Heel bandThe curved piece that wraps round the heel of the boot. Also called the yoke or branch.
Spur strapA leather strap over the foot's arch. It holds the spur on.
ShankReaches back from the heel band and touches the horse. Also called the neck.
RowelA wheel on a pin at the end of the shank. It turns, so it can roll against the horse’s side.
On the boot: 5 2
ButtonsStuds on each end of the heel band. The spur strap hooks onto them.
Heel chainA chain under the sole in place of a strap. Found on some western spurs.
The end, close up: 4 3
Chap guardA small hook on the shank ahead of the rowel. It was first made to keep the rider’s chaps off the rowel.
Rowel pointsThe points of the rowel. Many small points are milder than a few big ones.
Jingle bobsSmall pieces of metal hung near the rowel. They jingle as the foot moves.
How this list was compiled: Read 2026-09-27. Wikipedia, Spur, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spur : the parts of a spur: the yoke, branch or heel band, which goes round the boot's heel; the shank or neck, which sticks out from the back of the yoke and touches the horse; the rowel, on some spurs, a revolving wheel with radiating points at the end of the shank; a spur strap over the foot's arch and under the sole, or on some western designs a heel chain under the sole instead; buttons on the heel band for the strap; on western spurs, chap guards, small hooks curved up on the shank ahead of the rowel, first used to keep chaps off the rowel; jingle bobs near the rowel that jingle as the foot moves; many small teeth make a rowel milder than a few large ones; a roweled spur can roll against the horse’s side. Licence: own work
The drawing: Drawn for this site by script, 2026-09-27. Own work, nothing traced. Licence: own work
How it works
These are the parts of a spur on a western spur: first worn on a riding boot, then the end of its shank close up. Start with the 4 main parts.
Read the full guide
On the boot
The heel band, also called the yoke, wraps round the heel of the boot. A spur strap over the arch of the foot fastens to buttons on the band; some western spurs use a heel chain under the sole instead. The shank, or neck, reaches back from the band.
At the end
The rowel is a wheel on a pin at the end of the shank. It turns, so it can roll against the horse's side. Western spurs may add a chap guard in front of it and jingle bobs that jingle as the foot moves.
Spurs are worn with the buckle of the strap on the outside of the foot and the shank pointing down.
Questions and answers
What is the wheel on a spur called?
The rowel: a wheel on a pin at the end of the shank, with radiating points. A rowel with many small points is milder than one with a few large ones.
What is a chap guard on a spur?
A small hook bent up from the shank in front of the rowel on western spurs. It was first used to keep the rider's chaps from catching on the rowel.
What are jingle bobs?
Small pieces of metal hung near the rowel of a western spur, added so the spur jingles whenever the foot moves.