| It is thought that the earliest spurs were probably | | | | style spurs tend to be heavy and are often decorated |
| made from bone or wood. Spurs have been used by | | | | with rowels that rotate or spin. The neck of the spur is |
| horsemen and cowboys throughout the ages. In its | | | | longer than others to fit the style of the western rider. |
| earliest days the spur and the metal it was made with | | | | The English spur is very different as it is lighter and |
| were a mark of rank. This is where the expression to | | | | more slim. It has a short neck with usually no rowel. |
| "earn your spurs" came from. As punishment a knight | | | | The English spur has a blunt projection that is usually |
| would have his spurs and sword broken and taken | | | | rounded. There are some English spurs that use a |
| away as part of his disgrace Rowels came along in | | | | rowel, but they are rounded with no spikes and are |
| France or Spain in the 10th Century or so and evolved | | | | used in sports requiring finesse such as dressage. Its |
| through the Northern European and Spanish cultures | | | | goal is not to speed the horse up but to control his |
| according to their needs at the time. The Rowel of a | | | | movements in precise complex movements. |
| spur is usually round and spins like a wheel with spikes | | | | A few types of spurs are: Prince of Wales style, The |
| that attach to the neck or shank of the spur. It is the | | | | Disk style, Swan neck with rowels and the Waterford |
| part that actually touches the horse and makes a jingle | | | | spur. They are divided in to Men's, Women's and |
| noise when the rider is walking around. | | | | Children's, according to the width of the spur. They also |
| Spurs are best known in the American West for use | | | | come in different neck lengths. |
| with the American cowboys. Spur styles continue to | | | | There are also modern type spurs used by |
| change just as the saddle, chaps and all other | | | | motorcyclists. They are basically worn as foot jewelry |
| horse-riding equipment has changed over the years. | | | | that are hung off of the leather motorcycle boots. |
| The influence of early Spanish design is still evident in | | | | They are sometimes similar to spurs worn by |
| today's spurs. Chaps also influenced the spur in that | | | | equestrians and can actually be a safety tool as some |
| where long chaps are worn, a dropped heel pattern | | | | of them have bright material that can worn motor |
| and a chap guard were invented. The chap guard has | | | | vehicle drivers of their presence on the road. They can |
| a curved blunt piece that comes out on the shank just | | | | even add small strobing LED lights to them for added |
| behind the heel which keeps the chap away from the | | | | safety at night. |
| rowel. The rowel is usually sharp and could tear up the | | | | In any case, the spur has had a long history and |
| leather of your chap in no time. | | | | multiple uses even in modern day. They will always be |
| There are as many spur designs as their are horses in | | | | ultimately thought of as a tool of the American |
| Wyoming and every maker tends to put their own | | | | cowboy in the end. |
| special interest and personality to each one. Western | | | | |