How popular is Western riding in UK ?

It is in some areas I believe, I came from Wales, finding an Instructor there was like finding rocking horse poo:( I gave up. WES is the main western society.

QH's are around but they are still pretty expensive, I am seriously considering swapping a consignment of Paints/QH's for coloured cobs!
 
Intresting! So Enfy's when you say 'Coloured Cobs' would that be along the lines of the Gypsy Vanners which are the new 'in thing' here and are amazingly expensive!
It seems a shame I saw some of your horses in the picture forum and they are lovely :)
and BTW where abouts are you?
 
Yes, coloured cobs (take your pick from dozens at any British market) = Gypsy Vanners. Prices can be ridiculous looking at the adverts!

I have never seen anything here in Brant/Oxford that even looks a bit like a cob as I knew them, hairy legs don't seem to be popular, even the drafts are all Belgians and Percherons.

I live near Paris, ON, also near to Burford, Durham, Norwich, Scotland and Delhi !!!

:) Map Quested us, we are approximately 4,320 km, 1 day 23 hours apart!!!
Isn't Britain closer? Just looked, not quite. 7580 km Vancouver to London (UK) Toronto - London 5728 km
 
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We have a man who bought a QH to ride western at our yard! I have to admit I'm a bit in love with the mare- she's 5 and her manners both on ground and under saddle are exemplary. The man and his 7yr old daughter share her and she was absolutely thrilled when she had her first canter on her, bless.
I believe they got her from a huge western centre in Weston-Super-Mare which is where the man goes to have lessons. Have never seen or heard of anybody else riding western around these parts though or indeed teaching it. (South Wales)
 
saddlebags said:
Just curious.
Are there many Stables that cater to Western, Instructors, classes at shows etc. ?
Also are Qh's gaining in popularity ?
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Yes there is a very active core of folk we have AQHA shows , paint and apaloosa shows and all breed western shows run most weekends by WES ,WHA and others not much in the way of cattle classes or speed events but trail , pleasure and reining are most popular www.aqha.uk.com , www.wes-uk.com , www.britishreining.co.uk www.sovereignquarterhorses.com
 
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Thanks Perfect11's, I did'nt even know there was a UK AQHA.
I'll check it out .... just be neat to see what stallions are standing and prices etc.

Enfys I think hairy legs are gaining in popularity here (on horses too!) but of course must be referred to as 'feathers' :D
and as we are so close by when you jump on the bandwagon I'll pop round to check them out! :p
 
There isn't a huge amount of it about in the UK. I suspect if it was going to become more popular, it would have by now, as it's been around for quite a while over here.

I tried some western lessons last year but didn't get on with it - just too different, all told, from what I have spent years learning.

However, I thought the quarter horses were lovely, very tolerant, quiet types - not sure if that is their natural temperament though, or a result of the quite strict management they got.

Would love to know if anyone is riding a QH english style and hacking it out etc?
 
Dorito - it's not uncommon to have a QH and ride it English style. AQHA actually has 'hunt seat' classes which are ridden in English tack and dress.
I have always ridden my QHs English to some extent - although I'm waiting till my 3yo gets a bit more predictable before I relinquish my big, safe western saddle with him LOL!
I actually rode and competed (and hunted once!) our first mare side saddle - can't post pix on here but this is a FB link

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.102021469810462.4405.100000078295506&l=7cab7970be

The only issue is finding a saddle to fit, and side saddles are more of a problem still.

There are also some QHs which are exclusively ridden English because they are a bit whizzy for western - our trainer has recently sold one to a local lady just for hacking and she loves him to bits :)
 
Ironhorse - that's interesting to know. So you reckon the QH temperament, in general, is as good as it seemed to me (I know it all comes down to the individual)?

Also interested to know why saddle fit is a problem - is it because they're low-withered, wide types, or is there something about the QH conformation that makes english style saddles difficult to fit?
 
Hi Dorito

Yes they do generally have very good temperaments, but they are very intelligent so you do need one that has been correctly started and trained as they can quickly pick up bad habits or size up your weaknesses! They also need firm handling on the ground for the same reason -my youngster doesn't get any titbits, and although he's led out to the field on the end of the leadrope, he knows that the minute he steps out of line he's in trouble!

