Show & Gymkhana

[WYORider]

Hello All,

I wanted to share that I am riding in my first games night aka gymkhana tomorrow night, and then Thursday night I am showing. I have done english classes in the past but this time I am going to show a few classes in western as well.

Can anyone give a brief explanation of the difference in seat and hands position between english and western? I know in western you hold the reins with one hand (does it matter which?) Leg position is a longer leg than english right?

Are there any other differences I should knwo about? I haven't practiced in western, I am just going to go do it, I rode western on the trail growing up and english riding lessons, but I haven't been in a western saddle in..... years!!!

Thanks!

Kristy

[BeachRiding]

I would take some lessons before showing western! Do you even have the proper saddle?

Hold reins in left hand always, longer leg, like dressage.hand goes slightly in front of saddle. Your right arm should be held like you are holding a cloth like a waiter.(stupid new style!)

[WYORider]

I would take some lessons before showing western! Do you even have the proper saddle?

Hold reins in left hand always, longer leg, like dressage.hand goes slightly in front of saddle. Your right arm should be held like you are holding a cloth like a waiter.(stupid new style!)

My riding instructor has the western tack. It's a for-fun show so I am not worried about having to take lessons before I show western. Like I said before, I rode western previously, its just been a long while. I ride english all the time.

What about split reins? Should both loose ends be on the left side of me, since i will be holding just with my left hand? I hate split reins :) I have used them before, I just prefer my foo-foo english rider tack :)

[Shadowlark]

If the horse is wearing a snaffle it is expected that you ride two handed! And the Reins can each hang down on the side they cross over too, to prevent them getting lost if you are ridding two handed :)

If however you are ridding single handed, which means the horse KNOWS how to neck rein it should look somethin glike this.. only should should have both reins running thru the hand at your thigh (this photo is of rommel reins which are different..)

http://equisearch.com/library/graphics/xRomalRight.jpg

Does that help?

edited to add... Good luck and enjoy!

[BeachRiding]

split ends, cross over eachother, one hangs on one side, one the other.

[Shadowlark]

HAHAHA your answer made much more sense then mine.. I am SO good at convoluting the point...

but again that's only if you are riding two handed single handed they should both be kept together (royal PITA!)

[WYORider]

If the horse is wearing a snaffle it is expected that you ride two handed!

Yes Red wears a waterford snaffle, both in his english bridal and his western headstall. I have no idea if he neck reins. Red is the horse I use for english lessons and I also lease him. He also goes western and my riding instructor says he's better at western than english. And he has a 12 foot sliding stop (is that good?)

And that's all assuming the riding instructor is going to bring Red for the gymkhana and western classes. She may bring one of her other horses. I have no clue.

Why two handed in a snaffle bit? Snaffles are very gentle bits.

I appreciate all the quick responses!

[WYORider]

I found a great site that explains the different types of western reins and when to hold what kind of reins in which way depending on type of bridal and age/skill/training of horse:

http://www.geocities.com/aimhclub/articles.html

How to Hold Western Reins, part 1 through 4.

[Shadowlark]

It has nothing to do with the mildness of the bit,.. and at the same token it have everything to do with it.. In general, a curb bit is used on any horse over 5 - if a horse is "bitted out" then they neck rein (you don't direct rein a curb bit) and generaly there is a ton of slack in the rein when the person rides. The under 5 horses ride in Snaffle bits - which are used to direct rein a younger horse (generaly) This is kinda simplistic for an answer I know.. You can neck rein on a snaffle, if the horse understands it...

HOWEVER having said that he does a Slidding stop.. he neck reins.. almost guarantee it. (if he doesn't I will be shocked) So you can handle your reins one handed and neck rein him.. making this all mute ;)

Sorry, I was trying to simplify your life, figureing your horse was a typical school horse being tossed into a western saddle for giggles ;)

[WYORider]

Sorry, I was trying to simplify your life, figureing your horse was a typical school horse being tossed into a western saddle for giggles ;)

Noooo!! You did not confuse me at all!!! Red is a registered Quarter Horse (red dun color) and my riding instructor will never sell him.... I have asked her many times :-) He's pretty well trained in both disciplines, western and english, and can be a very naughty boy if he isn't shown who is boss.

He went on a trail ride about 2 months ago and there was a water crossing, well, mud crossing, about up to his knees or a little lower and he totally flipped out. He practically laid down in the mud hole, after his rider got off, my riding instructor was trying to keep his head above the mud but he kept resisting, she let him go and he realized he cant breath laying down with his face in the water, so he got his mind right.

He's been practically flawless ever since :-) Nutty horse! He'd be one of those people eater horses if my riding instructor didn't set him right every now and again (he is her horse, one of like tons!!)

[BeachRiding]

should have said the horse did western! I was like OMG, this won't go well! lol

[Shadowlark]

Make sure you let us know how this goes WYO and photos if you can!