Just a few questions...

[Emmaa]

Hello Everybody!
I recently started doing western lessons after a couple years of english, and wow. Is it ever different! I'm continuing with my English lessons, and I must say, I am falling in love with western! The saddles are way too comfortable, and it's such a nice, relaxing thing to do! Wow, we are learning to jump in my english lessons though, so I'm not stopping them! lol. But, about a canter in western, called a lope, no? I'm not sure, I'm afraid I don't know that much about western riding yet! Heh heh. Is it the same idea as cantering? I mean, the scooping of the saddle? And, also, somtimes the horse I ride, won't turn when I ask her to. And whenever I give her leg, to make her turn in, she just goes faster! It's a lose-lose situation for me! Ah, and when I check the reins, she just ignores it, or my instructor says I'm being to hard on my inside rein. I don't know what to do! AHHH!, ok, if anyone has any tips or thoughts, I'd love to hear 'em! Thanks a bundle!
Emmaa:D

[Katie_85]

Yep, you got it. Western canter is a lope. It's slightly slower than a canter, and I've found that Heather's EE methods keep you in the saddle beautifully for English or Western. If you don't have the book, try reading the KInder Way to Ride sections on this page. And well, as Outrider would say, Happy Trails!:)

[Outrider]

Is the horse you are riding for western lessons trained western or is it an english trained horse with a western saddle on it? Are you using direct reining or neck reining and is the horse trained to do it? Which leg are you using to turn with and what are you doing with the reins at the same time? Let me know and then I will try and answer your questions. Happy Trails!

[Emmaa]

The horse I ride wil go either way. If she has a western bridle and saddle, she'll go western, but given en english bridle and saddle, she'll go english. When I ask her to turn, I simply press with my outside leg, and check with the inside rein and she just picks up the pace, from a comfy western doddle, to a rapid trot. Hope this is the exrtra info you were looking for. Thanks!
Emmaa:D

[katie_did]

I have a Quarter Horse a bit like you described, as in she goes English and Western. She does both quite well. That is not just me saying that, we have went to the AQHYA worlds for the last few years. She really is a western horse, but she does English in the QH sense of the discipline. She wouldn't place for a **** in a hunter show, but hey, that is what my thoroughbred is for. As for your turning problem: use your outside leg to keep her bum from swinging out in your circles. Also make sure you are looking where you want to go. It seems like such a little thing, but it makes a big difference. One thing that you may wanna try that has helped me is advancing your inside hip just a little bit forward. Good luck. Keep us up to date on how you are progressing.

[Outrider]

If she is going faster when you give her leg, you may be squeezing somewhat with both legs without realizing it. Make a conscious effort and look to see what you are doing. Hold the off leg out aways to ensure you don't grip with it at all. If she neck reins, turn her quickly. Not sure what you mean by check with the inside rein. It sounds like you are directional reining and not neck reining. It shouldn't matter really, but if you can get her to neck rein well, she should turn when you ask and not speed up. Let us know how you are doing. Happy Trails!

[Emmaa]

Thanks alot!
I'll try all the advice I got, and let you know how things are. Thanks!
Emmaa:D