English saddle fitting can be a bit of an issue because most are quite wide and flat backed, plus the immense strength and power of their quarters and loins can push the saddle into their shoulder if it's not fitted correctly. I had most success with a Thoroughgood, but I've got friends that swear by Ideal, old style Stubben and Albion saddles for them.

Other things that make them 'different' - they are quite fine skinned although will live out happily all year; you need much bigger rugs than you think - my 15hh mare is in 6'3 or 6'6; they are pretty tough and resilient to injuries and illness.

Once you've had a QH in your life you won't go back - I was the most sceptical person in the world and now I'm hooked!
 
saddlebags said:
Enfys I think hairy legs are gaining in popularity here (on horses too!) but of course must be referred to as 'feathers'

:D ROFLMAO:D I still say somethings and just get completely blank looks...most people are way too polite to say they don't have a clue what I mean, a couple do say "What the **** are you on? Speak English " :confused: I love Canada

and as we are so close by when you jump on the bandwagon I'll pop round to check them out! :p
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Coffee is on, take a left out of the airport, 100km south, right, then right again, we're on the corner, look for yellow horses in the paddocks can't miss us!!! ;)
 
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There is a small and slowly-and-consistently growing band of Western enthusiasts in the UK - and a slightly faster growing band of Western breed enthusiasts, if the membership figures of the American breed societies compared to the Western riding societies are considered. While the competitive associations have largely seen dips in membership due to the recesssion, the AQHA.UK at least has seen membership continue to grow, indicating perhaps that people are getting increasingly interested in at least the Quarter Horse as a breed.

The number of Western instructors qualified via WES or the UK Coaching Certificate routes continues to grow slowly as well - most areas of the UK are represented but apart from a few 'hot spots' you are still lucky to count one qualified instructor per UK county - and there are still some with no coverage.

Those who ride and compete Western are however largely a very dedicated group who are prepared to travel across the country to AQHA and reining shows as the new facilities available to us bed in. But unless individuals are 'luckily' located, or have access to transport, it is still not easy to get kick-started in formal Western training. One of the biggest problems is finding your 'local' likeminded people! I last lived in a village with a dedicated Western livery, but only found out about it by chance when visiting somewhere 2 counties away and bumping into the people who ran it! That said, those who can make the leap tend to love it, stick with it and keep going, financial restrictions however can put paid to a lot of people's Western riding and training aspirations in this country, I think.
 
Hen said:
There is a small and slowly-and-consistently growing band of Western enthusiasts in the UK - and a slightly faster growing band of Western breed enthusiasts, if the membership figures of the American breed societies compared to the Western riding societies are considered. While the competitive associations have largely seen dips in membership due to the recesssion, the AQHA.UK at least has seen membership continue to grow, indicating perhaps that people are getting increasingly interested in at least the Quarter Horse as a breed.

The number of Western instructors qualified via WES or the UK Coaching Certificate routes continues to grow slowly as well - most areas of the UK are represented but apart from a few 'hot spots' you are still lucky to count one qualified instructor per UK county - and there are still some with no coverage.

Those who ride and compete Western are however largely a very dedicated group who are prepared to travel across the country to AQHA and reining shows as the new facilities available to us bed in. But unless individuals are 'luckily' located, or have access to transport, it is still not easy to get kick-started in formal Western training. One of the biggest problems is finding your 'local' likeminded people! I last lived in a village with a dedicated Western livery, but only found out about it by chance when visiting somewhere 2 counties away and bumping into the people who ran it! That said, those who can make the leap tend to love it, stick with it and keep going, financial restrictions however can put paid to a lot of people's Western riding and training aspirations in this country, I think.
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Yes good points aggree its not easy to try it you have to jump in feet first, unlike the english stuff want to try show jumping, dressage, eventing no problem there will be a instuctor within a few miles western need to travel be a reasonble rider have money and comitment.... but hey its worth it nice people nice way of training horses... sadly not many english riders understand it apart from the proper dresage people who get it and there seems to be a few big names having a sneaky dabble at reining
 
dorito said:
There isn't a huge amount of it about in the UK. I suspect if it was going to become more popular, it would have by now, as it's been around for quite a while over here.

I tried some western lessons last year but didn't get on with it - just too different, all told, from what I have spent years learning.

However, I thought the quarter horses were lovely, very tolerant, quiet types - not sure if that is their natural temperament though, or a result of the quite strict management they got.

