horsemanship.  It worked with my last horse (not sway backed,
    but long and had a hard time connecting) and it worked with Algiers.
    
    While I continue the grooma for maintenance, I really think the spurs
    made the huge difference in Algiers.
    
    Mary

Thanks for the replies.  

Mary, your advice is fascinating.
Also, it's good to hear a success story.

I'm not sure spurs are an option for me.
Sounds like a topic to take up with a
riding instructor who has seen me ride (as to 
whether my lower legs are quiet and skilled 
enough to manage spurs).  But at least I can 
keep this in mind - save it for the future.


While we're at it, does anybody want to give
any other advice about spurs in general?  

Since I've never used them, I have some
totally ignorant questions.  Like, is it 
possible to wear spurs without always using them?  
I mean, can you give a "plain" leg aid without 
necessarily poking the horse, once the spurs are on?
Or will the spur always touch the horse first,
and it's just a matter of how much force is applied?

    How easy it is to use/misuse spurs depends on more than just the
    steadiness of your legs.  In my case, I also need them because Algiers
    is so little for me that I have a hard time using my lower leg very
    much.  I have to wear the spurs very high and turn up to reach him. 
    Also, if your ankles are flexible, you can pull your toes well in and
    keep your heels well out, while at the same time keeping your knee open
    and relaxed (believe me, it really is possible!).
     
    By gradually pulling your leg in, with heel pressed well down,  from the 
    calve downward you can increase the leg pressure, stopping at any point 
    or continuing down to touching with the spur.  (at least, in theory ;-)
    
    One reason I use very short, blunt spurs is to help prevent accidental
    pokes.  I can goose myself with these spurs and it doesn't feel like
    anything more than someone poking with a finger!
    
    Mary

  Another way to strengthen abdominal muscles is to ride or longe the
  horse over ground poles and cavaletti gymnastics. This should encourage
  the the horse to reach forward and push with the hind legs and to
  drop his head. This will stretch the topline and build the muscles.
  If he is not used to going thru poles he may rush them at first, 
  but encourage a long low *relaxed* stride with a lowered head.
  Do not let the horse rush thru them with his head in the air. If
  he does this, the poles may be set at an uncomfortable distance for 
  him. For the trot, the poles should be set from 30-40 inches apart, 
  (30 being for ponies, 40 inches for large horses). For cantering set
  the poles 8-10 feet apart. If you are not experienced at setting the 
  distances then it may take a few tries to find the best distance.
  
  There are several books written simply of the subject of working over
  cavaletti. You may want to check them out.

  Consistent daily work with these will definitely improve your horses
  condition. You might even want to take a "before" picture and compare
  it with an "after" picture taken six months later. After a year of 
  working my mare (who had a dropped back due to two foals) over ground 
  poles, cavaletti and gymnastics I showed some "before" and "after" 
  pictures of her to some friends and they did not believe it was the 
  same horse because the muscling of her entire body had changed so much. 
  While her back could not be restored to its original (pre-foaling) 
  position the conditioning did lift the back and change the shape of it 
  enough that she had to be re-fitted with a new saddle. I should also
  mention that I follow the exact same conditioning routine for horses 
  with normal backs, because it will build a strong athletic horse.

Mary,

If you plan to use spurs if/when you show Algiers, you may want to check the 
rules on spurs.  I believe that (as of recently) the shank MUST be pointed 
DOWNWARD.  I also seem to remember reading that gooseneck spurs are not allowed, 
and that there is a maximum shank length. (Maybe Melinda can help on this one??)


kmr

    Thanks for the info.  It shouldn't be a problem, because if I ride with
    boots I can simply move the spurs up closer to my ankle which puts them
    into the position I need.  The length of my spurs is definitely not a
    problem, since I don't think you can get them any shorter than mine. 
    I'm not an expert on spurs, but gooseneck sounds like it goes with
    rowel spurs.  Mine are just 1/4" long dull things.  I can poke myself
    in the ribs with them and it just feels like a finger poke.
    
