Western Advice please!

[Shellby27]

I have been doing some research and have found somewhere local(ish) that back, break and train horses for Western Riding - (Michael Langford). I would like to pack Summer off to Western school next year when she turns 3. Anyone that knows Summer (foal in siggy) knows she is now built like a tank and currently standing at 15hh at 2 years old. So I think she will be mature enough next year. My only concern is that would she be better off broken to English style first? To be honest she is just going to be a nice riding horse for my partner and I. I have decided to get into Western as we both suffer from "dodgy hip syndrome" and we find Western is more comfortable. So to be honest, I don't think she needs to be broken into English aswell.

Think I have answered my own question really haha! Other opinions appreciated

 

[wildwest]

western horses are normally lightly backed at 2yr olds anyway.
she will be fine ....enjoy :}

 

[classicalfan]

If you know you're going to be riding western style then way to go! You don't need to confuse her by doing both and if you have a good trainer at the start then she'll have less problems and issues too.

 

[horseless jorge!]

My friend's horse was backed Western first, then introduced to English a year or so later.
It made him so much lighter, so much more sensitive and obedient too. I'd recommend going for the Western backing.

 

[vonno]

Def. go for western and Michael is an excellent trainer.

 

[Harleygirl]

As everyone has said above, definitely back western first. My boy was broken and ridden western until the age of 5 (broken at 2 like a typical QH in America), first time he was ever ridden english was the day I tried him. He was a star and had no trouble adjusting. I think being broken western made him a lot more responsive and very soft in the mouth.