Western Riding Info

Shellby27

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Joined
30 October 2008
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478
Location
Basingstoke, Hants, UK
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As happy hackers, my hubby and I would like to learn to ride Western style and eventually have our 2 year olds broken to western when they come of age. We are located in Basingstoke, Hampshire. Are there any local trainers/clubs in the area. So far the closest I can find is Kent and the New Forest for western rides (which I have done many moons ago).

Can you recommend any good western tack retailers?

We would also love to do a Western ranch holiday at some point. Can anyone recommend one? I have noticed many now seem very commercialised. I would like to go to a good old fashioned working ranch, rather than one with a spa, golf etc!

Any help, links much appreciated :)
 
Don't know abt recommendations in your area, sorry, but you *can* train your current horses (guessing that is your Ardennes(?) in your sig?) to ride Western as well as English. Most are smart enough to know that one set of tack and aids means one thing and another another. I've ridden some lovely bi-lingual horses. When getting the Western gear bear in mind that the saddles are *much* heavier than you and horse will be used to so you *might* want to consider things like synthetic materials more than you otherwise would - for both your arms and their backs!
 
Thanks for the replies. Yes Rosie is a Dutch Draught ( a tad biger than an ardennes) She is already broken english style. I would like her foal and my new spotty colt broken to both english and western.

Is it best to have them broken to english first?
 
Ooooh, you are going to love western riding, you'll never go back. Have a look at the Western Equestrian Society website www.wes-uk.com. Look at Information and then Instructors. There are quite a few instructors near you and also Bob Mayhew / Michael Langford:

Bob Mayhew / Micheal Langford – Tel. 01730 812000. Wye Oak Quarter Horses, Dumpford Manor Farm, Trotton, Nr. Petersfield, Hampshire, GU31 5JR

Good luck and have fun
 
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