Does anyone know anything about the Cavalry "Spur Ride"?

2021-12-27T17:15:51-05:00

Anyone served in a Cavalry Unit before - I guess this pic is from what is called a "Spur Ride". I'm Field Artillery & I've never really heard about this event. Can any RallyPoint member tell me more about what is going on in this picture?

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Dec 27 at 2021 5:26 PM

2021-12-27T17:26:39-05:00

Spur rides can take many forms. Usually, they involve multiple days performing various tasks in the field, each task a demonstration of one's proficiency in different areas of soldiering, particularly those having to do with the cavalry (19 series). This image looks like this unit may have had a board-like component, if this was actually a spur ride event. Each unit will conduct their rides differently.

At the end of the ride, soldiers are awarded their silver spurs.
Silver spurs denote the successful completion of a spur ride.
Gold spurs denote the completion of a combat deployment with the cavalry.

Spurs are worn on several occasions, on combat uniforms or dress uniforms.

Response by SFC Randy Hellenbrand made Dec 27 at 2021 6:11 PM

2021-12-27T18:11:06-05:00

We did something like this in my troop. But we called it a War Run. It was 3 days of non-stop missions, and I mean non-stop. There is a vid from the 105th WI Cav doing one, which looks more like a lot of separate tasks, but we never had the pt thrown into ours.

Response by SPC David S. made Dec 27 at 2021 6:27 PM

2021-12-27T18:27:07-05:00

Fun times - push a Humvee a klick through mud - detail it - then push it back where you found it.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Dec 27 at 2021 7:09 PM

2021-12-27T19:09:05-05:00

The Order of the Spur is a Cavalry tradition within the United States Army.
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The Spur Hierarchy in order of precedence determined by various Cavalry CSMs around 1990 was as follows
1. Combat Spurs - Gold (actually brass for enlisted Dragoon/Cavalry Revolutionary War) Officers and enlisted must have served assigned or attached in combat with Cavalry units, an Infantry or an Armor Scout/Recon element.
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2. Cold War Spurs - Bronze (some units Silver) (since 1945 - 1990 but not by all units). The earlier era ‘Spur Ride’ utilized the concept of Cavalry units, Scout Platoons (like with Infantry BNs) deployed on the East-West German Border, the Korean DMZ or the Panama Canal Zone. The Stateside Cavalry units and Scout/Recon elements that deployed overseas to Europe, Japan/Korea or Panama large scale exercises in support of the Army mission were included. Soldiers had to receive MOS performance pay (prior to 1970s) or pass 80%+ (late 1970s) on their SQT/Common Core Tests, + receive a distinguished with their Scout team/squad/section's Scout Proficiency Course (SSPC) or their crew's, scout vehicle, tank, Sheridan, artillery piece/mortar, antitank, ADA etc gunnery. Though called Spur Rides their criteria and implementation of the practice was based on an extended, longer-term Qualification Ethos.
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3. Rider Spurs - Silver (started up in some stateside units about 1980). The later era or Post-Cold War Spur Ride was developed to carry on the Order of the Spur tradition. The modern ‘Spur Ride’ varies from unit to unit, but it is generally an event held over multiple days during which a Trooper must pass a series of physical and mental tests relevant to the Cavalry, detached/attached (such as with an Infantry HQs) Scout/Recon platoon . Some of the tests evaluate leadership, technical and tactical proficiency, physical fitness, the ability to operate as part of a team under high levels of stress and fatigue under both day and night conditions, though the specific tests vary by unit. A written test is often also administered, with questions that cover United States Cavalry and unit history.
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That's pretty much 'The Hierarchy' and it's based on some pretty practical precepts - Combat thumps all, Risk to Life is second (the West German Border and Korean DMZ had many skirmishes) and a demonstration (though grueling - not life threatening) of the Trooper's performance is lowest.
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I hope this helps.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2021 7:15 PM

2021-12-27T19:15:25-05:00

Some things have certainly changed since my Cav days. I'd say this is a Q&A Board as part of this particular unit's Spur Ride chain of events.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 27 at 2021 10:01 PM

2021-12-27T22:01:04-05:00

@1Lt Rich Voss My coin was given to me 10 years after my retirement at a Bn function by a friend.

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Dec 28 at 2021 4:52 AM

2021-12-28T04:52:28-05:00

The spurs are almost always "Prince of Wales" spurs, normally worn without strap or chain. They are also supposed to be worn just above the "spur ledge" at the top of the heel.

They are often shown, with Stetson and Saber on a plaque, as shown.

Response by SSG Byron Hewett made Dec 28 at 2021 1:10 PM

2021-12-28T13:10:25-05:00

Check out CavHooah.com
it will give a history of what your looking for and more just use this link
https://www.cavhooah.com/pages/spurs?_pos=2&_sid=a5ca22d78&_ss=r

Spurs

Throughout history, Cavalry units have been readily identifiable by theirStetsonsand Spurs. As the Army was modernized and horses were traded for tanks and helicopters, the Cavalry was reluctant to relinquish its distinctive traditions. They became a reminder of the Cavalry’s glorious past and tended to set apart t

Response by MSG Kevin Elliott made Dec 28 at 2021 4:57 PM

2021-12-28T16:57:16-05:00

When I was with 3rd Squadron, 2nd ACR at Fort Polk, we did a Spur Ride in Haiti and then we did another one a year or so later after a Squadron level gunnery exercise/qualification. I earned my spurs in Haiti and assisted in running the one stateside. We did not have a board or written component.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 29 at 2021 1:15 PM

2021-12-29T13:15:26-05:00

It dates back as far as King Arthur. Below is the first known picture of a Spur Ride with Arthur after he became King of the Britons during the search for the Holy Grail.

