So is the buckle for your spur strap on the inside or outside? This has always been something I have wondered about. Here in Iowa and when we lived in Arizona I have seen it both ways, I know why I do it the way I do ,just wanted to get other opinions and the geographical areas to see if there are regional differences as in hat styles. Any takers? Later, Mark

I been told that you put the buckle on the outside, when riding, so the buckle don't jab the horse or scar up your stirrup leathers.

But when parading around town, showin' off for the girlies, you switch 'em to the other feet, so the buckle is on the inside, and the pork-chop, with the fancy carving, is on the outside where folks can see it.

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I always take precautions

My wife has three horses and my daughter has four. Both ride alot and use spurs for a thing they do called reigning. Personally, I think it is ridiculous to spin a horse around on one foot till both the rider and horse puke, but they seem to really love it. As a result of all this riding by two women I have put on probably close to 50 different straps on their spurs...they got as many different spurs as they do places to ride. They are kinda hard to get on but for what it's worth they always command me to put the buckles on the outside. Right spur has the buckle on the right, but honestly I dont think it really matters much. I have asked others...{everyone is a horse expert when you ask a question} and they say the buckle to the outside so you can see the fancy engraving. For the life of me I dont get this whole horse thing...if I took as many flying lessons as they have taken riding lessons I could go to work for Southwest Air tomorrow. All I can say is horses must really be difficult to ride because my wife is 40 and been taking lessons since shee was about 10!!! If in 30 years I still hadn't learned it yet I would quit and find something else to do!!!!

If you have offset shanks I bet that looks weird. Larry

Buckles in or out is one of the great debates of all time, from what I've seen. Right up there with "revolver or semi auto" for defense. When I went through mounted school even the instructors were split on this monumental decision. I started out with buckles out but switched to buckles in recently. I think I switched because a spur buckle got hung up on something, but don't remember for sure. So there ya go, buckles in.........

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Tom
"Panem et Circenses"

Buckles to the outside...porkchop to the inside........the stirrup will try to rotate its outside to the front and one really has to work hard to hang a buckle if the foot is placed properly in the stirrup of the "western" saddle, ball of foot only and heel down. The English style has the foot completely in the stirrup and stopped by the heel of the boot....

The porkchop is to protect the boot from undue wear on the inside of the instep...

If you buckle on the inside and try to walk, you'll probably do a face plant when the buckles catch on each other. I have buckled my spurs on the outside for 60 years without a problem so far. Best spur straps on earth are hand made at the Bacon Saddle Co. in Globe Arizona.
Leo

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

I buckle them on the inside cause it's easier for a fat old man to pu 'em on. Also seemed if the buckle was to the outside the strap end would cover up all that silver on the outside button. Just me. Later, Mark

Whut he said. I been wearin' spurs for over 60 years my ownself and on the outside. Purty soon that buckle would be wearin agin the inside of your stirrup and wearin' on your instep too. I've never seen anyone wear them on the inside.

One less thing to git hung up when that ol pony blows up and decides your ride is over.

Buckles are for wearin' on the purty side out.

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Eccentric old coot

Mark: I just leave my spurs on my boots where they belong - saves a lot of bendin' over my belly.
Leo

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Living a dream - S&WCA #2364

I lurnt to ride before I lurnt to walk and I never saw anyone with the buckle on the inside...septin' that city feller who had his boots on the wrong feet...

Never even herd that question 'afore! Sides, if you got toe fenders on your rig, as you should, that buckle ain't gonna hang on nothing.

Bob

Boy I heard that!!!!

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Eccentric old coot

Heh, heh...I bet yore' wife don't read this forum!

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Rick, W0FG
CTR2 68-72

I reckon it would be a matter of personal preference, but I and everyone I know have always put'em on the outside.

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Illegitimus Non Carborundum

I don't ride, don't have a horse, but for some reason I ended up with a set of old spurs (think I picked 'em up in Oklahoma when I was down there for a spell). I guess I liked 'em enough to take home. Suppose I wanted to see if they did jingle-jangle-jingle. Anyways I pulled 'em out the other day (after reading this thread) and seems to me the buckles go on the outside, since these spurs got a gold colored horses head on the same side the buckle is on. Just my thoughts though, as I said I'm all hat and no horse.....

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Even older, even crankier....

My daddy told me 50 years ago to always wear the buckles on the outside - reasons already mentioned above. Same reason chaps buckle on the outside. I have a pair of Windy Ryan ropers that live on a pair of Olathe high-top, high-heel boots that I use for daily work - buckles on the outside. That said, I also have a pair of custom-made buckaroo spurs with fancy straps for "Sunday and Bar-b-Que" wear and I wear them with the basket-stamped "porkchop" on the outside - when I wear them I don't plan to do much on-and-off or serious work - pretty much just for show. (He also taught me how to wear baseball catchers leg guards - buckles on the outside! I remember the first time I forgot to do that, came up from behind the plate to throw to second, and fell flat on my face when the buckles on the inside caught each other.)
Sheamus, Henson Creek Stock Horses

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Sheamus