Best Spurs and Straps for Australian Riders

Spurs are one of those pieces of riding gear that seems simple until you actually need to buy a pair. There's the type question (round end, Prince of Wales, hammer, disk?), the legality question (what's allowed in dressage vs jumping vs eventing?), and the fit question (how does it sit on your boot?). Get any of those wrong and you've wasted your money at best, or picked up an elim at worst.

For Australian riders, the landscape is narrower than you might think. Most equestrian shops stock budget metal spurs from brands you've never heard of. We carry the Freejump Spur'One range — French-made, carbon fibre, and engineered to the same standard as their safety stirrups. Five models, all FEI-compliant for their intended disciplines. They're not the cheapest spurs on the market, but they're the only ones I'd put on my boots for a show.

Here's what you need to know before you buy.

What Types of Horse Spurs Are Available?

Spurs come in several shapes, and the shape dictates the intensity and kind of pressure the horse feels. Here's the plain-English breakdown:

• Round End (15mm): The mildest option. A blunt, rounded tip that nudges rather than pokes. Best for sensitive horses, young riders, and dressage purists who want a subtle leg aid. If you're buying your first pair, start here.
• Prince of Wales (25mm): The most common spur in Australia. Flat, slightly angled tip with moderate intensity. It's the all-rounder — you'll see these in show jumping, eventing, and flatwork. If you're not sure, PoW is the safe bet.
• Hammer (25mm): A broad, flat face that distributes pressure wider than a pointed spur. Here's the catch — hammer spurs are banned in FEI dressage. They're legal for jumping and eventing, but you cannot wear them in a dressage test. Don't learn this the hard way at an EA-affiliated event.
• Extra Long (30mm): Same shape as a standard spur but longer. For riders with long legs or wide horses where a standard spur can't reach effectively. 30mm is still under the 4cm FEI maximum, so it's legal across all disciplines (except pony classes for some types).
• Disk (30mm rotating): A rotating disk tip that distributes pressure through rolling contact. Lighter touch than it looks. Smooth disk spurs are dressage-legal (Freejump's are hand-polished). Good for horses that need a lighter, more precise aid.

Honestly, the number of riders I see at shows wearing the wrong spur type for their discipline is staggering. I watched a rider get eliminated from a dressage test at a regional EA event last year because she forgot to swap her hammer spurs from the jumping phase. Thirty seconds of checking the rules would have saved her entry fee.

Which Spurs Are Legal Under EA and FEI Rules?

Equestrian Australia follows FEI equipment rules for all affiliated competition. The rules differ by discipline, and they change — so always check the current EA rules before a show. Here's the compliance matrix for the Freejump Spur'One range based on FEI rules as of 2024:

Spur Type	Dressage	Show Jumping	Eventing	Pony Classes
Round End 15mm	✅ Allowed	✅ Allowed	✅ Allowed	✅ Allowed
Prince of Wales 25mm	✅ Allowed	✅ Allowed	✅ Allowed	✅ Allowed
Hammer 25mm	⛔ Banned	✅ Allowed	✅ Allowed	⛔ Banned
Extra Long 30mm	✅ Allowed (<4cm)	✅ Allowed	✅ Allowed	✅ Allowed
Disk 30mm	✅ Smooth disk OK	✅ Allowed	✅ Allowed	⛔ Rowels banned

One big rule change to know: spurs are now optional in FEI dressage as of January 1, 2024. They used to be compulsory. So if your horse goes better without them in a dressage test, you can now leave them in the tack room. For pony riders, the rules are stricter — no rowels of any kind (that includes disk spurs), no hammer spurs, and a shorter 3.5cm maximum shank for dressage.

The general FEI rules across all disciplines: spurs must be smooth metal (or plastic), the shank must be max 4cm, and the shank or knob must point down. No notched or serrated rowels. No combed spurs. These are the basics — but the hammer and pony restrictions are the ones that catch people out at events.

Shop our full spurs range at iRide EQ, or pair them with riding whips for your next competition.

The Freejump Spur'One Range: Carbon Fibre, French Made

Freejump is a French equestrian brand founded by Yann Dubourg in Bordeaux in 2001 — they're celebrating 25 years this year. Most Australian riders know them for their safety stirrups and leathers, but their Spur'One line applies the same engineering thinking to rider leg aids.

The Spur'One body is carbon fibre with an Elastollan inner overmould, and the tips are hand-polished stainless steel. There's a built-in articulation that adjusts to the width of your boot, which means the spur sits flush rather than gaping. They're sold in pairs, one size fits all.

Here's the range as stocked at iRide EQ, with prices in AUD:

Model	Length	Price (AUD)	Stock
Spur'One Round End	15mm	$120	Low stock (2 units)
Spur'One Prince of Wales	25mm	$140	Low stock (1 unit)
Spur'One Hammer	25mm	$140	Low stock (1 unit)
Spur'One Extra Long	30mm	$160	Low stock (1 unit)
Spur'One Disk	30mm	$175	Out of stock

I'll be straight with you — our total spur stock is limited. Four units across four models, and the Disk is currently unavailable. If you know which model you want, don't sit on it. European brands like Sprenger make decent spurs too, but Australian riders can shop the complete Freejump range with local delivery — no waiting on international shipping for something this size.

How to Choose the Right Spur for Your Horse

The right spur depends on two things: your horse's sensitivity and your leg length. A horse that's forward and responsive doesn't need much — a round end is plenty. A horse that's dull to the leg might need a Prince of Wales or a hammer (for jumping only). If you ride a wide horse and your legs don't naturally reach the barrel, an extra long spur bridges that gap.

Here's my honest advice: if you're moving up a level and feeling like your leg isn't getting through, try a round end first. It's the mildest, and it still gives you that extra clarity in the aid. Too many riders jump straight to a Prince of Wales or hammer when the fix is actually a stronger leg, not a sharper spur.

The other thing nobody mentions: your riding boots matter. A spur that fits a slim dressage boot might sit differently on a chunkier jumping boot. The Freejump Spur'One's articulated design handles this better than a fixed metal spur, but it's still worth checking the fit before you walk into the ring. The spur should sit snug against the heel counter — not sliding around, not gaping away from the boot.

Spur Maintenance and Boot Fit Tips

Spurs are low-maintenance gear, but a few things keep them working properly. After each ride, wipe the stainless steel tips clean — sweat and arena sand will dull the polish over time. Store them somewhere they won't get banged around, because a bent tip changes the contact surface and can make a legal spur illegal.

One thing to flag: despite our collection being called "spurs and straps," we don't currently stock separate spur straps. The Freejump Spur'One design uses its own elastic strap built into the spur, which is part of the one-size articulation system. If you're using a different brand's spurs that need replacement straps, you'll need to source those separately.

If you're between sizes on boots, remember that a thicker boot means a tighter spur fit. And if you ride in both dressage and jumping, you'll likely want two pairs of spurs — a dressage-legal option (round end or PoW) and a jumping option (add hammer to the mix). Trying to swap spurs between phases at a one-day event is a recipe for a missed warm-up.

Pair your spurs with the rest of your competition kit — check our bridles and full spurs collection at iRide EQ.

Frequently Asked Questions