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Dec 29 at 2021 7:31 PM

2021-12-29T19:31:30-05:00

I did one when I was in the 13th Sig Bn, 1CAV. It was tough, and although I expected to be the weakest one on my team due to my age and gender, we ended up having to half carry a much younger soldier during most of it. I would do it again. Keep in mind that the CAV guys don't seem to have much respect for other MOSs that do the Spur Rides, but it's a 1st Cav thing so other units do it too.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Dec 30 at 2021 12:52 PM

2021-12-30T12:52:02-05:00

Just remember, if you ain't Cav, you ain't shit.

Which means for all of us non-Cav folks, we must not be pieces of.....

Well, anyway.

Spur Rides differ from unit to unit. Generally speaking, they consist of whatever the CSM want is to consist of (and the SCO is willing to bless of on). When I went through mine, it was about 20 hours long. Ours was done with teams which were randomly assigned - if you lost a team member everyone else had to pick up the slack. We started with the proverbial hazing of the shave tails (getting yelled at / smoked by spur holders), then moved on to night land nav / heavy hump (here is a shit ton of supplies, here is a series of grids. drop some of this stuff off at each grid). At each stop, we were asked Cav history and smoked. Recitation of Fiddler's Green may or may not have been involved. We then moved on to the individual obstacle course, but still went through as a team. This was just to wear us out before moving us onto the team confidence course. waterboarding may or may not have happened. After all of that, we were given an MRE and allowed to rest for approximately 50 minutes while we waited on transpo. "Rest" may or may not have included random Cavalry trivia and subsequent smoking for inaccurate answers. We then boarded buses and went to the opposite side of the island. We started at sea level and literally climbed a mountain, with the end point being about 10m below the peak and an elevation of 4,000 feet. The path up the mountain was approximately 6.7 miles long, but we had about a 1.5 mile hike to get to the start of the path. We were again required to bring a set of supplies up the mountain - if you lost a teammate, everyone had to carry more. There were stations along the way with basic Soldier tasks - very similar to EIB - and each station also had Cav trivia, unit history, and army history. Spur holders (including medics and CLS) patrolled the path up the mountain, and required an appropriate level of deference, as well as paying homage with a loud rendition of Fiddler's Green, or Soldier's Creed. Between the distance and the stations, it took about 8 hours to get up the mountain - and the temperature dropped radically from 3 PM to 11 PM.

At the top of the mountain was the CSM and the SCO. After appropriately reciting Fiddler's Green, passing inspection, and proclaiming that motto regarding Cav and fesces, all remaining members of the team were deemed a "go" and allowed to go sit by the fire, warm up, and grab some hot chow.

Spurs were presented in a ceremony a couple of weeks later.

Gold Spurs were way easier. Just had to survive Iraq for 14 months.

Response by SGT Robert Martin made Jan 19 at 2022 4:13 PM

2022-01-19T16:13:38-05:00

Ok a spur ride is basically a road march with different stations along the way where you are tested on basic skills. They will normally test on weapons, map reading, call for fire, ECT. You are basically showing that you have the basic skills needed as a 19d. Once completed you earn your silver spurs. Normally these are given at a unit party involving the unit grog. it is not nearly as prestiges as say a EIB but it's the same basic idea. After a combat deployment if you do see action you can earn your gold Spurs once again it's our equivalent to a CIB, and please excuse the comparison to a much higher award. I don't want to disparage the infantry awards but it's the only comparison I can think of. All you 11b and 11c please don't think I'm saying Spurs are comparable to your EIB and CIB as Ive nothing but respect for the job you do. Hope this answers your question, and if your being offered the chance to do a spur ride someone thinks highly of you as its normally a scout thing. I hope you get the chance as it's definitely a challenge worth taking and can be one hell of a experience. Gary Owen !!!

Response by PV2 Justin Carey made Jan 23 at 2022 6:16 PM

2022-01-23T18:16:16-05:00

When I was in every one had heard of the Spur Ride from our DS. When we graduate from boot, to go to our duty station I got more info about the so called *SPUR-RIDE*. Basically I heard that most of CAV units do this and what was done in Korea was bullshit. Wanna know what they came up with, a so original idea, We.... will smoke you for 24-hrs. Give me a fucking break I didnt even bother, a waste of my time. The person who told me of what a *REAL* spur-ride was, was DS Brown. He mention that his ride consisted of 3 days, on horseback and every thing that SGT Joseph Gunderson said. That is what I was waiting for and never got.

Response by MSG Greg Kelly made Jan 24 at 2022 6:21 AM

2022-01-24T06:21:18-05:00

I first heard about the Silver Spur Ride while with the 11th ACR in 05 we were in Mosul, Iraq and I I was awarded my Combat Spurs. When the certificate was handed to me I was asked if I was married? And to ensure I wore the Rawls down due to my being married.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2022 12:20 AM

2022-01-25T00:20:21-05:00

Better know “Fiddler’s Green”. I got smoked at every station and still had to complete the tasks. Our spur ride was 3 days non-stop and went over 30 miles total.

During one of the patrol stations an LMTV drove by the road. Being a smart ass I mentioned to the instructor that the SOP was to break contact eventhought I knew that the LMTV was not part of the lane and he gave our team a go for actually paying attention to the brief.

Response by CH (MAJ) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2022 2:23 PM

2022-03-05T14:23:46-05:00

I passed my Spur Ride back in 2010 with the 1/158th CAV. Took me a few days to recover but it was worth it.