Western saddle?

[Caz&Irena]

My horse is an anglo/arab, around 15.2hh and I would like to get her a western saddle as I have heard that you feel more secure and comfortable than with an English saddle. As I have a problem with rider confidence at the moment I was wondering whether buying a western might make me feel a little better out hacking. I am not a novice rider, I have been riding for six years, but my horse bolted with me last year and it is taking me some time to get over it. I would like to learn western riding too but one hurdle at a time I think!! If anyone who rides western and English could tell me what they think I would be most grateful!!

Best wishes

Gillian

[floppy]

i ride my hros ein a western saddle (she isnt trained western, i just use the reins and the saddle for hacking) and yes they do help with your confidence and they do keep you in the saddle and if your horse bucks you are less likely to fly on the ground. But be warned that once you start using a western saddle for hacking you may never go back :D
western saddles are also quite comfy to do dressage in :D so i discovered the other day! if you get a set of western reins too you will gradually become more relaxed when riding and let your horse have a longer rein

[SILENT-ONE200]

Gillian~

I ride both Western and English and personally, I much prefer to ride with a western saddle ( I grew up on a ranch and so that's what I grew up with. I also find the western saddle's horn can come in handy whenever your horse decides to dump you in the dirt. You can grab a hold of the horn and pull the reins up. If you can get your horse's head out from between his knees. You can save yourself a world of hurt).

If you do decide to use a western saddle, be sure that it fits him/ her. Make sure that you measure your horse's withers and some western saddles are made specifically for Arabians. Saddles should be made to fit the horse, not us. But if you want security, a western saddle might not be a bad idea. Have you ever considered an Australian Stock Saddle with a horn? Absolute riding heaven!! :-) Feel free to e-mail me and I'll see if I can come up with a website that you can order from. :-)

SILENT-ONE200

[kelsey]

I always hack in my western saddle! I feel much more secure and there are a lot of handy D-rings to attach your lunch, etc. I don't ride any differently than I do in my dressage saddle, the only difference is that you don't "feel" the horse as well as there is a lot more leather between you and him.

One thing I have noticed is that a lot of western saddles put you into a better position that many English saddles as they let your leg hang straight down and its easier to maintain the correct position.

Western saddles come with different "bars" which fit different builds - when I bought my saddle, I made a model of my horse's back with cardboard (just like a school project!)and took that to the store.

[Outrider]

Make sure the store will let you bring back a saddle that doesn't fit before you buy it. If you can't aford to have one made for your horse by a good saddler, then ask for a saddle with Arab bars. If the store doesn't know what you are talking about, go someplace else that does. Arabs are built quite a bit differently than other horses. Good luck with your saddle search and Happy Trails!

[Epona UK]

Hi Gillian,
we have a show in Hutton, Brentwood on the 7th October which includes lots of Western Classes for all breeds. We are also very fortuneate to also have a Western Saddler and freelance instrutor in the County. There is a National Association for Western Riding, you can find them at http://www.wes-uk.com
you will find a list of qualified instructors and shows etc on the site.

Epona.

[Outrider]

I've been trying to get in contact with you for quite a while. Have my emails been getting through? Just wondering if you would like to write an article for the Western Way section? Send me an email at horizons@dashlink.com when you get a chance. Happy Trails!

[Epona UK]

Apart from being up to my neck in work ( and taking last week end off to go to our National Championships, which was great incedently) My computer got sick and eventually died, I have a snazzy shiney new one now, thanks to hubby, who was also head groom for the week end
Still got Chaps to finish off for next week end, and alter a Show Jacket, and teach and cook etc etc :eek:
I suspect your e mails are on the other computer, which is in for repair at the moment, so if you could remind me what it is you would like, I'll do my best for you :)

[Outrider]

Hi Epona,

I would really like an article comparing and contrasting the two styles of riding and perhaps showing how western riding might help an english rider with their riding. Your thoughts? Good to see you back. Happy Trails!

