Macedonians were the first to use spurs

The function of spurs was originally the opposite of the modern one. They were used as brakes, not gas. If the horse quickened its pace, the rider began to dangle on its back and hurt it with spurs.

This forced the horses to carry their riders with the utmost care.

Spurs gained a noticeable spread only after the invention of stirrups, and remained a sign of mainly heavy cavalry. Continue reading →