Horses are one of the earliest modes of human transportation and riders have always needed help to communicate with and steer their horse. Spurs have been used since ancient times. As early as the 5th century, the Celts as well as the ancient Roman military used spurs during combat to steer their horses, leaving the rider鈥檚 hands free to fight. Medieval knights wore gilded or silver spurs using them as a symbol Knighthood. The Spanish introduced horses and spurs to the Americas.
Today, horses are used both for work and recreation and riders still use spurs. Spurs are used to supplement the rider鈥檚 leg, voice and hand commands. Used by experienced riders, spurs are not harmful to the horse and should never be used to punish horses. Used by inexperienced riders or used incorrectly they can cause pain and injury to the horse. Spurs come in pairs and attach to the rider鈥檚 boot heels. Western spurs have rowels, those spinning stars at the end of the neck. The rowels should not be sharp while the spinning movement allows the rowel to move along the horse鈥檚 side. Instead of a pronged rowel, spurs can have a round end, a knob end or a flat end. The type of spur used depends on the activity of the rider, barrel racing, dressage, rodeo or working cattle.
This pair of western spurs is decorated with silver hearts and diamonds with a stockinged women鈥檚 leg holds the rowels. The rowel is a copper 5-pointed star. The bootstraps are leather with metal buckles.