Existing comment:
Spurs were used to signal a horse to quick action, in such tasks as cutting and roping. Generally, the cowboy's first task after purchasing his spurs was to file the sharp points of the rowel until they were blunt, so as not to injure his horse. Some slang terms for spurs were: "Persuaders," "Can Openers," "Diggers," "Grapplin' Irons" and "Gut Hooks." A derogatory term for cheap spurs was "Tin Belles." |