All Soldiers assigned or under the operational control of
a Cavalry Task
Force earn the right to wear spurs in one of two ways. In
the first case,
Soldiers must complete a spur ride, which is a series of
events to test
their mettle, competence, and dedication to the unit.
Soldiers wear silver
spurs to commemorate this event. In the second case, any
Soldier assigned or
under the operational control of a Cavalry Task Force in
combat earn the
right to wear gold spurs to Cavalry functions. The spur
tradition dates back
to the Indian Wars on the plains. It is a unique item of
heraldry for our
Soldiers and they wear spurs with great pride. We wear
English spurs, which
only have a small, round spur. This did not injure the
animal. Western spurs
have sharp wheels, which had a tendency to injure the
animal. In many cases,
Cavalry Troopers fed and watered their horses long before
they had a meal or
water for themselves. They understood the importance of
taking care of their
mobility.
For how you can assist in purchasing spurs for the soldiers in the cavalry squadron (approximately $25 with shipping), contact Carol. This has always been a funded tradition which has been cut. The leaders are currently trying to find a creative way (through private donations) to purchase spurs for their soldiers. You might want to consider helping.
