What to Expect??

[horse_girl1]

:) Hi! Let me start out when it all started. I came to this website hoping to find info on how to get my dad to give me riding Lessons. But then my mom came up with this idea for me to do my chorse for 4 weeks straight. I'm already over my first week.
I was going to do Western Riding but then I decided to do English. Why you ask?? Because anybody who rides English can always ride western but someone who rides Western can't ride English unlease that take lessons!!! Well. Can anybody give me tips on things ahead?? Thanx!;)

[Katie_85]

First, Western isn't that easy. People cannot just convert and expect to ride perfectly without lessons. I know...I just did it! (and I came from riding Saddleseat!) Second, Western riders can always convert from one to the other just like English riders whether they chose to take lessons in the new style or not. Lessons do come highly recomended though. Okay stepping down of my soapbox and hoping nobody's been insulted, I'll tell you what you might expect.

Depending upon your lesson barn you will probably be shown how to lead the horse, brush and groom, possibly tack and untack, how to mount and dismount and be lead around or be on a lead line at the walk. Don't expect to take off like a shot at the first lesson. Most instructors will probably lean to the more conservative side as far as what they let you do for your very first time. After you dismount, you may be shown how to pick the horse's hooves and what do do after a ride. Lessons barns seem to vary a great deal on things like care of the horse. Some will cover this area completely and some will just expect you to show up and ride. Hope this helps and have fun!!! Oh, and be sure and let us know how you get on!:)

[floppy]

the only thing one might find daunting going from western to english is the lack of security in the saddle!
i rode english all my life...now i ride my horsey out in a western saddle and bridle...she isnt western trained but then she isnt really english trained either...just its more comfortable in western stuff when you go out hacking for 1-4hrs!:)

[horselover]

First, i want to echo Katie- western is not some easy style that you don't have to learn anything to ride in. It gets that rep, but it isn't true. In order to correctly ride western, you needs to be taught the correct form just like you do for english. If you just want to hack out western, like Floppy said, you might not need lessons, but the same is true for english. If you ride western and just want to ride english for fun, you wouldn't need lessons. Riding is riding, and the only reason you would need english lessons is if you wanted to have correct form, but you wouldn't not be able to ride english just because you rode western. It sin't true that western is a simple style- it just appears to be more laid-back. So take whatever appeals to you more and don't worry about it. I rode western for 8 years before trying english. Now, I ususally ride english becasue I love jumping, but I still love western.

And to answer your question, expect to work. Alot of people think riding is just getting on a horse and going and the horse will do whatever you tell it. But horses aren't like cars. So don't get discouraged. I have known a lot of people to qut riding after the frist few lessons because they think it is too hard. But if you give it a month, you will be amazed at how much you learn and enjoy it. One of the best things about riding is how you can always improve your skills no matter what level you are.

Also, expect to enjoy yourself and have fun! :D