Spurs - Slant vrs Straight hangers

[Tentman]

Hello Guys

I’ve had the same set of spurs for more than 20 years, they are a locally forged set of very plain slant hanger in a “cutter” style with 1 ¼ shanks.

Since reading the article on spurs in a recent Western Horseman I’ve realised my aids might be more effective if I had spurs more suited to my build and horses– I’ve long legs and ride smallish horses!

So I’ve cast around and seen a couple of styles I think might suit (something like the Cowpuncher’s 603 or a Tom Balding #8 shank).

What I can’t figure is whether I’d be best with slanted or straight hangers – what does each type do different to the other? Is a boot thing or strap thing or how they move on your boot (I wear low ropers, usually just cheap Dan Post’s). Any help or comments appreciated.

 

[JF Ranch]

If you are a tall or big guy, why do you ride short horses? It would make more sense to me if you rode a proportionally sized horse to your size, for a variety of reasons. One of which would be the proximity of your heels to the horse's belly.

Astride an appropriately sized horse, the rider's knees should have a slight bend and his heels should be close to the lower belly of the horse. I prefer short shanked spurs because I tend to over use the longer ones. Mine are straight and one inch long. Spurs are just an aid and should only be used if leg pressure doesn't get the desired results.

I don't know the technical philosophy behind it but I don't see an advantage to slanted spurs. Straight ones keep my toes out and heels down like they should be. Oh well, maybe an expert should have answered this one.

 

[flyingS]

I think that you are asking about the buttons on your spurs. Forgive my lack of technical terminalogy. I think that straight or slanted is preference. I have a fairly big foot so I prefer a slanted button, straight or solid buttons tend to rub my ankle raw, I generally walk over my heel so it is extremely un comfortable. If you were to have a set custom made I suppose you could have the band made long enough to remedy the problem. My favorite spurs were hand made with a short straight shank, 1" band, and slanted buttons, someone stole them when I was in college. Apparently they like them equally as well. Hope I read your question correctly.

 

[Tentman]

Thanks FlyingS - that makes sense, the buttons on my current set do "grab" my ankle from time to time and they have a short band. I think I need a longer band with slanted hangers

Cheers

 

[Cutter6666]

If you are a tall or big guy, why do you ride short horses? It would make more sense to me if you rode a proportionally sized horse to your size, for a variety of reasons. One of which would be the proximity of your heels to the horse's belly.

Astride an appropriately sized horse, the rider's knees should have a slight bend and his heels should be close to the lower belly of the horse. I prefer short shanked spurs because I tend to over use the longer ones. Mine are straight and one inch long. Spurs are just an aid and should only be used if leg pressure doesn't get the desired results.

I don't know the technical philosophy behind it but I don't see an advantage to slanted spurs. Straight ones keep my toes out and heels down like they should be. Oh well, maybe an expert should have answered this one.

I had the same question you did about why is this taller person riding smaller horses

 

[Puzzled]

I had the same question you did about why is this taller person riding smaller horses

It's not so far to the ground

 

[Faster horses]

I had the same question you did about why is this taller person riding smaller horses

All cutting horses tend to be smaller. I took it that he was a cutting horse man.

 

[Puzzled]

I think I may have misused my spurs one time. The horse I was on spooked and went sideways, to the left, I sunk
the right side spur into her ribs and hung on.
I think the shanks were angled up slightly to start with, but the one on the right side was straight after the ride.

 

[Older Whiskey]

Interesting that we get a new member just to resurrect an old thread that deals with rodeo more than ranching.

In my opinion, if a cow horse needs to be spurred, then both the horse and rider need more training. My grandpa rode and currently one of my cousins, age 85, rides a hinny and her boots don't have any spurs, nor did his, nor does she heel kick the poor equine in the flanks like she is trying to impress Tonto with her horse skills. Hi ho Silver!

Moral of my story. If you don't have to spur a Jackass, then you don't need to spur a horse.

The only thing on my ranch with spurs was Rojo Red and it wasn't that he had spurs that led to his demise, it was him bragging about it, inciting hate and discontent among the other animals and failing to adhere to a government mandated change. He had one spur angled up and one straight and while that led him to many a barnyard victory, it didn't help his final case.

