SPURS, ANCIENT AND MODERN 167 



Prince of Wales, in 16 15. We all know the 

 iron round spurs in use when Charles I. and II. 

 reigned. In George I.'s days, if not before, 

 ladies had pretty little silver ones, short in the 

 neck, with sharpish rowels. They were jointed at 

 the sides, in order that a lady could put them on 

 and take them off easily. This brings us nearly 

 up to our own time. As late as the thirteenth 

 century, it was a common practice to bury warriors 

 with a single spur always attached to the left foot. 



A couple of centuries ago, hunting spurs were 

 short in the neck ; the average leno-th beino- about 

 one-and-a-half inches. Then came a tendency 

 towards having longer ones ; but during the last 

 three or four years those with short necks have 

 again come into fashion. Riders find them more 

 convenient for jumping, particularly as they are 

 now worn high up under the ankle of butcher 

 and top-boots. Quite recently the straight and 

 drooped ones have been equally popular. The 

 former have a nattier appearance, but the latter 

 are easier to keep off a fidgety horse. 



The seven distinct kinds in England at present 

 are : — 



(i) Box-spurs worn for military duties, and 

 yoke-spurs, with the neck curving upwards. 

 (Box-spurs, of course, are also worn with trousers 

 by civilians.) 



(2) Those worn out hunting. 



(3) Those worn for racing. 



(4) Those worn for hacking. 



(5) A lady has a single spur, which is a 

 miniature edition of No. 2. 



