New Girl with Stupid Questions...

[alleycat]

Hello! I'm new to this site, altho' I've browsed for a while, and you all seem like a nice and knowledgeable bunch, so I figured I'd inflict you with some of my more inane questions.;)
I'm 25 and looking into taking up horse-riding again. I have not ridden since I was a child, and when I say ridden, I use the term loosely, since mostly I was tossed up on a pony with minimal instruction (heels down, hands low, go!) and left to get on with it. So much of the terminology I'm seeing bandied about now means absolutely nothing to me. I'm particularly curious however about Western riding. Since I'm in Australia, and Western riding is not seen that often around here, I'm a little baffled by some of the references to 'reining' and the differences in seat and aids. I'd be very grateful if anyone out there could enlighten me!

cheers,
alex

[Showjumper]

We don't consider any questions to be stupid so just ask away :). However, I have no idea about Western as I've ridden English all my life, but I'm sure Outrider will be able to answer all your Western queries.

Good Luck and Happy Landings! :D

[Palomino]

You may have more luck if you go to the diciplines section and click on Western.
Hope this is of some help.
Palomino.

[Sharon H]

As I understand it, reining is the western equivalant of english dressage, (sort of!) The horses have to prescribe a certain set of movements like sliding stops and things. Ask your question again on the western forum, you'll get a much better reply than this one:)

[Outrider]

Ah, Australia! A place I have always wanted to visit but could never afford to. Maybe someday... Now, there is no such thing as a stupid question, and I am a professional people trainer! So ask away either here or on the Western Forum. I've been riding western since I was a kid, some 35 years ago or so.

Reining. If you are talking about the western class, reining is a series of moves, sliding stops, roll backs, and other moves in a time limit. If you are talking how reins are used in plain riding, they are held in one hand and the horse is "neck reined" vs directional reined in english riding. That is, if I want to turn left, I lay the right rein against the horse's neck and apply pressure with the right leg. Vice versa for going right. Some folks teach a western horse to turn around the leg and some teach to turn away from pressure. By around the leg, I mean that if I want to go left, I use the right rein against the neck and left leg pressure and get the horse to rotate around my leg. Most use opposite leg pressure though. Ask any questions you like, and Happy Trails!

[Katie_85]

Look for The Western Way which should be coming in a couple of weeks, right Outrider?

[alleycat]

Thanks everyone for replying, and thank you Outrider for your succint explanations. It makes much more sense now. :) I probably would have posted on the Western Forum if I'd actually had any clue of what I was doing or where the post would end up. :rolleyes:
And just for the record, I've always wanted to visit the U.S., but never had the cash. I keep hoping for someday though...

Thanks again!
alex

[Outrider]

You're welcome alleycat. And Katie_85 is right. A section called The Western Way will be coming to this web site in a couple of weeks and will have a series of articles about Western riding, including one by Katie. There are a lot of countries I would like to visit, England and Australia and Norway being the top three, but alas, cash is a problem here too. Maybe y'all could pool your money and bring me over sometime for a western class or two! Happy Trails!

[claireh]

If only we could....! I'd contribute to a fund!!

[Outrider]

Ah, thanks Claire. A girl after my own heart! Happy Trails!

[alleycat]

Thanks guys, I have discovered the Western forum and now feel much more enlightened! ;)
Outrider, I'd definitely contribute to a fund to get you over for a few lessons! Previously all I knew of Western riding was what you see on American movies, and I always thought it looked kind of odd with the feet all forward and hands everywhere. But since I started visiting this board I've become quite intrigued...
I believe you mentioned you'd ridden in Aussie stock saddles? How do they compare?

[Outrider]

In my opinion, you have the best of both worlds in an Aussie stock saddle. Lots of leather, swells in front and a horn if you want it! What can be better than that? All the best of an english and western saddle rolled into one. They are a comfortable ride. Happy Trails!

[fionahogg]

Outrider, if we pool together to send you over here, will you bring your sons??

:D

[claireh]

Sons? What sons? Somebody tell me more!! I may even consider contributing more to the fund if they are over 25, single and....! Well, that's enough for now!!

[Katie_85]

Oh, you missed that thread, eh Claireh? In a nutshell, Outrider mentioned he had a couple of sons, I don't think either were over 25 though. But they now have a NR fan club and probably think we are all crazy if they saw that thread!:D :)

[claireh]

Katie

Can you remember what the thread was called- it sounds like it was probably very funny & I could do with a laugh!

[fionahogg]

I think this is it...

http://www.newrider.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=4381

[qwerty]

Just had a look at that link! :D wouldn't mind chipping in for the 17 year old! ;)

[Outrider]

Now I see. You only want me for my sons! You don't really want my western expertise! LOL I have two sons. One is 21 and the other is 17. The 21 year old is studying computer science in college and the 17 year old is studying...girls! Happy Trails!

[claireh]

Aw! Shucks, they're both too young for me! And Outrider's married, all my fantasies dashed in one fell swoop! Life's hard sometimes!!

[qwerty]

I'm 16 in 4 months, is that okay?!?:D

[fionahogg]

Outrider - you've only just figured out?!

Qwerty, no, you're too young!

:D

Fiona

[Katie_85]

How about 16 in 2 months? Never hurts to try.:D

[qwerty]

I'am only just over a year!:D

[Outrider]

Katy and Qwerty would be better for my 17 year old! And Fiona, you know us old folks. It takes us a little longer to catch on to things! lol But careful...once we latch on its like a dog running cattle. You've got to know the right command to get us to let go! Happy Trails!

[Yann]

Ahh these teenage boys obviously get it all wrong driving about in souped up cars blaring music with the windows down and posing...they should all take up horse riding if they want to get a girl:D

Now I know where I went wrong in my teenage years!!!

Yann

[Outrider]

That's exactly what I told my 17 year old son! He wouldn't buy it though! His loss! Happy Trails!