[Caz&Irena]

Hi everyone, sorry it's a bit belated but I would just like to thank everybody who replied to my thread regarding western saddles. I am definitely getting one and after going to the show in Brentwood maybe it will give me the incentive to learn the Western style of riding!!! Watch this space!

Thanks again

Gillian

[Epona UK]

I'll be judging in the afternoon, so if you'd like a chat come and see me after the classes.

[Caz&Irena]

I'll take you up on that! What time does it all start?

[Epona UK]

It kicks off at 9am with the Halter Classes, I shall be there around lunch time. Looking forward to meeting you.

[Justanuff]

Hi, Gillian;

I'm an adult rider who has owned horses and been "formally" learning to ride for 4 years; really all I want to do is trail ride, and that's what I'm focused on now. I started learning in an all-purpose English saddle, then got a deep seat Dressage saddle; then I moved into an Australian stock saddle, and I'm expecting my new Western saddle to arrive any day.

I've ridden in Western saddles before and I do feel more secure in them than in an English saddle. The Aussie saddle is a good "happy medium" and you can probably pick one up a little less expensively. It's really a mix between English (deep seat, some, like mine, come with cut-back pommel and no horn) and Western (broader cantle, with a bit of a skirt); but it has the added security of thigh blocks that keep your legs in the correct position and make you feel more secure in the seat. I'm overcoming some confidence issues of my own, brought about by my first horse. Now that I have a nice, quiet partner to work with, the right tack, and a direction that I'm enjoying, riding is MUCH more fun!

You might want to check out the ryderconfidence at Yahoo!Groups. There are over 300 members, and we all support each other in our continuing quest for confidence with our horses. ;)

Lisa

[JumperGirl]

Hi, i think an article telling how western riding might help an english rider with their riding,
BUT, you should also say something about how dressage can help any rider doing any discipline, it helps with balance, and connection between horse and rider, and anyone can do dressage, with an appaloosa, welsh pony, or 17hh warmblood,
i also read an article about dressage, saying how it can help a western rider with suppleness and much more.

sorry, but i just had to get that in!!! lol,

[Epona UK]

Hi Jumper Girl, the origins of Western Riding and Dressage are actually the same, the use of the horse in armed combat.

In days of old, when Knights were supposed to be bold and all that, the horse was itself used as a weapon. The Levade and Capriole in other words the "Airs Above The Ground" were in fact used in battle to gain advantage over ones enemy. The sword or lance was carried in the riders favoured hand, the reins held in the other. A trip to the Armoury in the Tower of London will illustrate admirably exactly where the design of the Western saddle came from, and the bits and spurs as well come to think of it.

When the Conquistadors landed in the New World, they brought with them their horses and way of riding, the movements of their highly trained horses were, over a period of time, modified to perform a new job, that of moving and controlling cattle. The style of the saddles and bits etc basically remained unchanged.

Back in Europe a new sport was emerging, horse racing. The saddles needed to be lighter so that the horses could run even faster, then they discovered steeplechasing and hunting to hounds, the horses needed to jump as well.

Here in the UK, more British riders are starting to realise that Western Riding has far more to it than just sitting on a fancy saddle in a silly hat ! The most common question I get from English riders seeing Western for the first time is " That's amazing, how do you do that ?"

I am totally facinated by Western riding, it never ceases to amaze me how much you can do with a horse, with so little, and just when I think I've cracked it I'll learn something new which makes it even better.

I'm not about to tell you that Western is best, because I keep a very open mind, I believe that everyone has something to offer. I watch, listen and hopefully learn from all disciplines. Although I have to say that Western trained horses are generally safer and nicer to be around.

[doris]

I ride my 14hh in a western saddle, but I do find that you need to wear a pair of suade chapps as a western saddle can be a bit slippery, not having the knee rolls of an english GP saddle. But yes, it's a good way of riding. Go for it.

[Anja]

we are getting a western saddle soon it will be a synthetic one will it be ok to do western shows?