Will half chaps help in western riding?
I'm wondering what help you think half chaps might be in cantering?
Two weeks ago an English rider wore them while I was having my lesson. Afterwards, my RI showed them to me and put one on my leg to demonstrate how they're worn. The rider said they were great with gripping while cantering. So when my RI encouraged me to buy some ($40), I wondered how they'd help with western myself and came here.
Doesn't matter anymore though. I dropped my lessons yesterday for good. I'm too scared to let go of the horn with both hands, and therefore cannot steer (can't 'neck rein') as the horse I always ride canters to the gate and stops. He's a little temperamental if things don't go 'just so' and it's not worth gettin' thrown over. I'll be content to just trot if I ever go hacking.
Oh dear - I think you need to change horse (and/or instructor), NOT to give up !!
As for the half chaps thing, I always wore them with jodhpurs and short riding boots but NEVER with jeans Full chaps, yes (and usually reserved for shows) but not half chaps.
I'm also a little worried about the "gripping" in canter thing because my western horse has been trained to be very light on the leg so if I squeeze my legs, he will go faster !
I'm not looking to "cause trouble" but from my experience, in english riding you're taught to grip with your legs but western riding has been the opposite. That's probably why the english rider find that the chaps are such a good idea.
I really hope you can get back into the (western) saddle and maybe find a more forgiving horse to build your confidence up on.
When you say you're too scared to let go of the horn, why not just hold with one hand and take the reins in the other. Best of both worlds - security of the horn and steering with the reins
I really wish you luck !
ME - to me it sounds as if you might have a few little issues in the saddle (but hey, who doesn't ! ) but your regular ride just isn't helping you out at all !! If the horse is neck-rein trained (and it's also a riding school horse I presume?) it's not very honest to be going straight through what you asked. What does your instructor say when you have this problem ?
There's one thing that can really help your seat (and hence solve your leg position naturally) - riding without stirrups. I know it's not fun but it really can help (walking and trotting lots before cantering of course !)
Thanks for replying, Stormin. You'll have to excuse me (I have had a bad day), but I've bolded everything that just doesn't make sense to me. Can you maybe reword it so I know what you're saying?
I have followed this thread and some of your others Major Epiphany.
When you were invited to trail ride, you quite rightly decided to take some lessons. I made my OH do the same.
And you chose the best school (I did the same when I started) so you don't like suggestions that you are being poorly taught.
But from your threads, I'd guess that some of the problems you are encountering are typical of people starting to ride late in life, like me, or returning after a long break.
I ride both UK and Western. When I ride Western I wear Wrangler riding jeans. I ride Western in my Ariat Terrain short boots. I don't wear chaps or half chaps.
As has been said, half chaps are to protect one's legs against English stirrup leathers which hang down in a loop and can pinch the skin of your leg between the two layers. One doesn't need them riding Western. And half chaps are not designed to fit over jeans, only over close fitting jods or beeches.
But I do recognise the advice about slipping. When learning in the UK, I was indeed told by a trainee teacher to get some half chaps to get a less slippery surface on the inside of my leg, to give leg stability?
If you are riding in worn or slippery trousers, (artificial fibre gets more slippery than cotton) wearing half chaps might help. I threw away my first pair of cheap jods after 3 years as they were so worn and slippery.
But when learning to ride, I didn't buy any special gear and just accepted very slow progress. The problem comes when an instructor is used to teaching young, physically active people for whom riding is (potentially) an Olympic sport. They are used to coaching athletes, have a different time frame and have asked too much of you too soon.
I didn't canter happily till I had been learning for 2 years. My OH was better taught and he cantered after one year. For adults, cantering is not a race against time. You may be going to the best school in the world, but your worried posts suggest that it is not instruction suited to you and your own particular situation.
The real solution to sitting still in canter or sitting trot is just saddle time. Having the weight on your seat and allowing your seat bones to be moved by the horse.
When one is newly back in the saddle, as you are, you body has to get re-accustomed to the canter - and that's all. The new body shape means re-learning. No one here has seen you ride. If the instructor did not allow you to ride with no stirrups, that may be because they felt your balance and security in the saddle was not yet secure enough for it to be safe?
I actually prefer riding without half chaps - without that added layer of material between me and the horse I get a closer feel of the horse.
The extra layer of clothing increases the width of the horse which means my hips need to spread more.
This question of width may be what is giving you a problem in canter? In winter in thick trousers or if I put on weight, I need to take up my stirrups. I think from a previous post that you may be heavier than I am. The extra width of your thighs may mean that you have to ride with your stirrups shorter than when you were young? Riding with shorter stirrups is fine for rising trot and forward seat in canter. Not so good sitting to jog or lope.
Shorter stirrups raise your center of gravity, and give you less stability sitting to canter, and it may be harder to keep your legs still riding Western canter than it would be if your legs were hanging straighter down the sides of the horse.
I am not saying that this is wrong - only that it may be a change from the way you felt in canter when you were younger. And your body needs to adapt and pick up new habits. In some ways I think NR shows it can be harder for returnees than it is for people like me and my OH who started riding really old -
Tho at least you already know that you can ride.
I am sorry that you have problems beyond riding at the moment, but I hope you wont abandon altogether your dream of getting back on a horse. A quiet trail ride with a friend (no canter) might eventually be a lovely way of relaxing and enjoying it again.