I love western riding!

E

Ezme

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 February 2008
Messages
3,906
Location
North devon, Bristol (term time)
Visit site
On friday night I took the UWE riding club down to the Mendip Stud for an "Experience Western" evening and it was Fantastic!

I've ridden "english" since I was 9 and driven "coaching style" since 12 but have always prefered to be alot looser in leg and rein than other people. Not to the point of no control, i'm still very diciplined and a little "old school" but have always belived in letting the horse think and get on with it. (probs why I seem to have the knack with riding school/trekking horses!) I also hate nagging, always ask lightly, no response, sharp ask, response, back to soft.

So anyway I thought I might like western riding having heard that their horses stay in pace until told otherwise and other similar things and off we toddled to somerset and after a 10 minute ride around the school I'm hooked! Ok, the little mare I rode was a typical riding school horse and tried it on a few times but it was amazing! When she was listening she was so responsive and comfortable. The saddle was weird... but I think a good weird and I was amazed at how you can really feel the horses legs through all that leather.

I made a bit of an arse of myself trying to dismount but I got there in the end and am desperate to go back. Luckilly so are a couple other club members so on the 1st November we have an hour lesson. I'M SO EXCITED!

Anyway, this isn't a completely pointless post as I have a few questions:
1) I'm assuming any breed can take to western as with driving?
2) I've ordered a threshold picture guide to western but what about other books? I am a poor student btw!
3) I've seen lots of horses advertised as going western and english but can they do both well? Do they start to ignore the rein western style or over-react to contact when english?
4) What about a western and driven horse?
5) Why do I have to like the less common (i.e. more expensive!) disciplines! grr!

I'll share my golden sryup pudding with you if you got this far!
 
Great to hear you had such a good time! I dont know of any good books as i only ride "classical" but i'm sure there will be loads on the internet! hope you have good fun on the 1hr lesson!
laugh.gif


S
 
So do I. I have ridden English for 40yrs and last year a friend who trained with jeanine march the uk reining champion started to train my appy for me .I was very impressed and i know ride my mare western!
grin.gif
 
Oh great Im hooked too... I would suggest wes membership open to any breed and perhaps you could hook up with other members in your area to get some help www.wes-uk.com also there is www.thewesternshop.com.. the books published by the western horseman magazine are very good oh other web site is www.horsecity.com some great videos cowboy races and craig cameron hope this helps...
smile.gif
 
I really can't afford any memberships at the moment unfortuanly but I definatly will have a nose around those sites. I'm leaning towards reining and trail as specific disiplines, I don't really get the point of halter and pleasure seems to be alot of horses who need to be more forward and have their noses picked off the floor.

I can't wait till the 1st November now... ooo but just as good... even better... i can't decide now... I have a Pairs lesson with Mark broadbent (international carriage driver) next weekend as a 21st b'day pressie!
 
Hi there. I love western too. I find the position puts less pressure on my knees and ankles, and i feel really secure in the saddle.
We went western because of the comfort factor but also because of the lovely relaxed way for the horse. No pulling on the mouth, no nagging with the legs etc....all the things you have discovered. The best book you can buy is old but still great..can't remember title but is by Bob Mayhew, the God of Western in this country. I got mine second hand from amazon.
As to what horses can go western, its all to do with the attitude of the horse. If he is willing, and if you take it slow, and he has 4 legs he can do it !
For competing you may find reining too strenuous for the horse, or you may come up against the Quarter Horse prejudice but you will have no problems with trail.
Your biggest problem will be finding a saddle to fit a bigger horse as most are built for quarter horses. I ride a friesian who goes beautifully in western, despite some peoples doubts, and Im looking into having one made by Trekkers Western on a draft tree. ...Don't ask the price unless you have a very strong heart !
 
[ QUOTE ]
Im looking into having one made by Trekkers Western on a draft tree. ...Don't ask the price unless you have a very strong heart !

[/ QUOTE ]

I asked about saddle prices at mendip... I could get a really good quality set of show harness for some of those saddles! Lisa also said she knows the people who had all that tack stolen last week and the tack alone was worth several hunderd thousand pounds! scary!
 
Not as scary as that ! I want a synthetic because of the price and also the weight (half the weight of an all leather saddle ).
The one I want is synthetic and leather and is about £725. Will still take some saving but not as bad as leather.
 
I have a headstall for my mare but i will have to wait for a saddle!
shocked.gif
I still ride in joddies and long leather boots and riding hat, my daughter say`s i am under NO circumstances allowed to wear a cowboy hat!
wink.gif
tongue.gif
grin.gif
 
It's addictive isn't it!

Another vote for www.thewesternshop.com it's free and has a forum and classified ads for chat, advice and a bargain or two.

Any breed can be trained western and most associate different tack with different "jobs" so english/driving and western shouldn't be a problem. Western horses are ridden in english tack for Hunter Classes.

Saddles are a minefield. Be careful of the cheap tat on ebay! It's cheap for a reason.

If I can help at all just PM me because I have a habit of babbling on (and on and on)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top