returning to western riding ... again?

[Roheryn]

About a year ago I started riding western (switched from English) because of issues I was having with back pain. Riding western not only meant it was easier to dismount, it meant I felt more secure in the saddle (because there was more to it; NOT because of the horn. If anything, the horn got in the way sometimes).
At the end of the summer I bought a western saddle of my own.
Since the summer I've gone back to riding English, and taking lessons in dressage. We've moved to a new barn, and the trainer knows nothing about western riding and doesn't care for it. I've been quite happy riding English again and learning dressage--I've been surprised at how secure I've felt in the saddle--once I get relaxed.
Last week some friends and family came to the barn and wanted to ride western, so I put my western saddle and bridle on the horse and took a turn riding him in them.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I hadn't ridden western since the summer. As relaxed and confident as I've gotten in my dressage lessons, I felt even more relaxed in the western saddle than I did last year, and more so than I do riding English even these days. And I was thrilled when the horse came onto the bit in his open bridle (no caveson) while I was neck reining!
So now I'm considering returning to western riding again. I haven't wanted to, because I've enjoyed learning dressage and riding in English saddles again, which is how I first learned to ride.
But I felt so relaxed and comfortable in that western saddle!
I know I can switch back and forth (e.g., English lessons, weekend western), but I don't know if I can tell myself it's OK to stick with western if I'm comfortable that way. It's not that I think one's "better" than the other, it's just that I've always preferred English saddles and bridles and clothing, and there's also the fact that a lot of people where I live who ride western do so because they really don't know how to ride, don't want to take lessons, and like western saddles because they want the horn to grab hold of when they think they need to. I DON'T like that aspect of western riding. I want to do it properly, and do it as well as I can. I don't like the way those people look down on people who ride English (especially men who ride English). I don't get that attitude at all; even those western riders say it's a lot harder to ride in an English saddle.
The horse doesn't care which saddle I use.
But please, I need some feedback, some input, some understanding, some reassurance! :confused:

[Shadowlark]

Well as a converted Eventer turned wester reiner.. I suppose I can sympathise in a BIG way!

I am riddled with arthritis.. probably the best way to put it very few of my joints don't have some in it (I am only 29) So I do find the western saddle easier on me (mine are very light barrel style saddles)

I come from a proper english background, my dressage training was all classical less is more be one with your horse. I loved the english clothes, the look of a braided horse the lines of girls in crips dark jackets over white blouses. The pomp and circumstance.. the tradition! I had done some western summer camps and felt western was "just for fun" and REAL riders rode english. (people who know me are going :eek: right about now)
I got out of riding entirely due to a the tragic loss of my horse. and went to university moved to Alberta

Then Splash came into my life.. I didn't really INTEND to get back into riding but he needed me and I think I REALLY needed him. He was kept at a WESTERN facility, roping, penning, barrel racing, reining 50 head of cattle on site, quarter horses or bust sort of place.

WELL I didn't care - I went and bought him a proper dressage saddle and went to work on this silly horse who had been taught ALL the wrong things. We made tremendous headway although stood out like sore thumbs at all times :) Then one day the reining coach arrived to teach his lesson while I was schooling.. And asked if I would like to try staying for the lesson. Now he was pretty cute.. so I sure wasn't about to say no.

An hour later my whole equestrian life was turned on it's head. I was in LOVE (not with the cute cowboy who is still my coach) but with this game. All my idiotic misconceptions about western riding had been flushed down the toilet. The light subtle balanced way reining horses worked had me aiming for whole new things! I got to ride my coachs horse a beutifully trained big money earning gelding. possibly.. the thrill of my life!! I have ridden a lot of well trained dressage horses - but THIS took the cake. I had never had a horse so light on the front. If I twitched left he was going left if I thought right he changed direction effortlessly! My first rundown and slidding stop I think I almost peed myself with the thrill of it!! Feeling that horse paddle in to a stop under me gave me the shivers.

The lessons progressed, and Splash and I excelled - the attitude of "let the horse get on with his damn job" took a while for me to adapt to. But my companion thrilled at the same things I did and we had a riot training together! We also had fun competing together. Everyone was so friendly and inviting. They introduced themselves and welcomed me to thier circle of friends.

Later I tried a little REAL barrel racing and Pole bending.. and decided THOSE were a riot also.. then came cattle penning... and we had some fun doing that also!

I realize you probably don't have all the resources on your doorstep the way I do.. But wow it's been a trip.. that proper dressage saddle has long since been sold on e-bay and replaced with western saddles... I can't see going back anytime soon :) I can still be seen asking my horse to half pass accross the arena under western tack among other things.. but I will spin over pirouette any day ;)

BEST of luck no matter what you decide!

[LMS]

You probably feel more secure in the western sadle because it offers a wider base of support.

I started out western pleasure & trail until my instructor could not teach me any higher than what she was trained for. So for a challenge she suggested I tried english. That was interesting!

I then joined 4H (similar to PC) and in the second or third year, our leader brought us to a dressage show & thought "wow" I want to try that!

I've also tried jumping but still prefer when at least one leg is still touching the ground.

It wasn't until I began teaching privatly that I set foot back into a western stirrup & it was like putting on an old pair of your favorite jeans, sneakers & sweater.

