Another Spur

[kuger]

I found this Spanish spur a while ago,but I havent been doing alot of detecting as with the price of gold I have been after that.Several people said they wanted to see some spurs,I have several more but dont have time to dig them out right now but I do have this one on my desktop so here it is.I had found several stone corrals that were out in the middle of no where and nobody seemed to know what they were only that they were really really old.One 95 year old lady said that here grandfather had always said they were associated with the Spanish Vaqueros and the Estanlao Spanish land grant.I had a breif chance to detect one and found this Spanish Style spur!!!!Also a 1774 silver coin on another trip,maybe the old gal was told right!!I need to get back there!I found a very similar spur to this one at another site that was in much better condition but it is on loan to a museum.The heart pendant was not found at the corral but eyeballed at one of the many gates getting to the location!!A neat peice of early California!!

 

[The Beep Goes On]

Man, sweet finds! Get your butt back out there!

HH!
TBGO

 

[Master Sarge]

That is one sweet spur. I would hate to get kicked with that thing!

 

[bootybay]

Nice excellent finds...now listen, lemme borrow that spur..I know a few I'd like to butt kick ever so gently... <evil grin>

 

[topdog]

Those are awesome finds.

 

[kuger]

Thanks for the replies!I have spent the better part of my life horseback and these type spurs were more for "looks",than practical!A wrong move with that iron might find you one your head!!!

 

[wwwtimmcp]

from what I've been told spurs were used not only to get the horses attention but to make a jingling noise to keep bears/mountain lions away. if you go backpacking in bear country the rangers will tell you to wear a bell. the noise disturbs bears/mountain lions and if they don't know what is making that shrill (to them) noise they will avoid it like the plague.

p.s. you only spur a horse under dire cicumstances or they get used to it. a horses hide is over 1" thick in spots so a pointed but not sharp enough to break skin rowell is used on really hard to get attention horses. most spurs are just wheels with no points. if you had 10 commanches wanting your scalp you'd understand the need to make horsey understand it is time to run as fast as he can.

most good riders just squeeze the horse with their legs to get them moving or they cluck to them.

 

[kuger]

I struggled to even comment on the last post but I will.As I have said I have spent pretty much my whole life horseback,not for joy,but for employment.Most of that in Montana(I know all too much about grizzlies).I also know wildlife quite well as have been a predator control agent for the Gov. And as Mt.lion specialist(Kuger).Yes if you are on foot a bell is a good thing to wear as to let a bear know and not to surprise them.As for lions you are not going to sneak up on one I assure you!Especially on a horse!!!!Same for a bear!Jingle Bobs were sometimes worn on spurs to pleasure the cowboy from the silence and calm the cattle they were driving.Spurs are used on some young horses but a "broke" horse should not need them,if they do I wont own them.I have used spurs and they do have there place but to me they are worn by dudes that just want to give the impression they are a "cowboy".I have seen horses gashed with people wearing "mexican",spurs.I am not an animal rights whacko either as I rode Saddle Bronc for 10 years!!The Spanish were flashy and flamboyant and that type of spur was there style.