    (I'm wearing them pointing up because I've been riding with "riding 
    sneakers" since the heel and part of the sole ripped off of my ancient 
    old boots.  My foot simply hangs to low for me to be able to touch him
    without pulling it way up.  If Algiers, brat that he is ;-), doesn't feel
    my leg wrapped right around him at all times, he's remarkably quick to
    take full advantage.  For a horse that seems to have the attention span
    of a knat, he always seems to be fully tuned into any "holes" that open
    up in my riding!  BTW, I want to get custom boots, but I'm not going to 
    spend that kind of money until I'm more certain of my job.)
    
    Mary 

    Hi Mary-
    
    I just started using spurs like yours too.   I've been having trouble
    with upward transitions, and now that she know I might have spurs on,
    she is getting better and quicker to pick them up.  We still have a
    long way to go for the perfect smooth transition, but we're getting
    there.
    
    She sounds like your Algiers (SP), she can always find that hole.  I
    think she's too smart for her own good.
    
    Michele
    

    Just to clarify on gooseneck spurs -
    
    They come with tiny rowels and without any rowels.  Without rowels the
    end of the spur is rounded.  I have both kinds since my horse is small
    and they are the only spurs that allow me to use the spur without
    having to move my leg up.  I used to use them when showing Ellie in
    dressage shows, but that was over 4 years ago so I don't know what the
    rules are now.  I don't see how even the ones with rowels can be not
    allowed when a lot of people wear spurs with long straight shanks and
    substantial rowels.
    
    From what I've seen, the riders in the Spanish Riding School use the
    gooseneck spurs.
    
    						Jan

    re .6, .9 and others about use and rules on spurs:
    
    Yes, one can use the leg aids independently of the spur if the legs
    are in good position. If the legs are in proper position, the rider
    uses the inside of the calf for a leg aid. A slight turning in of the 
    heel is required to use the spur. If rider's toe is turned out ALL the
    time, it will be difficult to separate the leg from the spur.
    
    The rules on what kind of spur is acceptable varies with each sport.
    For example, the AHSA 1992-93 rule book says NOTHING about spurs for
    the Jumper Division. The Dressage Division rules say only that spurs
    are required above Fourth Level. The Hunter Division rules say that
    spurs are optional but if worn they must be an ordinary hunting
    spur(whatever that is!) w/o rowels and must be worn on the heel. 
    
    The Combined Training rule is the most explicit and most restrictive.
    For CT, the spurs must be smooth metal; worn with the shank
    towards the rear (! Has anybody ever worn them any other way?); The
    shank can be no more than 3.5 CM; Blunt end; No rowels; And if the
    shank is curved, the spur must be worn with the shank pointing
    downwards.
    
    The way I interpret those rules, a gooseneck spur w/o rowels could be
    used in any type of competition except perhaps hunter classes. Of course, 
    to qualify for CT, they would have to shanks of 3.5 CM or less and be worn 
    with the curve down.
    
    For dressage and showkumpimg, there's nothing in the rules to prevent
    you from wearing western spurs with big jingling rowels...you know the
    kind I mean...the ones that always give the "bad guy" away when he's
    trying to sneak up on the hero in a cowboy movie. ;-)
    
    
    John

    John, you're quite right about the Spanish Riding School -- they do use
    gooseneck-type spurs.  They have to for the same reason I mentioned --
    their legs simply hang too far below the horses side to be able to be
    effective.
    
    RE: spurs that must point to the rear -- I've seen spurs designed so
    the spur protrudes from the *inside* of the heel instead of the back.  
    That's probably what is illegal.  I would think it would be impossible 
    to keep from accidentally poking the horse with those!!
    
    Mary

    Err, that was Jan that mentioned that the Spanish Riding School use 
    gooseneck spurs. And you're right about the reason. Which, as Jan
    said, is the reason she uses them on her 15H horse. Jan's tall and
    long-legged. The rising curve of the gooseneck lets her use the spur
    w/o drawing her leg up.
    
    BTW, I measured Jan's gooseneck spurs. They are 4.5 CM which would make
    her's illegal for 3-day even though they have a blunt end and are
    smooth metal. For those who don't have a meterstick handy, 3.5 CM(the
    3-day limit for spur length) is about 1 3/8" while 4.5 CM is approx 1 3/4"
    
    John

    Oops!   Sorry Jan...er John! ;-)
    
    Mary

    That's OK, Mary!  I'm not in here as often as John is, plus having
    first names that are similar makes things even more confusing.
    
    						Jan