You honestly do not need to pick a discipline. As long as your horse knows the difference between the two and is not bothered by it, ride any style you want. It'll only improve your riding & add spice to it.:)

[Skib]

I'd enjoy both if I were you.
I love riding Western. And have been impressed by the idea that a Western saddle offers more support - may be when I am older I will welcome that.

But I too have a bad lower back - degeneration which is pretty normal with age. And that is what holds me back from riding western, or buying a horse especially to ride western.
Western riding I would say is likely to put more pressure on one's spine. Rising trot and forward seat in canter (both English riding) take the weight off one's lower spine. My RI is very concerned about wear and tear on my joints if I sit to canter for mile after mile. This week, after a lesson with no stirrups, I was really glad to have learned forward seat and to be able to canter that way.

[Shadowlark]

LOL no reason you can't rise to a trot on a western horse.. suprising to many it's done all the time.
Why you probably don't see it is esp. in western pleasure - the jog is so light and smooth you really don't need to Same with a good "rocking horse" pleasure lope. So the horses you would see competing with riders sitting it would be producing a trot that doesn't require it. It's not uncommon to see a horse "trotting" in the warm up with a rider posting away yes even the men :O
If Deja is just jogging along I will sit it - if she is covering some ground I post. I don't even think about it anymore. Same went for Splash.

If you watch a reiner work, you will actually see we ask for speed by sitting forward.. Barrel racers ride with a very forward seat as well (Ok barrel racers ride however they can stay attached.. but still it's forward!)

My spine is among the joints with Arthritis.. i also have "functional" scholeoisis or howerver you spell THAT fun little issue (curvature of the spine caused by muscles pulling the wrong ways)

[Skib]

the jog is so light and smooth you really don't need to Same with a good "rocking horse" pleasure lope.

I think it is worth returning to this.
I learn classical srtyle dressage riding. I both trot and canter a horse that is smooth to sit. Just like western jog. I have been well taught and am good at sitting both.

And because I feel so comfy, I dont really believe it when I am told that if one goes on doing it day after day, it may cause wear and tear to my joints. My RI wants me to have a long future of riding and that is why she taught me to use forward seat as well, and recommended me to use flexible stirrups and riding boots that reduce the impact of dismounting. My feeling is that if I rode western I would be even less inclined to take these precautions than I do now.
And anyone with a damaged spine should be aware -
On the other hand I was much impressed by how Tom Dorrance padded out his western saddle to help him go on riding when he was over 90 years old.

I dont know how long most women in the USA continue to ride? And in what saddles? But here in the UK there are many women over 50 who dont ride any more because of damage to their backs and hip joints.

[Shadowlark]

I can't speak to all of it.. however..

I can tell you that the Jack benny class is now the largest next to the juniors around me. Those would be the 40+ riders. I don't qualify for that yet.. and am thankful I don't!! There is one 70+ gent who can SMOKE me on barrels.. he is still posting faster times than the juniors. A grey haired lady with a paint who seems to ripple around poles rather then bend. There is also an 82 year old who pens on her arab EVERY week. She is supple and spry and thanks ridding for it! She is more then happy to tell you about how many dr's have told her she will never ride again! Her New hip is just FINE for riding. LOL those are just those that stick out in my mind.

I would say there are more "old boys" then ladies, but there sure is no lack of them!! In Reining.. it's MOSTLY older people there are few juniors, fewer in my age class..

[Grace O'Malley]

I dont know how long most women in the USA continue to ride? And in what saddles? But here in the UK there are many women over 50 who dont ride any more because of damage to their backs and hip joints.

Well, it's a small sample, but where I board, most of us are 50ish. Men and women. Probably more ride western, but a number of us ride English. So far (knock on wood) my back's okay, but I do have arthritis in my hands and hips. My hands bother me mostly tacking up (all those darn little buckles!).

I read somewhere...I think it was an article in Equus magazine a couple of years ago...that both endurance and dressage are popular with older riders, and if anything tend to dominate these sports (at the lower levels of competition) because of having time and money available (as compared to younger folks with young children etc.). If I run across that magazine, I'll post more details.

[Roheryn]

Thanks, everyone! :) I really appreciate all the good feedback and advice.

I'm mid-50s, ruptured a disc on my lower back years ago, still have back issues and other aches and pains occasionally, and am a lot stiffer than I used to be.

I wish I could go back to forward seat riding but the current barn is all dressage and eventing (other local barns are hunter-jumper and do hunt seat, but not the barn we're currently at). Anything like hunt seat or forward seat is frowned upon at this barn. I like riding with my seat and using my back, but my body's still used to the more forward seat I learned as a child and young adult. When I ride western nobody's telling me how to sit, so I can try to do whatever feels comfortable. I've been working on sitting trot but I'm told to take the impact with the small of my back, which is the worst part of my anatomy to use for anything. So I post whether riding English or western.

A couple of other boarders have asked to try my western saddle(!), so I think what I'm gonna do for now is ride western on weekends and when I'm in the mood during the week, and continue the dressage lessons in English tack. The horse really doesn't care, he's done both eventing and western pleasure in his day.

I want to keep on riding for a long time to come--it makes all of me feel so much better than "taking it easy"!

Cheers. :)