Cool Discovery! Does anyone ride Western?

[Mid]

okay, so as some of you know, my horse's past is a complete mystery.

he's an appaloosa gelding, and when we got him, it was very weird, because he seemed quite highly trained under saddle, worked in an outline without being asked, could be steered with a VERY long rein, instant response to voice commands, but gave pretty much no response off the leg!

until my instructor said that maybe he'd been western trained... what with being a spotty and all that...

and today i found out that my mum had read an article about western riding, and it said that you can steer a western trained hore by stepping in the stirrup and pointing to the side you want it to go. Ozzie did it straight away

she tried it a few times, he did exactly what she asked!

and it all sort of adds up... he does sliding stops (discovered when i asked him to Woah when we were cantering, i only meant him to slow down a bit!) and neck reins a bit...

thing is, i know NOTHING about western riding... can anyone tell me anything i can do to see if he is western trained? it's just a theory, but it seems pretty likely...

here he is:

 

[Nickijem]

Wow - what a gorgeous horsey!
It would certainly appear that he is western trained - I'm no expert but did ride western some years ago and those are the aids for steering - almost the opposite of how we teach horses - ie with our inside leg on instead of off which allows the horse to 'move into the space'.
As I said, I'm no expert so good luck with him!

 

[oliviacharley]

I was just reading it when you messaged me....:0)
super looking boy...
sit deep in saddle, leaning slightly back, legs moving forward a little and pull slightly back on the reins...oscar should take the bit and walk backwards slightly....loosen the rein as soon as he does it...this is a simple step in western riding....sounds like he is trained though....
have you got western tack...do you want lessons...as I might know someone local to you who gives great lessons....where are you based again...?

 

[Mid]

thankyou! we got him from a dealers as a very neglected little lad

you can see some of the scarring on his legs...

 

[oliviacharley]

poor boy...although can't see the scars..he is very handsome...heres mine to compare...she has a parrot mouth and is 12.2hh also very naughty....

 

[Mid]

Herringbone, i think a couple of lessons would be good, but he can be uneven on certain surfaces, it's just a mechanical thing, but i'm worried an instructor might be worried about teaching us... do you know anyone near? we're just outside bristol!

i'll try that! i'm riding him tomorrow in the school!

don't have any western stuff! never even tried it before!

 

[oliviacharley]

how big is he...?
If you wouldnt mind...I could also come up, bring my western tack and have a go on him....?
thats if its ok with you....
The instructor is brill....teaches people who have ridden all their lives on horses english trained....she instructs people who dont have any experience..
She has all her own stables so you could make a day of it too...lovely lady...she will give you tips about training when you dont have lessons as well....she is based in banbury....
http://www.westerninstructor.co.uk/

Try this too...
http://www.wes-uk.com/

any advice, just give me a shout...:0)

 

[oliviacharley]

do you have your own arena BTW....are you just off of the motorway up to bristol...cause I think I might have seen you :0)!!!

 

[FinellaGlen]

I don't know anything about riding Western but I just wanted to say that Oscar looks lovely! I saw him in Horse this month too didn't I?

 

[Mid]

we're near Failand! trying to think, i don't know anything about the roads round here xD um, we're very close to The Hand arena, if that helps...

yep, we have an arena, pretty good in most weathers.
i'll check out the web links now!

 

[Mid]

Finella - thanks!

and yep, you did xD with the headshot (from a funny angle!)

 

[merlinsquest]

I remember the original pics of oscar...... he looks stunning now

Well done you for giving him such a wonderful second chance in life.... wonder why he ended up in the dealers yard in such a state

You should post some before and afters

 

[Mid]

yeah, i'm always worried that we'll get a phone call saying he's stolen...

i think it might be because of him lameness though - he'll never jump, or really compete in anything...

 

[Blizzard]

Oscar looks like a different horse, well done!

 

[Christmas_Kate]

western riding is seriously run, and very relaxing too. It's my preferred method of riding

. It's pretty easy to learn, you soon get the hang of it, and the horses seem to go much better than the "english" way. They don't fuss as much, they're much more 'together'.

Deffo get some lessons and a good saddle

 

[jinglejoys]

Just outside Bristol! You lucky thing look what's just up the road!
http://www.themendipstud.com/

 

[Cobland]

Ohhh im jealous. Ive always wanted to try the western style riding. Keep us informed how it goes!

 

[appyjude]

We ride western......lovely appy by the way. Try the western shop and look up trainers and find a trainer who will come to you.

How do you join the appaloosa clique?

Jude

 

[Mid]

ooooh... -is excited- i can't get up the yard tonight (stupid art class) but will try it all tomorrow!

and Appyjude, you just put 'member of the appaloosa clique' in your signiture!