How to use spurs
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With Simon and Gulliver, we never needed to use spurs. The clinics I attended and rode in presented the idea that spurs are a last resort, and usually used on horses that have become "numb" to pressure.
Mark Rashid, whose name I've mentioned in the past, made a big deal of getting the horse to understand that the release of pressure is the reward. IOW, if you want the horse to walk, increase your "energy" and think about walking. If the horse doesn't respond, put some pressure with your legs on the horse's sides. Most importantly, if the horse responds, release the pressure - that's the reward.
The next step is to give a gentle kick. Gentle kick. If the horse responds, you're done. If it doesn't give another kick - gently, and keep it up until you feel the horse start to move. Then...release.
Spurs, as shown in this video are a last resort.
I would be curious to see how this horse responds to something as gentle as pressure from the back of your hand. I would guess the horse is well-trained enough that it would move away from that pressure.
