Spurs: which model to choose and how to put them on
Before comparing spur models, look at your leg. A spur is only useful to a rider whose heel stays in place, and it then refines a request the lower leg has already made. Here are the shapes we sell, how to fit them on the boot and what the FFE and the FEI allow in 2026.
What a spur is for: refining the leg aid
The British Pony Club makes its young riders take an exam, the Spurs Test, before allowing them to wear spurs. Its syllabus is clear: the spur is there to give a more precise leg aid, not to make the horse go faster. It can leave bruises hidden under the coat, and an unsteady leg or a foot turned outwards makes it touch for no reason, even when the horse is obeying.
The rules penalise misuse. The FFE classes excessive use of spurs as ill-treatment (general provisions, art. 1.5). In international dressage, fresh blood in the spur area, found at the check at the end of the test, eliminates the combination: this is article 424 of the FEI dressage rules.
Spurs: the models and who they suit
Models differ mainly in the end of the neck, the part that touches the horse's side. You'll find them in our spurs range, some in men's and ladies' versions.
Ball or rounded end, to start with
The neck ends in a ball or a round knob. The FEI accepts these so-called “Impulse” spurs, in metal or hard plastic, even in pony jumping classes. We recommend them for a first pair: stainless steel ball spurs, QHP Junior spurs with a knob, stated as 15 mm, or rounded-end spurs covered in rubber.
Prince of Wales, the most common
Short, straight neck, flat end: you see it as much in dressage as in jumping. Among our Prince of Wales spurs are the BR men's model, the HKM one, the HFI Metalab in rubber-covered stainless steel and the Privilège Kennedy, overmoulded in polyamide to fit the profile of the boot.
Hammer
The end widens into a small flat head, which presses on a wider area than a thin neck. The T de T hammer spurs, in stainless steel, have a rubber cover to prevent rubbing on the boot. In show jumping, the FEI also allows the hammer shape for ponies and children. You'll find them among our hammer or round-end spurs.
Rowel
A small wheel turns at the end of the neck. If smooth, it rolls over the coat; if notched or serrated, it is forbidden in show jumping, under both FFE and FEI rules. It suits experienced riders with a very steady leg, and several classes exclude it (see the table below).
Rubber cover or overmoulding
Rubber mainly protects the leather of your boots, according to the product pages for the T de T and rounded-end models. In competition, check that it is allowed: the FEI requires a metal spur in dressage, as does the FFE in the Pro division, and from 1 February 2027 the FEI will ban covering the neck in show jumping.
Length and shape of the neck
The shorter the neck, the more you have to turn your heel to make contact: that's a safeguard as long as your leg isn't yet steady. A tall rider on a narrow horse may need a longer neck so as not to raise the heel with every aid. If the neck is curved, as on the swan neck, the curve is worn pointing downwards: the FFE requires this in show jumping, and the FEI for ponies and children in show jumping.
How to put your spurs on your boots
The U-shaped arm goes round the back of the boot and rests on the heel counter, above the heel. If your boot has a spur rest, the small lug that stops it slipping down, sit the arm on it: this is the case with the Privilège Vérone jodhpur boots, in our range of jodhpur boots. The strap goes over the instep and then under the arch, in front of the heel.
The Spurs Test gives two guidelines:
- the neck stays horizontal or points downwards, never upwards;
- the buckle fastens on the outside of the foot, with the loose end of the strap pointing downwards.
These guidelines also tell you which spur goes on the right. If, with the neck pointing down, the buckle ends up on the inside of the foot, swap the two spurs over. Then tighten just enough that the spur doesn't turn when you walk.
Beginners: when should you start wearing spurs?
When your leg stays steady on its own. To pass the Spurs Test, riders must show a low, still leg and move their pony forward from the lower leg without touching it with the spur. The Pony Club also points out that not all horses tolerate being ridden with spurs.
In FFE competition, they are forbidden in Club A and Poney A classes, which are reserved for the smallest ponies and for children aged 12 or under.
Spurs in competition: what the FFE and the FEI say
This table summarises the rules in force in October 2026. The neck length is measured from the boot.
| Federation | Classes | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| FFE | Club A and Poney A | Spurs forbidden |
| FFE | Other Poney and Club Poney classes | Neck of 2 cm maximum |
| FFE | All other classes | 4 cm maximum, except in Amateur and Pro dressage, where the length is not limited |
| FFE | Show jumping | One spur per boot, neck pointing backwards and downwards; notched rowels forbidden; smooth rowels allowed, except in Club, Poney and Préparatoire classes up to 0.95 m |
| FFE | Dressage | Spurs optional, made of metal in the Pro division, rowels smooth and free to turn; only the models pictured in the appendix to the rules are allowed |
| FEI | Dressage | Optional, made of metal, straight or curved neck pointing backwards, smooth rowels; children and ponies: 3.5 cm maximum, no rowel |
| FEI | Show jumping | One spur per boot, notched rowels forbidden, smooth discs allowed; ponies and children: smooth metal, 4 cm maximum, blunt end |
Sources: FFE, general provisions (art. 6.4), show jumping rules (art. 5.3) and dressage rules (art. 4.3 and appendix), applicable since 1 September 2026; FEI, dressage equipment requirements and 2026 jumping rules (annex VIII).
Worth noting for the future: the FEI document on jumping equipment applicable from 1 February 2027 extends the 4 cm limit to all riders, including seniors. Under FFE rules, in all disciplines, the ground jury may also ban a spur it considers abnormal or cruel (general provisions, art. 7.5).
Caring for spurs and straps
The Pony Club advises taking spurs apart to clean them. The metal is washed in hot water then polished with a cloth; the leather strap is treated with leather soap or polish. Then store the spurs without their straps. For the leather, our Sellerie de Marigny glycerine soap does the job.
A split or frayed strap should be replaced before it breaks. Our replacement spur straps are by BR, in braided nylon or in nylon with chrome-plated zinc buckles.
Frequently asked questions
Can you wear spurs on jodhpur boots?
Yes, if the heel is well defined: the spur rests on the heel counter just as on a long boot. A spur rest above the heel stops it slipping towards the sole. On a very flat heel, it tends to slip down. The simplest thing is to try the pair with your jodhpur boots at our shop in Saint-Lô.
What neck length for a first pair of spurs?
A short neck with a round end. In Poney and Club Poney classes, the FFE in fact limits the neck to 2 cm, measured from the boot; the QHP Junior spurs are stated as 15 mm. If you're between two lengths, take the shorter one, then ask your instructor to watch your leg during a lesson.
Are rowel spurs forbidden?
Not everywhere. In show jumping, the FFE and the FEI ban any notched or serrated rowel. Smooth rowels are allowed in dressage, except for children and ponies under FEI rules, and in show jumping from Amateur, Pro and 1 m Préparatoire classes upwards. In Club and Poney show jumping, the FFE only allows a few ball or roller models.
Should you take your spurs off to lunge?
Yes, and more generally as soon as you dismount. The British Pony Club considers them particularly dangerous when lungeing, because they can trip you up; they also mark the leather of your boots when you walk. Take them off before working from the ground or leading the horse in hand.
How can I tell if my horse doesn't tolerate spurs well?
The Pony Club lists several signs: a tense or anxious horse, head in the air, quarters swinging out, refusing to go forward or, on the contrary, rushing, kicking out against the pressure of the spur. After your ride, run your hand over the horse's sides. A mark or swelling indicates a spur that is too strong or a leg that moves: go back to a milder model.
