Spurs
By Sara Rivers Cofield

Definition and Function

Spurs are devices that were invented over 2,000 years ago to aid in horse-riding. They are generally U-shaped to fit around a person’s ankle, and they have a spike or rowel at the end to allow a rider to poke a horse’s haunches. Spurs can be used to get a horse to move or to punish misbehavior. Because spurs are attached to the heel of the rider, however, they have also enjoyed some periods of popularity as a fashion accessory, even for individuals who had no horse and did not ride.

Parts of a Spur

Chronology

Changes in spurs over time are fairly well documented thanks to portraits, historical accounts, and surviving examples. The following table summarizes some of the most typical attributes of Colonial and Early Federal spurs found in the Middle-Atlantic. Additional chronological information is included in this section of the website in the form of images, measurements, context, and site information for every Colonial and Early Federal spur available at the MAC Lab and cooperating regional repositories.

In the 19th and 20th centuries, the variety of spurs increased, making their inclusion in a simplified table more problematic, and at present, no later spurs have been located in the MAC Lab’s collections. Such examples will be added to the website if available in future, however, even though post-1820 spurs are not illustrated in the table below.

Typical English Spur Styles c. 1600-1820
	ca. 1600-1660	ca. 1650-1775	ca. 1765-1820
SAMPLE ILLUSTRATIONS Click on image to see a larger view with parts labeled.
FUNCTION	• Riding/traveling • Boots and spurs          popular for daily wear    and walking	• Riding/traveling only	• Riding/traveling • Boots popular for    walking/daily wear,    though not always with    spurs
ROWEL	• Often over 1” diameter • Sometimes ornate • Brass or iron	• Less than 1” diameter • Usually iron	• Very small, sometimes    barely protruding from    the end of the neck • Usually iron
NECK	• Relatively long; over 1”    in length • Bent or curved    downward, often at a    90° angle	• 1” or less in length • Curved slightly    downward • Often flared at the end	• Length varies • Straight neck • Swan shaped neck    begins (curves up, then    down) • Flared end less common
ARMS/SIDES	• Usually curved • Sometimes triangular in    cross-section • Slight taper from neck    to terminal	• Straight • Slight or significant    taper from neck to    terminal • Sometimes hinged with    little taper from neck to    terminal	• Straight • Minimal tapering from    neck to terminal • May incorporate chains    between the terminal    and stud/buckle
TERMINALS	• Off-set figure-eight with    two holes • S-shaped with two    holes	• Centered figure-eight    with two holes • S-shaped with two holes • S-shaped with    stationary studs	• A single stationary stud • A stud and buckle    connected by brackets    and/or chains • Openings for straps to    pass through
STUDS/HOOKS	• Looped around holes at    the spur terminal; hang    and swing freely	• Looped around holes at    the spur terminal; hang    and swing freely • Stationary studs    attached directly to    terminal holes	• A single stationary stud    at each terminal • None: Straps attach    directly to the spur    terminal or the spur    attaches to the boot    without straps at all
BUCKLES	• Butterfly-shape is    popular for spurs of    this period, but plain    asymmetrical and    symmetrical buckles    are also present • Looped chape to attach    to the spur terminal	• Both asymmetrical and    symmetrical buckles    used • Looped chape to attach    to the spur terminal • Hinged chape with an    attachment for a    stationary stud • Unhinged chape with    a large hole for a    stationary stud	• Hinged chape with an    attachment for a    stationary stud • Buckle attaches to spur    straps that pass    through openings in    the terminal, not the    spur itself
DECORATION	• Decoration preferred • Jingles possible	• Usually undecorated	• Usually undecorated