Would love to know if anyone is riding a QH english style and hacking it out etc?
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I don't really get that it's that different, after riding my friends well trained western QH, I rather liked the style as not that different to how I hack anyway, so after sorting a saddle to fit my 16.3hh dressage warmbloood we now hack (and can school) western style, holding buckle, neck reining etc. Then convert to english tack and ride at Ele affiliated level the next day! The only concessions we make are the rein back as english aids are quite different and I do rise to more forward jog in the western saddle (he can jog nicely but needs to think more forward for Dressage).

Western:
IMG_0676.JPG


Dressage (at the regionals!)

IMG_0577.JPG
 
Western Equestrian Society is the largest group. There is also a Western Horse magazine that trys to cover all American breeds - saddlebred, El Paso, Morgans, curely, appys, etc. etc. but includes LOTS of western and quarter horses, as they are the largest group.

As someone said, it is whether you are in an area with an active group and whether you like to travel. There is a group in Wales, but it depends where you live!
 
There is a WES instructor in Wales .... me.

We have quite an active group in West Wales, mainly centered around Tregaron. We recently had an excellent two day clinic with Bob Mayhew and also incorporated rides out over the beautiful Cambrian Mountains. For more info plus pics go to http://www.wes-area6england.com/
 
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Rhandir said:
There is a WES instructor in Wales .... me.

We have quite an active group in West Wales, mainly centered around Tregaron. We recently had an excellent two day clinic with Bob Mayhew and also incorporated rides out over the beautiful Cambrian Mountains. For more info plus pics go to http://www.wes-area6england.com/
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I think our Pony Club came up to your place years ago for a demo. :)

I gave up on the western riding in the UK (Wales) as it was so hard to find instruction, it was only a passing interest really, but I'd have got into it much more seriously I think if a trainer had been closer, now I would have to look for English trainers!!!. The tiny arab mare I have now was beautifully trained at some stage (Western pleasure) and is great fun to ride.
 
burtie said:
I don't really get that it's that different, after riding my friends well trained western QH, I rather liked the style as not that different to how I hack anyway, so after sorting a saddle to fit my 16.3hh dressage warmbloood we now hack (and can school) western style, holding buckle, neck reining etc. Then convert to english tack and ride at Ele affiliated level the next day! The only concessions we make are the rein back as english aids are quite different and I do rise to more forward jog in the western saddle (he can jog nicely but needs to think more forward for Dressage).

Western:
IMG_0676.JPG


Dressage (at the regionals!)

IMG_0577.JPG
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That's what I'd love to do! I'm put off by the cost of the additional tack but can I just ask where you found a saddle of suitable size?
 
attheponies said:
That's what I'd love to do! I'm put off by the cost of the additional tack but can I just ask where you found a saddle of suitable size?
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I was lucky my friend with the QH had her old one which was too narrow for her QH as it was semi QH bars, but was just right for my med-wide (in english saddles) warmblood. Even then we have had to use an extra thick pro choice pad to lift it enough off his back/wither. I also got a chance to try if for a few weeks for free to make sure it suited him before buying it!
 
perfect11s said:
Yes there is a very active core of folk we have AQHA shows , paint and apaloosa shows and all breed western shows run most weekends by WES ,WHA and others not much in the way of cattle classes or speed events but trail , pleasure and reining are most popular www.aqha.uk.com , www.wes-uk.com , www.britishreining.co.uk www.sovereignquarterhorses.com
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Can I add the Appaloosa Horse Club UK to this list please - www.aphcuk.org
We are affiliated to the Appaloosa Horse Club of America. Our two day National Breed Show is coming up 13-14 August and loads of western classes for Appaloosas. (Moreton Morrell, Warwickshire College). There are English classes too. Two judges one English and one American, flown over especially to judge for us. Spectators very welcome.
I have two Apps and a Quarter Horse so I can make the comparison, sorry QH fans but I prefer the App temperament. The QH can be quirky, he can be an angel one minute and a monster the next (probably down to the owner, I know, isn't it always). The Apps are what I know as 'Genuine' whereas the QH is not, never has been and never will be but I still love the old git!!! I ride one App western (the other is only 2) and the QH too. Love the security of the saddle, have been spun round in the road yet have not budged an inch!
Very lucky with the saddles one was made for my App stallion specially - he is short coupled ('The Western Saddler' is in the same county) - and the QH got his from EBay! (I had tried a similar size and model on him belonging to someone I knew, it has a number which makes life a little easier).
 
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