About 200 years ago it was a similar thing for 'shave tails': new Cavalry recruits. A shave tail would go on a spur ride (earn their spurs) and get their butt h

About 200 years ago it was a similar thing for 'shave tails': new Cavalry recruits. A shave tail would go on a spur ride (earn their spurs) and get their butt handed to them for about two weeks straight, or until they got the hang of riding a horse in a safe manner.