Spurs are bad. Are they? Are they really? Because as a responsible individual raised to use spurs in a mature way (that is, in concordance with each individual horse and situation, and completely devoid of emotion, always in rhythm with the horse’s movement, and with the ultimate goal of using quieter and quieter cues to establish a lighter more responsive horse), it is my opinion that spurs are a rather useful tool. Okay, spurs would be superfluous if we were living in an ideal world where no horse was ever lazy or crooked. But let’s face it, horses are large creatures, and many of them need encouragement to move their behinds, and spurs are incredibly helpful in that pursuit, as opposed to bare feet. If someone poked you in the ribs you would be far more likely to move away than if they just leaned into you.
Horses are pretty huge compared to humans, and as such they pose a potential danger to their rider, even taking into account their generally docile nature. Whether a horse is being ridden along the edge of a steep drop-off or in the middle of the show ring, it’s better for everyone involved if the horse is alert and cooperative, having been attuned to pokes and tickles, and, dare I say it, the occasional justified jab, as opposed to the horse trained only with bare legs, who might have this sort of attitude: “Oh, the human is bumping me with her legs again…maybe I’ll think about moseying onward. After I snatch a few more mouthfuls of grass. Maybe.” Allow me to insert yet another disclaimer: every horse is an individual and should be treated and trained as such. I’m not saying every horse needs to be ridden with spurs (for example: not three year olds being started under saddle and just going their first year or so). But when I say that I ride with spurs, don’t look at me like I just told you I ate a chocolate cake for breakfast. Spurs have their place and are not inherently evil. I rode a friend’s chestnut gelding back in Pennsylvania. He was fun to ride, except when he trotted past one wall that he refused to go near. At every pass he would vear further toward the center of the arena. Whether that wall was scary or not, as far as I was concerned the horse was not allowed to just go swerving around the arena on a whim. A generally pleasant woman on an adorable palamino mare looked on with distain as I used my whip to encourage my chestnut fellow to move closer to the wall he despised (either out of irrational fear or habitual naughtiness…I couldn’t quite tell so I was being careful). Now I like to differentiate between a “smart tap” and a “cruel beating” when I use a riding whip. Whether I say “…ehem…” or “HELLO!!” with a whip it’s nothing compared to the bites and kicks that horses use to establish herd dominance with each other, so I was amused when the woman on the palamino hollered across the arena, “Why are you beating your horse?”
Ironic timing, because just then the horse I was riding decided the wall he disliked wasn’t so bad after all, and, at my request, he actually side-stepped toward the offending barrier. I immediately released the pressure on the horse as a reward and my enthusiastic praise drowned out the other woman’s demanding inquisition. “GOOD BOYYYY!” A hearty pat on his neck made up for the lather of sweat that had accumulated there, and his ear flicked back in response. I don’t know if a light dawned for that woman or not, but I bet her little palamino wouldn’t have minded putting forth more effort some days in order to receive such lavish praise.
Yeah, well, exerting pressure on a horse is mean.
Yes, well you could say that about personal trainers and drill sergeants, but aren’t muscles fun, and isn’t fitness great? It would be helpful if horses pushed themselves and passaged and pirouetted around the pasture in their free time, but they just don’t, and whips and spurs help riders convince the horse that they’re capable of more than they think they are. We all benefit from pushing past our limits, even though we would all rather just hang out in the pasture, or sit on the couch and eat ice cream, depending on which sort of critter we are. Spurs and whips shouldn’t automatically be shunned; they’re great tools of the trade.
I’m not saying that everyone should own a gun. A scary movie wouldn’t be entertaining if it’s characters were armed and alert. But don’t look at me like I carry a possum in my handbag if I tell you I own a gun. Because I think I speak for many a fine upstanding American when I say that any bad guy who thinks he can safely enter my residence after nightfall with intent to harm has another thing coming. Yes, I could defend myself by other means. Pepper spray: (“Blast, now I can’t see or breathe either.”). Rubberbands: (“Ka-pwing!”). A hunting knife: (Ooh, in-your-face messy results). But if a potential assailant is heavily armed or hopped up on PCP I’m going to want something with a little stopping power, so why not a gun?
You may say that’s all well and good, but what about accidents involving children and guns? Those are terrible and sad, but only happen fractionally as often as people using guns to defend themselves, despite heavy media coverage on the former, and frustratingly minimal coverage on the latter. Take, for example, the 1,500,000 citizens who legally use guns to defend themselves on a yearly basis, in comparison to the (while not meager, still significantly less) 30,000 gun deaths by accidents, suicides, and homicides combined, according to recent numbers from the National Safety Council.
On the other hand, to quote one anonymous individual who stated his view on the matter, “If some &@#! busts down your door and comes after you, you’re not going to give a *#@%! about statistics.”
But surely if we limit people’s access to guns the world would be a safer place.
Limit people’s access to guns? You mean allow the government to pass laws banning the use of firearms by law-abiding citizens? As I said before, we don’t live in an ideal society. There is no “if nobody has guns then gun-related crimes will no longer take place”.
Criminals will always be able to get guns.
It sounds like a nice idea, though, if you don’t think too hard about it: Let’s outlaw guns. Brilliant. Lets outlaw drugs too. And crime, while we’re at it. It’s unfortunate that guns fall into the wrong hands. The answer is not to take guns out of the right hands.
In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million 'educated' people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.
I believe it was Isoroku Yamamoto who said, “I would never invade the United States. There would be a gun behind every blade of grass.” I’m sorry to bombard you with historical facts, that’s not generally what my blog is about. But hey, I’ve got to stay versatile, right? To wrap things up I would just like to say, hey, spurs and guns are handy tools to have. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.
Could make an argument for spanking along these lines....
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