Western

[Gypzywingz]

I was just wondering how many people on this board ride western and what kind of discipline do you ride or do you just ride for fun?

[KarinUS]

I only ride Western when I ride my husband's horse. The only discipline I am focusing on is getting her to be calm and dependable and not drop her shoulder, spins us off, and head for home...

[Dreamchaser]

I ride western for fun with my horse every so often. She is originally trained western and I find it so much fun! I am working on teaching her barrels!!! She is so smart because she picked it up right away, although we have yet to try it at a canter. She would be too fast to try it in the small indoor arena we have. Soon I will take some pylons outside and try it! I know she will do well at it, and she seems to love doing it!

[denise42]

I only ride western :p
And am working on getting ready to show Western pleasure.
My good old QH mare is built for it. So now we just have to get her to understand its ok to slow down from a fast canter , to a nice collected western lope. :cool:

[Jennp]

I only ride western as well, I live in the US and only trail ride, so with the saddlebags for lunch to attach, among other things and from a comfort perspective, it makes sense.

I've been in an English saddle once, I think the contact is much closer, but I don't know that I'd want to go on a ten mile ride in one.

[Gypzywingz]

I have ridden western most of my life too, well when I got to ride horses. I did take English lessons for a short bit since around here that is pretty much all you can find. But I love team penning but I don't think I will have much luck at that since I don't have livestock but I think barrel racing would be a lot of fun and something I can do at home with Sunny.

[bexj]

I don't ride Western, but would love to. I think Molly would enjoy it too. My yard is mainly Western riding, so its only a matter of time before I start I guess - infact was meaning to this summer but never really got round to it. Silly really with so much expertise around me all the time:confused:

[horsecrazysarah]

I ride my horse western, that's all he and I know. I'd really like to try English, but I don't know of anyplace around here I can take lessons, especially jumping. When I ride my horse I always try to work on speed control and going where I point him. He always tries to rush, especially toward home and is now starting to balk leaving home. So that's what I am working on now, consistency mainly and to keep his attention on me. :rolleyes:

[Grace O'Malley]

I started learning English, then switched to Western, and now I'm mostly riding English again. I've only ever used direct reining though, never been taught to neck rein properly, though have used it casually on trail horses. I know a lot of people who have both Western and English tack, and tend to go western on the trails, and English for schooling or jumping. The horses don't seem bothered by switching back and forth. If I had my own horse, I'd probably be looking for an endurance saddle--comfortable and light weight :)


Grace

[Gypzywingz]

I was reading an article in one of the horsey magazines about barrel racing and they actually stated that it was easier to direct rein instead of indirect, is that common? I actually prefer to direct rein but I know that is typically how you ride western.

[Miriam]

Although I have western tack I can't ride in it as the stirrup leathers are too long and need to have extra holes soldered in. Soa t the moment its western riding when I go to see Katie in USA for now

Three weeks to go :D

[Izod1360]

i only ride western when i go to Roseland Ranch every year. i love it though.

[Grace O'Malley]

Originally posted by Gypzywingz
I was reading an article in one of the horsey magazines about barrel racing and they actually stated that it was easier to direct rein instead of indirect, is that common? I actually prefer to direct rein but I know that is typically how you ride western.

I'm not sure I know the answer to your question, but as I understand it, western horses are initially taught direct reining, then, once they've got the basics down, the indirect reining is more advanced training. The horses I've ridden "western" were in western saddles with snaffle bits, and responding to direct rein cues. But they'll also move away from rein pressure on the neck--like if you want to steer with one hand so you can take pictures with the other :)

Grace

[FRED]

I do like the western saddle,its so sensible:) I like the stirrup position too,all be, I wonder do they have to be so bulky,the stirrup leather that is.

I ride more for fun,but serious fun at that;)
I have noticed some bits to be very harsh looking, but its all in the care of hands.
Its different and I enjoy the chance for a change.

:)

[jessie123]

I bought a western saddle for my irish cob and although it's fun I wouldn't like to ride in it all the time and neither would my cob. At the moment we are only in the western because i have to get a new english saddle for him and at first he was ok with it but now he's starting to kick up a stink (a few flying bucks when he can get away with it!:D ) He's a bit put off by the length of the stirrups and the different seat as he has never been schooled in the western style but he did shock me one time when I was opening a gate and he turned round on a sixpence which was amazing:D :D :D Chances of getting him to do that in an english are pretty remote:rolleyes:

[cvb]

count me in. Ride both western and dressage.

Did my first ever western comp this summer - just a walk jog pleasure but we all gotta start somewhere :D

[Shiva]

Hi,
I ride Western and English. For long leisurely rides I prefer
western. My horse neck reins in both. When I first got him he
was quite a handful. he is an exracing arab. I had'nt ridden for
about twenty five years but I've always liked arabs. I know I was
a bit nervous and he picked that up, I tried him in western and
he took to it straight away. Now I ride him in both.
The other thing I would love to do is have a go at endurance. Maybe next year.








:) :)