Fitting Cowboy Spurs

  "...My Dad gave me my first set of cowboy spurs, when I was about 6 years old.  They were ... a youth/ladies size and of course they were too big.  This was no problem for Dad.  Using his strong hands, he carefully squeezed the bands of each  cowboy spur together.  This narrowed up the heel opening.  After a couple of tries, he had the cowboy spurs where they fit snug on my boots.  Then he took a piece of scrap leather and made a western spur strap out of it.  He cut a slit on one end of the strap and hooked it over one of the buttons on my cowboy spurs.  Then he put the spur on my boot and placed the strap across the front of the boot.  He marked where the strap would fit the other button, made another slit in the strap and hooked it over the second button.  I was so proud.  I had a pair of custom fit cowboy spurs and custom fit western spur straps.

   As I grew, the cowboy spur bands would have to be slightly pried apart to fit my feet.   Once when Dad wasn't around, one of the spurs had become so tight on my heel that it made my foot hurt.  I took the spur off and figured out a way to pry the band apart.  I stood the cowboy spur sideways on the ground, stepped on the bottom inside heel band and pulled up (with every ounce of muscle I had) on the top heel band.  I managed to pry the band apart enough so that it did not hurt my foot anymore.  After that, I was on my own and had to adjust the spurs myself.  I even started making those custom fit western spur straps for my younger brother..."

Cowboy Spurs cannot always be adjusted by hand.  Many times you must use tools.  Hammers or rubber mallets can be used to narrow the inside heel width.  Farrier tools like shoe spreaders or hoof nippers work well to widen the inside heel with.  Always adjust the spurs a slight amount at a time, using as little force as possible.  Spurs made out of pot metal cannot be adjusted unless they are heated.  Aluminum western spurs break easily,. so be very careful when adjusting them.  Warm metal will have less breakage and bend easier than cold metal.

• Adult cowboy spurs and straps generally fit men's boot size 6 to 13 and ladies boot sizes 7 and up.
• Youth/Ladies cowboy spurs and straps generally fit Children age 6 and up, youth sizes, and ladies size 7 and smaller.
• Children cowboy spurs and straps generally fit small children up to age 6.

   "...lost a spur...I now wore a size seven ladies boot....so I got me a pair of shiny silver spurs.  They were a men's size and of course too big.  No problem, I adjusted them down just like my Dad did with my first set of spurs.   I also got a pair of store bought western spur straps.  My new spurs had 2 inch shanks and 12 point 1 inch rowels. ...I grew up around tall cowboys and most of them wore western spurs with long shanks and large rowels and that was the type of spur I liked.   New problem, I was a girl with short legs.  While riding, the bottom of my boots dangled about three quarters way down my horse's belly.  To spur my horse, I had to turn my feet out and hold them out the length of the shanks and rowels.  Only then could I spur my horse.  This was made my ankles hurt and my legs tired, so most of the time I just tapped my horse with the side of the rowels.  This worked well, cause he was a good horse and I didn't need to use much spur..... One of our shorter ranch hands used those funny looking short shank sheepherder spurs.  We ribbed him a lot about his spurs.  He suggested that I get a pair like his, because they worked much better for short legged people, than those shinny long shank silver spurs that I was using.  Of course I was a teenager and looks were more important than practical or comfortable so for years i kept on using my shinny silver cowboy spurs.... much older now and I still have short legs....using a small spur with hardly any shank and a small rowel...practical and comfortable.....New problem, short old legs and short stirrups....trying to figure out how to pack a small step ladder with me when I ride...." 

 This sums it up folks.  Cowboy spurs should fit snug, but not too tight on your boots.  You can adjust the inside heel width of the spurs.  Western spur straps are also very adjustable and you can usually punch a extra hole or two in the strap to make them fit a smaller foot.  Tall long legged cowboys need longer shanks, and larger rowels.  Short legged cowboys need short shank spurs and small rowels.  Happy trails!