The use of boot spurs in a cavalry brigade is something that over time is used in many different continents. Cavalry spurs have been determined as a sign of level and experience within a brigade and spurs were awarded to those cavalrymen who had progressed onto becoming much more 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 had been involved in their first fight, they were awarded a 2nd set of spurs as a form of medal and then were accepted in to “The Order Of The Spur”. The spurs and a certificate were mostly given during a special banquet or event that was known as a “Spur Dinner” where all of new recruits were given their heel spurs, details of comrades killed in battle were read out and any other medals and awards were presented. As well as getting the boot spurs, the soldiers were also given a stetson hat, which was also a sign of accomplishment 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 manufactured using silver and were mainly styled on the English Prince Of Wales spurs. Sets of gold boot spurs were awarded to soldiers of higher military rank or those that had been involved in a larger amount of combat scenarios.

There are many types of boot spurs that have been worn throughout the world. If you come to the authors web-site, you can find more information about boot spurs and see some images of Cavalry Spurs and get more detail about the people that made them.

Tags: Horses