Horse Riding Equipment – Old Cavalry Spurs

The use of boot spurs in a cavalry brigade is something that over time is used in many different continents. Cavalry spurs have been determined as a sign of level and experience within a brigade and spurs were awarded to those cavalrymen who had progressed onto becoming much more than just one of the new recruits.

There is an old tradition known as the spur ride where all of the new military cavalry recruits perform a series of tests and events that test their skills on top of their steed. They were checked on their knowledge on the rules, regulations, history and traditions of the mounted cavalry, which the soldiers were expected to recite these facts from only their memory. The “Spur Ride” was a way that the mounted cavalry could “earn their spurs” to prove and demonstrate that they had become more accomplished horsemen and soldiers than the new recruits.

After the soldiers were involved in their 1st combat scenario, they were given a second pair of spurs as a medal and then were drafted into “The Order Of The Spur”. The boot spurs and an award certificate were presented during a special banquet or event that is known as the “Spur Dinner” where all of rookie cavalry were given their spurs, the details of comrades killed in battle were announced and other medals and awards were presented. As well as being awarded the heel spurs, the cavalry soldiers were also awarded a stetson hat, which was also seen as a sign of level within the ranks.

The cavalry soldiers that had earned their spurs were then perceived as a better level than those in the cavalry who had none or were yet to earn their spurs. Although the soldiers may be of a similar or the same military rank, that they had “earned their spurs” during battle, as part of the “Spur Ride” or a task was a sign of their seniority over those who had none.

Cavalry boot spurs were primarily manufactured using silver and were mainly styled on the English Prince Of Wales spurs. Sets of gold boot spurs were awarded to soldiers of higher military rank or those that had been involved in a larger amount of combat scenarios.

There are many types of boot spurs that have been worn and used over Western America. If you come over to the authors web site, you can find a lot more information about heel spurs and see some pictures of Cavalry Spurs and find out detail about the people that made them. – 22359