Page "Spur" Paragraph 24

Spurs in English riding tend to use a spur that is very sleek, slim and conservative in design, with a shorter neck, as the saddle and leg position is closer to the horse.

They usually have a rounded or blunt end.

Rowels are not as popular as the plain blunt end, although there are types that include a rowel or smooth disk on the end.

When used in sports requiring finesse, such as dressage, the spur's purpose is not to speed up a horse, but to give accurate and precise aids in lateral and complex movements, such as pirouettes, travers and renvers, and the airs above the ground.

Dressage riders tend to ride in " Waterford " style spurs with a rounded knob at the end.

Conversely, show hunter and jumper riders may use a flatter end to encourage forward movement, such as the Prince of Wales design.