i'm going to try western...

[hApPiNeSs]

ive booked up a western trail ride in the new forest for when i go on holiday next week. the place where i am going is called 'Burley Villa' if anyone knows it :)

i was just wondering what i should wear. i will wear jeans and then just my normal short jod boots and half chaps (is that ok???) but i dont know what hat i should wear. i have a rydale western-type hat thing and also my normal riding helmet - but what do most people wear? i might bring both and see when i get there!

also - could you tell me how to hold the reins? and are the aids very different to english?

[Peace]

Jeans and boots sound fine to me. Half-chaps are great, too, although unless you just want to wear them you won't have to, as western fenders don't pinch like english leathers.

No idea about the hat question though as I've never seen a western rider wearing one.:p OK, slight exaggeration but not much. Is the western-style one a cowboy hat with a helmet underneath? I've heard of those but never actually seen one. I don't think they were big sellers over here because, as stated above, most western riders won't wear a helmet.

Anyway, as to the reins. There will be two of them, they're really long and you can knot them together if you'd like, and you hold both in one hand. There should be slack in the reins - no contact. I've been told you can hold the reins in either hand - well, I've been told both ways are wrong, which in my book amounts to the same thing:). You hold the reins in your fist, thumbnail up, with the free end of the reins coming out the top of your hand.

ETA: Almost forgot about aids. Most (but not all) western horses neck-rein, so to turn left you just move your hand to the left so that the right rein touches the horse's neck. You can also give a leg aid. Most western horses here are taught to move away from pressure, but you'll want to check with the person leading the ride to make sure you're giving the aids his/her horses are used to.

Have fun!

[flump1967]

I have ridden there many times, but only English. (Hello Hawk, Prince and Fire!)
Overall it is a good place and the Western Horses (all very nice coloured/spotted cobs) do only western trail rides. There is only a tiny bit of roadwork then it is all open forest.
They actually supply these weird cowboy hats that go over the top of a normal hard hat. Everyone seems to wear jeans and bandannas are much in vogue. Good Luck!

[LMS]

Re hat/helmet: whatever keeps your noggin safe!

Holding the reins: depends on how the horses were taught. For schooling it can be both hands, the more advanced the horse is usually is when only one hand is used.

Like Peace suggested; you can tie a simple knot (when on a loose rein like a slight loop, put the knot where it will be above the horn) your hand will be right under the knot with thumb up. It will be held above the swell (the big hump where the horn is)

The other hand (usually the right) will be relaxed & holding the slack & resting on your upper thigh.

If the reins are short, you can hold them with the palm facing down in front of the withers. Same as when holding the english reins in one hand when they are short.

The half chaps are not a necessity as the fenders will be between your leg & the horse.

Most important: be safe & have fun!

[Hannah.Horsie]

I Love Riding there western and english (Hawk, Lady, Prince and Ladie are wik)
When i go on western trails there i just wear my normal english stuff but normally about half of people wear stetsons and half normal hats

when computer works propperly i will post pics

[Miska]

That is soooo funny! I've just come back from there after having a two day riding break! Was good (Love Hawk! - such a sweetie and Shanon (sp?)) though as it was sooo hot didn't do as much as had hoped. But people were nice and horses were good.

I would just wear normal riding gear, thats what the ppl I saw doing western were wearing (i only did english riding)

Have fun!

[Skib]

You can get jeans made specially for riding in from Robinsons - as recommended to me by cvb on this board, They dont have an inner seam to rub. They are great.
Someone else (Harry Hobbes) said that in the states clients wore women's tights under their normal jeans to stop them rubbing - but that might be a bit hot this summer in the new Forest?

You dont need half chaps to ride Western, but you do need a heel on your boots.

[LMS]

Someone else (Harry Hobbes) said that in the states clients wore women's tights under their normal jeans to stop them rubbing - but that might be a bit hot this summer in the new Forest?

Try bicycling shorts instead of tights

Or was that to prevent wedgies for men...

[Montana]

I ride western in jeans all the time. You don't really need to put anything underneath/on top - just make sure that they're either something like Wranglers (which don't have the thick double stitched seam) or a lightweight jean type material - the cheaper ones with a bit of stretch in them tend to be good. To be honest, I've ridden in Roxy/Falmer/Next jeans regularly, and don't have any problems, but if I then hop onto a friend's english horse for 2 mins, I end up black and blue:p

[Jessey]

Burley villa is meant to be very nice for western, just what I have heard on the western circuit, I have never been there :D
I would just wear jeans and stout boots with a heel, you won't need your half chaps and they would probably be uncomfortable with jeans anyway, the stirrup leather (fender) on a western saddle is about 8-10 inches wide so completely protects your leg from pinching/rubbing. I would definatly take your hard hat, being a school I would have thought you will have to wear one as their insurance will require it in the UK, it sounds like they have the western/stetson covered hats to borrow if you want, but in this sweaty heat, I would want my own hat ;) :D

Ask the instructors about aids and stuuf and if the horses are neck reining trained, they are all so different.

J x

[hApPiNeSs]

thankyou guys :) - so no halfy chappies :)

and i'll bring my helmet as i have a feeling my other hat will blow off (its not very tight) :o

[Sammii]

Glad you've decided - have fun :D

ETA: One thing everyone who rides western does is take pictures and videos ;)

[hApPiNeSs]

will pack my camera! they look like lovely horsies :D :D :D

*excited* :D

[jinglejoys]

Could you find somewhere locally to have some taster lessons so you have a vague idea of what to expect?--I envy you your ride:D Have fun!

[iluvhorses28]

Riding western on the trail is great! I ABSOLUTLEY LOVE IT! Because of the more conforming saddle. the ride feels more secure that you can sit back and watch the view.

I ride western mostly and I still wear my helmet anyway. Not sure I want to gamble with looking the part vs. knocking myslef unconscious!:rolleyes: Also I find that regular 'stretch' jeans do the trick for me... they are less constricting and are far more comfy than regular jeans (AND EASIER TO MUNT WITH STETCHIES!)

Have a great time and enjoy the view! ;)

[hApPiNeSs]

well.... it was great :D

i rode a cob called coyote who didnt do a thing i tried to tell him to, so in the end i kind of just gave up and just sat there :o :D my fault entirely, i should add - he was a lovely hossy :D

we walked and jogged, sadly no loping, but great fun all the same

pics to follow :)

[Peace]

A cob called coyote?:D That made me smile, since I can't imagine a less coyote-like creature than a cob. (Coyotes being very slim and slightly sneaky-looking:) ).

I'm glad you had a good time - I'll look forward to the pics.