A cowboy walks across the hardwood floor of a saloon. All you can hear is the clink of his spurs as his boots hit the ground with each step, kicking up a small cloud of dust. Ka-ching. Ka-ching.
When most of us think of spurs, that is what comes to mind. We think back to those westerns featuring cowboys with elaborate spurs and glitter on their boot heels. Those of us who have known working cowboys may not share that view. We could think more in terms of a simple piece of equipment. Bent metal, leather straps, nothing exciting, carefully engraved or shiny.
There is another type of stimulus out there. Bull riding spurs are a necessary piece of equipment for those daredevils willing to risk life and limb for an eight-second ride on the back of a huge, evil creature that wants no one on its back. However, bull riding spurs do not have much in common with other spurs. They have a different appearance and a different function.
Bull riding spurs are truly different from the decorative spurs worn by dandy movie cowboys and are a radical departure from other traditional spurs. Understanding why they are different requires insight into how and why they are used.
The riders do not use these spurs to goad the bull into intensifying action. They are not digging their spurs into the side of the bull to create a more violent and exciting ride. In fact, it is against the rules to cut down a bull with spurs. These spurs are not on a rider’s boots to inflict pain.
Instead, the riders use these spurs to help them stay on the bull. Riders will try to balance and center themselves by getting a good grip on the bull with their legs. They use bull riding spurs to accomplish this. The legs are a key part of successful riding and the most skilled bull riders do a wonderful job of managing their mount with their legs and spurs.
Bull riding spurs are subject to a number of limitations and regulations in the world of professional bull riding. They cannot be too long. They cannot be sharp. Your wheels should turn freely. Once again, you won’t be seeing those shiny silver spurs from the movies at the next PBR event. Instead, you’ll notice short little spurs, often with matte finishes, attached to riders’ boots at their spur lines.
It can be easy to overlook those stubby little bull riding spurs, but they are an important part of the rider’s equipment. They make surviving those eight seconds a bit safer and more manageable.
