english to western

[Horse Girl]

I have just got a horse that goes both english and western.I have been rideing english for 2 years.I would like to learn to ride western.I dont't know anything about western so please let be know everything you know about western rideing.

thanks,
Horse Girl

[Bejeweld]

All in all, I believe that western and english are no different excepet for the sadddle. You could put a western saddle on an english, and the horse would never know the differnce. Same with you. YOu could sit in a western saddle and do dressage moves if you wanted to. I am sorry if you disagree, but I feel very strongly about this.

[Allie]

If you are really serious about learning western you will probably need to take atleast a few lessons.

Basically, the western saddle is built as a work platform that is comfortable enough to spend all day in. The saddle tree has to be strong enough to rope calves off of it, which is why they are generally a lot heavier than english saddles (helps you build up those arm muscles).

When you ride western, you do not post the trot, you sit it. You also keep your stirrups longer (the general rule is: put the tips of your fingers on the seat jockey, and lift up the stirrup/fenders. The end of the stirrups should end right in your arm pit. That will give you a good idea, and you can adjust them after you ride).

Another thing: the gaits have different names- trot=jog and canter=lope.

This a very general message. If you have any specific questions I can give you better/more info. What style of western riding are you doing?(roping, reining, western pleasure, trail, etc.)

Bejeweld- horses can tell the difference between saddles, the same way they can tell the difference between bits. I ride my mares both english and western, and they have different bits/saddles for each one, to help them distinguish the difference in what I'm going to ask them to do.

The different saddles feel different on their backs. Also, as a person who rides western on trials, takes saddleseat lessons, and jumps for fun, I know I can tell a diference between saddles. They put your seat and legs in different positions, and that is exactly the reason why there are so many different types of saddles on the market.

Allie :)

[This message has been edited by Allie (edited 10 January 2000).]

[summer]

Hi all
I agree that western and english riding share the same principles, but the means to getting the results are very different. The western saddle operates very differently on the horse's back, so that if you sit very deeply, you will actually restrict the forward motion. The affect of turning and shifting your weight is actually more dramatic to the horse in a western saddle than english. It isn't an easy transition if you do it properly, but it is worthwhile. Your best bet is to get a good instructor, preferably one who teaches both english and western and can help you with you specific needs. Where are you based? There are only a few people here in the UK that I would recommend, but they do exist!

[dreamer]

I'm starting western form english as well. I have an instructor that eaches both,but I haven't used her for western yet. I think the best thing you can do is just get in the saddle western and get use to the different feal, don't worry about sturop length at first, use what ever is confortable for you. Once you have the feal for the saddle, then you can start lengthining your sturpops. they should be longe enough for you to have a streighet leg than english, but alow a slight bend to the knee, alow you to get your heals down like you would english, and alow you to get the right position in the saddle wich is, like with english, a stright line from your ankle to your hip and shoulder. You ride one handed, usually your left but it's not a punishable crime to ride right handed (at least that's what I've been told) The horse's head should be down, so that there is a stright line from the pole (between the horse's ears) to the withers. There shold be lack in the reins, but not so much that you have no feal at all for the horse's mouth, must a gentil curve in the rains from the bit to your hand. Now if you plan on showing, depending on the horse's age, (3 and under you can ride with a snaffel) If he's older, he needs to be in a western, fixed, shanked bit (I really don't know how to explain what a shank is if you don't know, I know what it is, but I don't know how to discribe it) It's great to get experence in different dissaplins and saddles, I've leanred to ride in everything from an army saddle to a pasofeno saddle, good luck

[KT]

I'm sorry, but I disagree. I have ridden both western and english, for over 3 years each. The way your legs are postitioned and the way you sit and use aids is all different in these two disciplines, you COULD do dressage in a western saddle, but you would have to cue your horse slightly differently. In western, your stirrups are longer, legs a little more relaxed and generally, you don't have your reins gathered up with the same kind of feel on a horse's mouth as you would in english riding. Also, in western, the gaits tend to be slower, and smoother (in an ideal western horse). English riding requires a little more muscle control because it's harder to keep your legs in postition. Western your whole body is just a little more relaxed down into the saddle that in english. But they are not so extremely different that it's hard to switch between the two. A horse needs to be trained in both and used to both the saddles tho. I've had an experience with a horse that was only trianed english, and her owner tried to put a western saddle on her one day and she bucked like crazy. Think of how much bigger, heavier western saddles are and how much more of area they cover on a horse's back! If your horse has never had a western saddle on before, take it slow. So anyway, the two disciplines are a little different, but western is just a little more relaxed, in my opinion and the way you sit is slightly different. So have fun. e mail me if you have any other questions- kstoeckel@ibm.net

[Horselover2]

Yeah, what KT said! If you've been riding huntseat or dressage that is. Saddleseat is a little closer to Western as far as leg placement. I'm also learning Western after riding huntseat, and it is a lot different, so much so that my horse can tell the difference and goes slower in her western gear (due I believe to the weight placement in the saddle)

In western, although most folks neckrein, (reason for that orignally was so that you could toss your lariat), you can also use direct reining for training purposes. I direct rein when I'm team penning, even though I'm in a western saddle.