What we do for our ponies --Leaping into English

[KCDebs]

Morning to all my fellow pony-riding adults. After my initial post about saddle-fitting and the great advice from all of you, it's been generally decided that English is the way to go with my little Rain Dancer. The English saddle is definitely going to fit her far better.

BUT -- I've never ridden English! I'm from Kansas.

So, I'm out at a local stable that does only English riding learning to post for the first time in my life! What an adventure it's turning out to be, too! I've learned all kinds of things -- including how balanced I wasn't in the saddle and how generally out of shape my quads were. But progress is being made, and I'm starting to feel more confident in the saddle than I have in years, including when I ride western. It's turning out to be one of the smartest things I've ever done.

And it's all thanks to Rain Dancer and all of you.

So, anyone out there with counsel or advice about starting down the English riding trail?

KC Deb

[*Hannah*]

I'm surprised that your balance is better now that you're rinding 'English'! I thought that all that sitting trot made you guys super-glued into the saddle! I would much prefer to ride western as i find all the dressage stuff very boring, and i have a little pony so most of the time we do sitting trot anyway! (cause i cant keep up with him, toooo quick!)
The only advice i could give is practice your diagonals in trot a lot because this is extremely important for the horse's balance and helps confirmation and bending. (also its always the one mistake an examiner will never fail to spot!)
Have fun! xxx:cool: