Just western....

[JOJOBA]

Im getting interested.
Does anyone want to have a go at converting me? :p
Im afraid I dont know much about it but Im fairly sure my horse jogs :p.
xxx

[galadriel]

Western riding is very similar to dressage, in leg, seat, and weight aids.

The rein use will be very different. The horse learns to go "on the bit" without contact, and you use a very loose rein. You guide the horse by subtle movements of the reins; the reins and bit are heavier than in English riding, and small motions can convey a lot.

I prefer English riding :)

[RodeoDreamer33]

I absolutely love western riding. It's all I do!
And also, what galadriel explains above is called neck reining. Western Riding is a lot like English, you can hold your reins the same just a tad bit looser but it varies. Just like in English, you aren't always holding onto your horse's face and in western your not always jsut letting them stretch out. I think you should give it a try. I do it because I love the western stuff like barrel racing, reining, cutting, team penning. I think it looks so fun. And also, every horse needs to run, and i mean RUN so I think a lot of times when your in a western saddle your more "fearless." This isn't a mean remark, but I've never seen an english rider just let there rein all the way down, sit forward kiss to your horse and let them stretch out at a run. Maybe I've never seen it, but I feel like western horses are a lot more relaxed and layed back because of this.
Remember with western, there's always the horn so don't be scared ;)

[galadriel]

but I've never seen an english rider just let there rein all the way down, sit forward kiss to your horse and let them stretch out at a run.

You haven't been looking in the right places, then :) Try watching eventers schooling, or going to compete cross country jumping. You'll see a lot of English riders doing flat-out gallop.

[Bacharel]

I agree with RodeoDreamer33.

[cvb]

Harrumph !

but I've never seen an english rider just let there rein all the way down, sit forward kiss to your horse and let them stretch out at a run.

- gymkhana racing (where do you think your barrel racing came from ?!?!)
- racing - the sport of kings
- eventing/steeplechase/hunter trials
- hunting
- oh and just having fun on a hack ;)

[Jessey]

We can have a go.....western is good fun and very similar in the basics to classical dressage etc, I had reining explained to me when I started as 'high speed dressage' which is basically what it is, performing a routine as perfectly as possible, doing things like spins - turn on the haunches/piroettes, circles, flying changes etc etc, then there is 'pleasure' , basically ridden showing, trail - an obstical course, speed events (barrels, pole bending, key hole) explaind to me as 'gymkana for big kids' and then the cattle work events.
All of it is done without the traditional 'english' contact, mostly from seat and weight aids to gain self carridge.
I love western but I also have a crack at jumping and dressage with the same horse, most horses cope really well with being cross trained, I think CVB would agree.
The western saddle is more like an armchair compared to the english saddle, because it evolved for long hours in the saddle that was one thing they focused on. Although its often alot bigger and heavier (but not always) they have a much bigger contact area and spread the weight much more. Also because the saddle has swells (the bits under the horn) it make you feel very secure.
If your interested have a go, you can do most of the training in an english saddle just adjust the way you ride a little.

J

[cvb]

I love western but I also have a crack at jumping and dressage with the same horse, most horses cope really well with being cross trained, I think CVB would agree.

Most definitely :D

I like western :) Done properly, its has a lot of similarities with classical riding. And the aim is a calm, supple, accepting horse - not who can argue with that :cool:

[hanss]

ya
this is better do u have more

[Cochise]

I love western but I also have a crack at jumping and dressage with the same horse, most horses cope really well with being cross trained, I think CVB would agree.
If your interested have a go, you can do most of the training in an english saddle just adjust the way you ride a little.

J

I have friends who do the majority of their training of their horses in western. The major difference when it comes to the English day of the competition is their clothing and tack. But the horse is just this amazingly relaxed, forward moving and happy creature. It has me convinced! :)
My friends do all the western classes AND jumping, dressage, hunting, etc.
I show jump and barrel race :D I have found the barrel racing is helping my corners and balancing of my horse for jumping immensely, I know now that I can sit up and get a relatively balanced, forward moving turn....just imagine a jump is there, and I feel confident about it...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/smaugthegreat/91942926.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v229/smaugthegreat/b0e2137c.jpg
Easy peasy!

But sorry, of all means! Give it a go! :D

[Jessey]

Heres another thought, A friend of mine ran a little open show last year at the yard he had his mare stabled at, where all the other horses were jumpers.
The girls joined in and we all had a blast, in fact in one class (western riding) of the 6 rossettes 5 went to the jumpers :eek: it was a great day and some of their horses are now being cross trained.