Dressage vs Huntseat

[Kountrygirl]

Okay. I'm very new with this. Just decided today actually that I would like to learn how to ride English. I have been riding Western for about 19 years now, so as you may find out I am very new!! So, can someone explain what the difference is between dressage and hunter? Saddles? I like the looks of a dressage saddle, but I know there is more to it than that. If you need to know the type of horse I will be riding, at this time, I am in the process of adopting a standardbred. Otherwise, I always ride a QH. I'm actually kind of excited about this, so please make it simple if you can. Another crazy question, the clothing attire for English riding, is that needed? I'm just wanting to learn to ride no showing of any kind, I've never been into that. so, this is just for trail riding. Which is preferred?

Thank you for all reply backs.

Kountrygirl

[Cheeky]

Heya :)

Clothes - I am good at that hehe :P

Ok - if its just for trail riding or pleasure riding, I think that any saddle which is comfy should be ok :) Hunter is more a butt-holding saddle (I find anyways lol), and a dressage is just plain comfy :) But if you are interested in jumping, hunter alows a bit more movement.

Clothes? Yes they are recomended :P Naked riding isnt such a popular sport anymore . . hehe jokes.

Jodpurs - or tight fitting pants. Baggy pants can be quite dangerous to ride in.

Helmet - safety first!! Especially on a road - vital stuff!!

Gloves - helps with grip and scratches of evil branches :P

Boots - any kind of boots are ok with a flat sole. Try to avoid tie-ups, they are easily caught on things.

Top - yes please lol! Something comfortable, but not too stringy that could get caught, but not to tight that you cant breath :P

Jewlery - yeah, but i wouldnt recomend necklaces as they can get caught up. Rings are ok . . just common sense really :P

But its all personal choice :)
I am happy to ride in my torn jeans, white baggy shirt, and tackies (sneakers) and helmet with my mare - but I usually ride on a bareback pad thingy .. or saddle. I do usually ride in tackies when training. but thats within an enclosed area. But if I go out for a paid ride I will wear all the right stuff . . mostly because I dont know the killer trees hehe and there are usually laching plants :P

good luck

[cvb]

Kountrygirl

Its a similar case to western, where the saddle is designed for the purpose. (Barrell, Roping, Trail, etc etc).

So a dressage saddle is designed to sit the rider best for doing dressage. The rider has a deep seat and a long leg. If you try and shorten the leg up to jump, the knee will come off the saddle panel !

So then for jumping and fast work you have a different saddle design, which allows the rider to move their centre of gravity forward with the horse.

The saddles often have knee and thigh rolls to support the rider but they will be placed differently for the different disciplines/sports.

What most "happy hacker" english riders will use is a general purpose (GP) saddle. This is an "average" design that allows a bit of everything ;) Can also be called an "allround" saddle over there in the US I think..

[Kountrygirl]

Thank you for the advice. And...Oh My...Yes, I agree riding naked would not be a good thing!!! I would like to ride, not be on the ground!!! Actually, I wouldn't be able to catch my horse if I did such a thing.

Anyway, thank you for your advice. Another question, I have rode in an English saddle when I was younger (High School), and I was wondering how the heck do you stay in the thing!!!! Where do you place the stirrups at? I'm 5'11, so having my knees bent like that doesn't look too comfortable. I hope I can learn, it looks like it would be fun, except for the posting, I'm not coordinated enough!!!!

Kountrygirl

[cvb]

Kountrygirl

When you sit on a chair, do you fall off it ?! A western saddle is a bit like a decent armchair - gives you a lot of support ;)

An english (huntseat) type saddle is more like an office chair - less support.

I have been told that this relates back to lance fighting - western saddle - when you hit something with the lance you need to stay in the saddle :rolleyes:

And sword fighting, where you need a clear swing at your enemy so need a "stripped back" saddle. (And the sword is also why we tend to get on the near side the whole time ;) )

Having more bend in your knee is not uncomfortable, because it is a "soft" leg not a tense hard braced leg. Kind of like when you are on a bicycle - there you have your knees bent too.

It does feel very different. There are times I feel I should fasten my seatbelt when I'm in an english saddle :p but thats all in my head.

[Rojeth]

i have only ridden western once and i didnt like it, because you didnt have as much movement and flexibility in your seat. The english saddle is smaller but it really helps you work on your balance and leg position.

I have long legs too, and i ride on a GP saddle with long stirrups in the school. i make them a bit shorter when hacking to feel more secure. as cvb said, the leg should be bent but relaxed not tense through the thigh or knee - something i still do automatically during transitions.

let us know how it goes and good luck!

[Lindsayanne]

As a western rider, you would probably find the dressage saddle more comfortable- and if you do not plan on jumping, it's really more practical.

In a correct dressage seat you ride with pretty long stirrups- about as long as you would on a western saddle. You would likely find the transition into a dressage saddle easier and more comfortable.

[Captain Equidan]

stirrups shorter to feel safer? I feel safer the longer they are!

[micaela]

To start riding english the only thing you really need is a cheap pair of breeches. I got some really cheap devonaire leggings initially when I first started. It just makes you feel more comfortable in the saddle because jeans make it harder to be fluid in the saddle. I usually just wear a t-shirt or sweatshirt or whatever. A cheap pair of gloves might be nice, but I didn't start wearing them until I rode for 2 years but I find my hands grip better with them. A helmet is always nice, especially if you are trail riding. You should also have a good pair of boots with a 1/2 in heel.

Dressage saddles are better. If you jump you can always get a cheap jumping saddle, but as my coach says you spend 95% of your time riding flat so its better to have a saddle that's built for that and if you decide to jump later on to get a jumping saddle. I am in the pre-jumping phase slowly moving to cavalletti and I really don't like the all purpose and jumping saddles because they aren't as comfortable. However if you are planning trail riding some people prefer to ride the trot in two point on the trails and in that case you might prefer a jumping saddle, but I usually post as do most people I know.

Stirrups are shorter in english because you post in the trot so you need to be able to have your legs to keep you in the saddle when your bottom is out of the saddle.

[cvb]

stirrups shorter to feel safer? I feel safer the longer they are!

Does depend what you are doing - fast work often requires you to move your centre of gravity forward over the horse's (which is forward cos of the speed) and a dressage saddle makes this harder.