Introduction to the Equestrian Spur Collection

The use of spurs predates the stirrup. The Celts of the La Tène culture of the Late Iron Age used spurs. Xenophon mentions spurs and they were used by the Greeks and by the Tuarags around 1350, but interestingly stirrups were not employed. Spurs were found in the Merovingian tombs 7th - 8th century.

Fred Archer the great Victorian jockey who committed suicide, rode in spurs that looked innoxious enough until pressure was put on them and they released a sprung spike, which went into the horse’s side. It would have been common to see a horse finish its race with blood mingled with sweat.