| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| dreamingofafarm |
Posted - Apr 02 2010 : 06:52:08 AM
I just signed up for my first horseback riding lessons. The teacher recommended English style vs. Western style so that's what I went with. What are the biggest differences between the two? Any tips for a new rider?
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Rea231 |
Posted - Apr 05 2010 : 02:18:59 AM
I taught riding for several years only western.I have ridden both but with preference being western. I hope you have many years on the happy trails!There is nothing like it!
The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery. |
| Faransgirl |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 7:15:23 PM
When I do lessons I always start with haltering. Then grooming, picking feet and tacking. I am right there of course keeping an eye on things and giving advice and instructions as we go. I give a few basic lessons under saddle then go to bareback to learn balance and weight and leg contact. Once they get the balance good them we go back to the saddle. After the lesson they un-tack and brush or rinse off the horse depending on the weather. Then they take the horse and release them into the pasture. I feel that if you are going to ride a horse you need to give it the consideration it deserves for doing the lesson. The first few lessons don't include a lot of riding. Good luck with your first lesson I would love to hear how it goes.
Farmgirl Sister 572
When manure happens just say "WOO HOO Fertilizer". |
| Alee |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 12:57:29 PM
Tina- I think you will love horse riding lessons! I always learn so much!
It also is good if your instructor starts out with the basic basics- like that areas of the horse and how they move and can be injured and such. That kind of information is really basic but oh so important- especially if you plan on doing any sort of riding out side of an arena at some point. Your instructor should also have you doing at least a little grooming. That helps really "learn" the horse as well.
Have fun!!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
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| dreamingofafarm |
Posted - Apr 03 2010 : 05:27:22 AM
I really appreciate all of the feedback everyone has given me. I spoke to the instructor more, learning to ride bareback isn't offered, but she starts with English because of the balance training and more structured form (a safety precaution in her opinion for an utter newbie like myself :-) After taking the English riding course, she offers a Western riding course and then lets the student choose their pleasure for later advanced classes. All of your wonderful advice made me so much more educated in having the conversations with the instructor. Keep the advice coming! My first lesson is this Thursday at 6 pm. I'm so excited! I'll be sure to report back with what happens!
"It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones afterall." - Laura Ingalls Wilder |
| maggie14 |
Posted - Apr 02 2010 : 5:42:10 PM
I love ridding both. :) Great info girls!
Hugs,
Channah
Farmgirl sister #1219
Friendship is not something that can be bought, it is earned. |
| Faransgirl |
Posted - Apr 02 2010 : 5:02:37 PM
I just want to add a bit about the differences between western and english. As an Instructor I find that most people teach what they prefer to ride. I disagree that legs are not used in western. Weight and legs are very much used in Western and not all western pleasure horses are moved into curb bits. English riding is much more regimented with things like you must post at the trot etc. Western is much more relaxed but legs and weight are very important. Most well trained western pleasure horses don't even need reining. Hand a rein movements are very slight in western. I think most people are most comfortable with what they learn first. I think bareback is very important to learn balance and the use of your legs and weight. One is not better than the other just what you want from your riding. You can show in Western pleasure etc just like you can in English. You just need to decide what you want out of your riding. Do you want gentle trail riding, Western show work, English showing or jumping. I am older and you couldn't make me ride English but I can ride western for hours. But I have no interest in showing. I really love bareback riding - our vet calls us the Piddle riders - cause we just jump on Bareback and ride around. You might also want to think about do you want to spend your time in jopers (sp) or jeans. Personally I prefer riding in jeans and a western shirt as opposed to those silly english pants and a shirt buttoned up to the top of my throat. LOL just kidding.
Farmgirl Sister 572
When manure happens just say "WOO HOO Fertilizer". |
| Karrieann |
Posted - Apr 02 2010 : 11:14:21 AM
I loved English! but it has been sooooooooooooooooooooooo long ago, back in the 70's summer camp.
