would he suit western??? need to know as off to usa this week

[Merlinz gal]

hi all
i was just wondering if merlin would make a good western horse?? im still debating if he will jump again so this is a backup if you will.
ill post a picci of him and you can tell me what you think......


http://img.photobox.co.uk/02263800a9dfd0c02aaf398a9d86c6f67fffb155c6a5693c576689c8.jpg

sorry i dont know much about western, i can neck rein him and stop with my seat i was thinking maybe barrel racing?as i say im off to orlando this weekend and was going to look into buying tack out there

[shandy84]

there saddle sizing is pretty different so only bridles if you do, BTW any horse can do a bit of western I'm sure he'd be good at it, don't forget you have trail etc you could do too. Don't forget that you hae to declare on items over a certain amount or it can be heavily taxed if they find it on you have fun

[Bacharel]

If he is recovering from his leg injury I wouldnt suggest getting into barrel racing as it can put strain on horses legs. Not saying you cant do it for fun, but just not competing intensively. Starting out the impact will not affect his legs because you will not be running him. Maybe western pleasure? :)

[Just.Jump]

depending on what you are doing, your horse does seem suitable for western. Like it's been said, if he had a shoulder injury anything like barrel racing, penning or any of the other more intense western sports shouldn't be attempted unless the okay has been given and it's done in moderation. You're horse has the bone to do well in it- he isn't one of those small dainty english horses, which is good in this case. I'd say go ahead and try it out if you'd like to.

[shandy84]

Just Jump, why do you think all english horses are dainty? What about our natives, ** cobs!!!!????

[Miriam]

Merlinz gal it will cost the bring the saddle back. Can't remember how much but I don't think its cheap.

There is no reason why your horse can't do western riding.

I bought this one for a friend:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1580171079/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2_cp/026-1100055-9985233

Good it is too

[Jessey]

MG, sure he could do some western. I would be very dubious about buying a saddle and bringing it back unless you do back tracings and get some help to see if it will fit, but there are lots of other things you can get :D

J

[cvb]

Merlinz Gal

Barrel racing is not only going to put quite a lot of strain on leg joints etc but also there isn't loads of it in UK.

More common western classes are things like pleasure, trail, reining, horsemanship etc

Some are quite close to dressage in what they require.

Saddle fit - not simple. Its not "one size fits all" which is what a lot of people think. I know - I had a nice synthetic Circle Y - which fitted my old chap but not my new mare. So then swapped for a full leather saddle - which also turns out to be too narrow for my mare. So now I'm into getting a new saddle - at aorund £1000 :eek:

[jUmPingIsLifE]

He could probably do western, but barrel racing is very stressfull and hard on horses. as much so as jumping if not more. what does your vet think about what his capabilities are after his leg heals?

[Merlinz gal]

hi guys thanks for all your help,

i know saddles over there arent the same as here so i was just going to get a bridle and bit as i know a tack shop that does western saddles.

right barrel racing is a nono then but my farrier thinks he should be able to jump but ill have to be carefull with spreads .
thanks again for all of your help :D

[shandy84]

What size bit is he? Just i have one to sell, also maybe read up on american bits from what i can vaguely remember a common bit is the tom thumb which can be a bit severe.

I think I told you of the arab at my yard who broke his leg andis still jumping into his late twenties he hada year off jumping and anything likely to strain the joint too much like galloping or lungeing and he then came back in and they chanced it and he is quite a happy fella jumping his way around a course these days. Maybe barrell racing and jumping next year and just do basic training for it up till then good luck and have a great hol. BTW love sheplers western boots, they are really cool!

[Merlinz gal]

yeah you told me:D hopefully with time patience and tlc merlin will be able to jump again

[Bacharel]

hey now, I have a small *dainty* arabian who I ride western and she is great at it. She whips my friends QH butt in races :p

[cvb]

Merlinz Gal

If you take out some of the "high impact" moves like spins, stops etc, then the one thing about western schooling is that it is quite low impact, so might be useful when you are just bringing him back into work.

Do bear in mind that basic western schooling is down in a snaffle or bitless (bosal) NOT in a curb ! So you could actually use your normal bridle, unless you want to do western showing.

[Jessey]

i can vaguely remember a common bit is the tom thumb which can be a bit severe.

Tom thumbs are not nice bits IMO, nut cracker with extra leverage just to make sure you can really do some damage :( I'm sure like most bits in the right hands they are OK but they can do so much damage.

Most western is just done in a snaffle so you can just stick with your normal bit, a curb shouldn't be used until you can do it all with a snaffle anyway :D

J

[Just.Jump]

Just Jump, why do you think all english horses are dainty? What about our natives, ** cobs!!!!????

Didn't mean any offense by that shandy, it's just that in general, most of the great western horses are (prepare for an incredibly technical term) "chunky" with their bone and muscling, which is a help due to, as somebody said, the high impact of the more difficult lateral moves in western riding. Any horse can be trained western, but in general the ones who achieve higher standings in western riding and shows are the horses with bulky muscles, which in this case, the horse has, to a degree. A 14 hand halter arabian could excel in western, just like any other horse there is, but generally a western build promotes a great western horse.