DRESS AND EQUIPMENT 293 



hack in sharp spurs and hunt in blunt ones. Never- 

 theless there are horses that need sharp spurs at all 

 times. It may be a question whether the modern 

 long, straight spur is not more useful as a decoration 

 than valuable for its own particular purpose. The 

 short spur with the slight downward curve, which 

 was for many years the usual shape, appears to have 

 all the advantages and fewer of the disadvantages of 

 spurs than the long, straight, rather murderous- 

 looking weapons that are now the fashion. 



It will, I think, be found that nearly, if not quite, 

 all the men and women who really ride hard over the 

 grass countries ride in spurs. Indeed, I should say they 

 were absolutely necessary in Leicestershire and de- 

 sirable anywhere. But the proper use of the spur 

 does not come by nature, and though, like many 

 other habits of horsemanship, we have forgotten when 

 we did not know it, yet to riders lacking in experience 

 it will be sound advice that if they do not know how 

 to use spurs they should learn as soon as possible. 



