On the bit and collected

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I have just had my first riding lesson (English) after 20 years riding. I taught myself and manage well but thought I should learn how it is supposed to be done.
I ride with my leg hanging loosely by the horses side and only apply it if I want to accelerate. I also dont maintain a strong contact. I have just been told this isnt how it should be done and shown how to ride correctly with a firm contact on the reins and with my legs. My horse instantly went on the bit and moved much better.
Now my question is - Do western riders use this strong contact? I have never seen a western rider with tight reins and legs. If you dont, how do you get the horses working collected?
I feel that I would rather my horse carries herself. I dont want to feel I am holding her up! Of course I would get used to it im sure but I dont know that I want to.
Although my horse responded well I did feel rather like I was accelerating my car but keeping the hand brake on!:rolleyes:

[Just.Jump]

First of all- VERY good choice in taking lessons. In my experience, those who have taught themselves are at a lack of information- though I'm biased because the one at my barn is horrific.

Anyway.

All you need to do is a google search in images. No, we do not use this contact.

Frankly, our horses do not collect and extend like that, if at all- for western horses, there isn't any need to do that because reining and cattle work don't call for it.
To collect a horse (reaching down and head vertical to loosen rein contact, legs pushing horse through, etc etc etc), I use a specific type of contact and light leg aids. My contact is not english contact, it's western/hybrid. I get my horse to listen to my hands and to respond to rein pressure by reaching down. the rest comes with the horse trying to find a spot with no rein pressure, which results in the horse looking for the head collection instead of the rider shoving it there. I collect the body with my body.

It will take you a couple of years of lessons to get this all down in western, because there is much more room for interpretation.

[Jessey]

For an english out line I ride very much 'from the leg into the hand' although my contact is never firm, I expect my horses to be very light in the mouth, but compared to western it does feel a bit like you are gunning it with the hand brake left on :D (great analagy by the way)

For the western side, when training I do work them into a contact but I give far more release, eventually they will carry them selves in a 'good frame' while the rein is kept loose, it is no where near an english/dressage frame but it is also not a sloppy strung out horse. I would not take a contact in a curb bit, I use a snaffle for schooling.

J x

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Thanks for the replies. Im going to continue with the lessons but I think I will try to find somewhere to have Western lessons too so I can compare! My mare is English trained so great to practice on as she responds the second I get it right and ignores me the rest of the time!:rolleyes: I have a youngster who is about to be backed though and I am considering going western with her if I like it. Im not aiming for dressage standard, I just want them to carry theirselves well and not be on the forehand.

[Jessey]

My boy Bo does both english and western, and he will work both ways, it takes a couple of minutes when I first get on after switching but he then knows what expected and works nicly in the relaxed western outline or a more compact dressage one.
I also have a youngster, she has been broken western by a reining trainer, so she works in a nice basic outline and definatly has he hocks under her.....her stops are awesome already :D I may do english with her later but we will see.