Old Cavalry Spurs
The use of boot or heel spurs in a cavalry is a practice that historically was practiced in various different countries. Cavalry spurs were determined as a show of military rank and overall experience in the cavalry and spurs were given to those cavalrymen who had progressed onto being more advanced than just one of the new recruits.
There is an old tradition known as the spur ride where all of the new military cavalry recruits perform a series of tests and events that test their skills on top of their steed. They were checked on their knowledge on the rules, regulations, history and traditions of the mounted cavalry, which the soldiers were expected to recite these facts from only their memory. The “Spur Ride” was a way that the mounted cavalry could “earn their spurs” to prove and demonstrate that they had become more accomplished horsemen and soldiers than the new recruits.
After the soldiers were involved in their 1st combat scenario, they were given a second pair of spurs as a medal and then were drafted into “The Order Of The Spur”. The boot spurs and an award certificate were presented during a special banquet or event that is known as the “Spur Dinner” where all of rookie cavalry were given their spurs, the details of comrades killed in battle were announced and other medals and awards were presented. As well as being awarded the heel spurs, the cavalry soldiers were also awarded a stetson hat, which was also seen as a sign of level within the ranks.
The soldiers in the cavalry that had earned their boot spurs were seen as a higher level than the soldiers who did not have any or were yet to earn their spurs. Although the soldiers will be of a similar or the same military rank, that they had already “earned their spurs” during battle, as part of the “Spur Ride” or a task was a sign of seniority over those who had yet to earn them.
Cavalry boot spurs were primarily made from silver and were mainly styled on the English Prince Of Wales spurs. Pairs of gold heel spurs that were awarded to soldiers of higher rank or to cavalry members that were involved in a greater number of combat situations.
There are many types of boot spurs that have been worn and used over the Americas. If you come to the authors web-site, you will find more details about spurs and get to see some pictures of Cavalry Spurs and discover information about the people that manufactured them.
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