What you should expect at riding lessons is FUN!
:o)
Karrieann ~ Farmgirl Sister #766 (29 Sept 2009)
My Blog: ...following my heart, dreams and Jesus
...http://karrieann-followingmyheartandjesus.blogspot.com/
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| AliciaNak |
Posted - Apr 02 2010 : 08:54:45 AM
Having ridden both styles, there are some big differences.
English style you use your thighs, calves, in general legs, a lot. In my opinion more so than western. And you will depend on your own balance and stability a lot. You don't have much in the design of the saddle to "hold" you on, so she may be starting you in an english saddle to help you develop your balance and legs. English tends to use a lot of snaffle bits, so yes, controlling the horse is different. A lot more mouth contact, "direct steering", rather than neck reining. You cue the horse with the rein on the side you want to go to, basically pulling them the direction you want. Moving off your leg can come into play with well trained horses.
Western you will still need your legs and balance, but there is more room for error, as you are held into the saddle a bit more, with the high cantle in the back and horn in front. Your leg cues and rein cues are still very important, but it's a bit easier to use your whole leg in the English saddle, not as much leather between you and the horse. Western horses progress to curb bits as their training goes on, and with curb bits you don't need/want as much direct mouth contact. It's all in the way the bits work in the horses' mouths. With the curb bits you will be using a lot more neck reining, "indirect steering", where you are "pushing" the horse with the leg and rein opposite of the direction you want to go. The horse is supposed to move off the pressure.
It could be, partly, that on your side of the country English style riding is more popular in the ring? Or that your trainer has much more training in this style, and that's what she's more comfortable with?
Good Luck! Enjoy!
Alicia
Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.~Ralph Waldo Emmerson
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| Alee |
Posted - Apr 02 2010 : 08:50:58 AM
With English riding there is more of an emphasis on posture and it helps you develop a stronger more connected seat which actually helps a lot in all disciplines. It's a lot like how a lot of instructors will start young riders out bareback so they learn to feel how the horse moves. You also keep contact with the horse's mouth where as with Western you want to keep slack reins.
I was raised riding Western whenever I could ride. I love it. I like how secure the seat is and that there is the horn there if I really have an emergency and need to grab something other than mane. However in a lot of ways that is a false sense of security.
In college I was introduced to English riding. In many ways it shook my feelings of confidence in my riding ablility because I learned I couldn't just sit there like a sack of grain. As I have taken more lessons I really enjoy the english style now too- partially because it will always challenge you to be better, know your position and to communicate with your horse on many levels.
Here is what I suggest- try the English riding out for a while. You might feel very insecure and in my experience it got worse before it got better. But if you see it through you will find that your riding in a Western saddle is that much more comfortable for both you and the horse and you will have more trust in your ability to deal with emergencies.
Now that's just my opinion from my experience. I know an english trained rider that just doesn't "get" Western at all and is very uncomfortable in a Western Saddle, and I know Western riders that hate English saddles.
Hope that helps at least a little?
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.awarmheart.com
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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| FebruaryViolet |
Posted - Apr 02 2010 : 08:46:06 AM
There is a difference in the saddle, for starters. I really do love to ride English, but that's the way I was taught, and I also exercised thoroughbreds as a summer job. Western pleasure is a great way to learn for first timers, though...
I would imagine that your first lesson (hopefully) will not entail much actual getting "on" the horse, but more learning about your gear (harness, saddle pads, saddle, etc...) and how to get the horse safely ready to ride.
Musings from our family in the Bluegrass http://sweetvioletmae.blogspot.com/ |
| southerncrossgirl |
Posted - Apr 02 2010 : 08:43:29 AM
There seems to be a big difference in the way you control the horse. English more with legs, western more with reins.
I don't know why most Riding Lesson places prefer to teach English. I feel that most people our age would benefit Western Pleasure. I know that I am not interested in competing in Horse Shows.
I wonder if she would teach you both?
"A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes"==Cinderella |
