English - Western Saddles and Riding

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DezzyF

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Ive rode in English saddles ever since i started riding 4 years ago, but i always find them very uncomfortable, when i take my thoroughbred out hacking.

He is fantastic in every way. He is an ex-race so has has high withers, Ive always wanted to ride western, and because he's now 22years old almost i only ride him out on trials which he loves, i was wondering whether i would be able to have a western saddle fitted to him and ride western with him, is riding western any different from riding English?

Could anybody please give me some advice on this. Thanks
 
I agree with alpha mare, there is no need to retrain the horse unless you want to. English riding is different to western riding. You'd need a specialist saddle fitter, which may be hard to find. It also depends what you find uncomfortable about your current saddle. I don't find cheap western saddles to be comfortable, they're too hard.
 
I ride in a western saddle with a sheepskin seatsaver the whole time, and find english saddles very hard and uncomfortable.

You ride much longer in a western, like a dressage seat. It's very easy to train a horse to go in a more western fashion, or to neck rein if you want to - but as the previous poster said, you could also just do your usual style of riding in the western saddle. A good one won't be cheap though, and you must make sure it fits. It's a fallacy that western saddles are "one size fits all." You need a good saddle pad too.

You won't be doing any jumping in a western - the horn makes it very tricky and potentially dangerous (although you can pop a log easy enough).
 
I have a similar issue. My mare is a tb with high withers. Mostly ride bareback but for me out hacking in an english sadlle is hell. So I found out a western style backing pad belonging to somebody on the yard
Basicly a very padded pad in the shape of a western saddle minus the huge horn. Very comfy and has western style stirrups. Also very light and has the western girth/cinch. I am also toying with the idea of getting a western saddle but cant atm due to lack of money.
I would think that you should go with whatever suites your horse. Perhaps find somebody with a western saddle for you to try and see if u like it if this is possible :) Sorry if all this is useless :)
 
Most stock saddles sit you in a good position with a long styrup, normally with a cup for your feet. I'm sure it will be fine for hacking in . Can still use normal bridle as your not intending to neck rein. Don't get a cheap one.
 
Depending where you are you may be able to find someone to fit a western saddle for you. I suggest contacting the British western equestrian society.
 
DezzyF said:
Ive rode in English saddles ever since i started riding 4 years ago, but i always find them very uncomfortable, when i take my thoroughbred out hacking.

He is fantastic in every way. He is an ex-race so has has high withers, Ive always wanted to ride western, and because he's now 22years old almost i only ride him out on trials which he loves, i was wondering whether i would be able to have a western saddle fitted to him and ride western with him, is riding western any different from riding English?

Could anybody please give me some advice on this. Thanks
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I started out riding Western on a TBX; saddle fit-wise, there's now several treeless Western saddle makes availabe which might be worth finding out about; of the treed Western saddles, Continental Equiflex produce probably the largest range of trees available that I am aware of for non-stock horse types.

As other posters say, there is no need to retrain your horse per se, you just need to be aware that a Western saddle sits over and around the horse rather than into him and with the swinging fenders there is no knee support for you, that is why the Western rider generally sits more back on their pockets and the leg is long and looser (with toes turned slightly out) compared to the English rider. You can jump up to 2 ft max I'd say in a Western saddle without the horn getting you but that's pretty much your max - I popped a National Trust car park barrier that was pretty much my max!! - but then the horn is brilliant for holding on to instead of a horse's face if things go a bit wrong, and for dangling things off!

Riding Western is whole different kettle of fish, but the tack is just a tool to help Western riders ride Western more efficiently, just as a dressage or close contact saddle are designed for 'their' jobs.
 
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