Western or English?

brandy28655

brandy28655

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Well, I won't be doing this for a couple years, but just wondering the pros and cons.
I've never ridden Western, but, ahem.. being American, I feel guilty. lol
So who has done both or has pros and cons for me.
 
Surely it depends what you want to do?

If you want to run barrels, work cattle or do reining / western pleasure / whatever, you want to ride western.

If you want to do dressage (British!), jump or show in non-American classes, you ride English.

Or... If you want to hack, you ride English. If you want to trail ride, you ride western :p
 
I have done both extensively and would choose western over English for everyday hacking/trail riding but only if I was on a gaited horse (preferably a flat shod TWH) For anything else English style, even on a Quarter horse I found English suited better for them and for me.
 
MrsJingle said:
I have done both extensively and would choose western over English for everyday hacking/trail riding but only if I was on a gaited horse (preferably a flat shod TWH) For anything else English style, even on a Quarter horse I found English suited better for them and for me.
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Davi is a trad. gypsy cob. I'm estimating he will make 13.2 but he has a short back. Im planning him to be a ride and drive. Ride for the female spawn... I mean child and drive for me. But, I have been told for comfort the Western wins every time. I also have arthritis in my knees.
 
I bought my TWH due to huge discomfort riding after an injury - they are the 'champagne' ride after all :) If it is comfort you are looking for I would go for western. I have recently taken to riding in a Sensation GP trail treeless due to old age discomfort and cant recommend them highly enough, they do seem to be slightly more orientated to a western style of riding and from what I have read it seems they work very well on your regular cob types. Not cheap at all compared to most treeless but worth every penny in my mind.
 
MrsJingle said:
I bought my TWH due to huge discomfort riding after an injury - they are the 'champagne' ride after all :) If it is comfort you are looking for I would go for western. I have recently taken to riding in a Sensation GP trail treeless due to old age discomfort and cant recommend them highly enough, they do seem to be slightly more orientated to a western style of riding and from what I have read it seems they work very well on your regular cob types. Not cheap at all compared to most treeless but worth every penny in my mind.
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I have a couple years to save, and he may not make height for me to ride. But, thats not to say, I wont be getting a bigger horse later on as well. Just not for the next couple years. I dont think I can handle bringing on a yongster and another horse.
 
I believe you can get a La-Z-Boy Reclining Western Saddle with cupholder arm-rests that will hold a 20 ounce Dunkin Donuts bucket of coffee... If you want to take four-hours to do a two mile trail ride , I can't think of anything more comfortable.
 
I switched to western about 3 years ago now and love it. I did the typical ranch holiday for my 40th so had some lessons before I went as I didn't want to get all the way out there, hop on and find I didn't like it.
I rode English once since I came back off holiday :) Calmer horses and calmer riders, I'm having a blast. Saved up and brought my QH 2 years ago and everyone loves her, she is so easy to handle and happy to have a go at anything.
We're aiming for ranch riding long term but do a bit of everything for now, she quite likes trail as it gives us both something else to focus on. I know there's a difference in the classes over here to the states but I quite like that difference.
Where about are you? The three big centres I know of are in Cambridge, Nottingham and Bodiam but there are also lots of others. https://www.wes-uk.com/ promote western riding on any breed of horse in the UK and are a friendly bunch.
Before switching I was mainly into dressage having started out eventing, I get just as much of a kick out of western now as I did both of those and there's masses of events on. Just tallying up stuff at the three mentioned above gives over 70 days of events this year.
 
Alibear said:
I switched to western about 3 years ago now and love it. I did the typical ranch holiday for my 40th so had some lessons before I went as I didn't want to get all the way out there, hop on and find I didn't like it.
I rode English once since I came back off holiday :) Calmer horses and calmer riders, I'm having a blast. Saved up and brought my QH 2 years ago and everyone loves her, she is so easy to handle and happy to have a go at anything.
We're aiming for ranch riding long term but do a bit of everything for now, she quite likes trail as it gives us both something else to focus on. I know there's a difference in the classes over here to the states but I quite like that difference.
Where about are you? The three big centres I know of are in Cambridge, Nottingham and Bodiam but there are also lots of others. https://www.wes-uk.com/ promote western riding on any breed of horse in the UK and are a friendly bunch.
Before switching I was mainly into dressage having started out eventing, I get just as much of a kick out of western now as I did both of those and there's masses of events on. Just tallying up stuff at the three mentioned above gives over 70 days of events this year.
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Im in Cheshire near Warrington.
 
There are lots of people doing Western, it is just a matter of finding the ones nearest to you. Some horses do both, they have less problem than the riders, it seems. And many Western horses are expected to be driven too. It depends on whether you want to specialise, or just hack around. The notorious "dead horse Walk" and the four beat canter (isn't that horse lame?) are for the rosette hunting Western classes, but if you just want a horse that takes you for a ride and responds to very light aids, in theory, then the Western training is very good for this.
 
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