That is all I have to add on the spur of the moment!

One more thing for y'all that don't know. Rojo Red was a bad egg.

 

[Puzzled]

My Dad told me once that if a horse decides to buck, you just stick the spurs between the ribs and turn over the liver,
and they will straighten right and travel.

 

[webfoot]

My old rope horse tended to duck off to the left. I just wore a spur on my left foot. Just touch him lightly and he would forget his cheating me.

But I did run a lot of iron into some bareback broncs. I do remember Bobby Schall chilling a few horses he could spur so hard.

 

[Puzzled]

My old rope horse tended to duck off to the left. I just wore a spur on my left foot. Just touch him lightly and he would forget his cheating me.

But I did run a lot of iron into some bareback broncs. I do remember Bobby Schall chilling a few horses he could spur so hard

Did they have to give him a re-ride ? Did the horses have to be retired as kids horses ?

 

[webfoot]

Did they have to give him a re-ride ? Did the horses have to be retired as kids horses ?

Nope and Nope. If they had quit he would have got a reride. They just got weaker. The horses just got a little time off. Maybe run them under some kid that they could buck off to build their confidence.

 

[Faster horses]

My old rope horse tended to duck off to the left. I just wore a spur on my left foot. Just touch him lightly and he would forget his cheating me.

But I did run a lot of iron into some bareback broncs. I do remember Bobby Schall chilling a few horses he could spur so hard.

Bobby Schall. "Ole Iron Head". He could have been a NFR champion if he didn't have such a temper. He was quite a guy. I forget what he passed away from, (the obituary says cancer) he wasn't all that old. Saw him compete many times.

I remember a young guy we know that wanted to bulldog so he went to Bobby Schall to learn. Bobby was so determined that this guy make a good bulldogger, every run down the arena Bob ran along side coaching the whole time. He sure saw something in this young guy because the young feller went on to compete in the NFR at least twice.

I found this:

https://www.fosterfhandcrematory.com/obituary/Robert-Schall

 

[webfoot]

Bobby Schall. "Ole Iron Head". He could have been a NFR champion if he didn't have such a temper. He was quite a guy. I forget what he passed away from, (the obituary says cancer) he wasn't all that old. Saw him compete many times.

I remember a young guy we know that wanted to bulldog so he went to Bobby Schall to learn. Bobby was so determined that this guy make a good bulldogger, every run down the arena Bob ran along side coaching the whole time. He sure saw something in this young guy because the young feller went on to compete in the NFR at least twice.

I found this:

https://www.fosterfhandcrematory.com/obituary/Robert-Schall

I first met Bob in '71 we were both riding college rodeo (at the same time met our friend OT). Bob was real good. I was a young kid just starting out. Then through the years I ran into him a number of times. I never saw this temper you mentioned.
Back then the college region was WA, OR, MT, and norther ID. There was 4 bareback riders who got the represent the region to the college nationals. They were
Bobby who won the college nationals that year. Won the Linderman award and as you said should have made the NFR.
Steve who ranches in eastern OR. his son made the NFR several times riding bareback broncs
Lee, The time I saw him he asked me who ran the out gate at the Joseph OR rodeo. He got hung up on a BB horse and the guy opened the out gate. He went into the stripping chute hung on the side of the bronc. After he got out of the hospital nobody in Joseph would tell him who the guy was.
Keith Maddox who went on to bring American hat back into business
I always wore American hats back when I was going. And then for years you couldn't find an American hat. Now they are very popular again. +x

 

[Puzzled]

Lee, The time I saw him he asked me who ran the out gate at the Joseph OR rodeo. He got hung up on a BB horse and the guy opened the out gate. He went into the stripping chute hung on the side of the bronc. After he got out of the hospital nobody in Joseph would tell him who the guy was.

Was he able to ride again ?

 

[webfoot]

Was he able to ride again ?

Yes, he was asking me/telling me the story at a rodeo we were both entered in. If you think a little thing like a week or so in hospital makes a bronc rider quit, you haven't met many bronc bronc riders.