A Little Bit of History

Spurs have been in use for thousands of years.  Early, stumpy prickspurs have been found in Bohemia on 4th-century-BC Celtic sites.  The first primitive spurs were made from wood or bone with a small pointed stub attached to a heel band.  They were strapped on with leather thongs and gave the rider greater control over his mount.

Spurs evolved quickly as essential equipment for the horseman.  As metal working became more sophisticated, spurs were crafted from bronze and iron and developed buttons on the heel band to hold straps - much like many modern spurs.  Mediaeval crusaders prized individually worked spurs to complete their formidable armor. 

The knight's spurs had long necks since he rode long (with his legs extended). The long neck allowed the rowel, the sharp, circular element, to reach the horse's flanks. Ornate spurs were bestowed on a young man in a colorful ceremony to symbolize his readiness for chivalric feasts. The material of which spurs were made also indicated the owner's rank: a knight's spurs were made of gold, a squire's of silver, and a man-at-arm's of iron or brass.¹

The Conquistadors were probably responsible for bringing the spur to the New World and for originating the Vaquero design and workmanship we recognize in "cowboy" spurs today.  The Vaquero tradition of spur making flourished in Mexico and moved north into the United States as Mexican craftsmen recognized the unique market for their sought-after and prized work.

For a thorough history of the Vaquero spurs and bits and the special craftsmen who made them, as well as stunningly detailed photos, Ned and Jody Martin's book Bit and Spur Makers in the Vaquero Tradition is mandatory reading.

1. Verbatim excerpt from the fine history treatise found on The International Museum of the Horse web site.