western riding, tell me about it!

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Any info pics are great! Really need to learn as we have some western horses coming and I'm clueless! Thanks in advance for any replies!
 
Not that dissimilar to classical riding in principal. You'll ride with long stirrups like dressage length. The paces feel slower and flatter, with an almost horizontal neck, but the horse should still move in balance with impulsion.

You can ride two handed in a snaffle or a side-pull, the weight of the reins is your contact.

The jog is a proper pace, a slow trot, smooth and comfortable with a low head carriage. Not head in the air, tight, tense and fighting the hand like English trained horses do when they won't settle. The lope is a slow canter, should have 3 beats (4 beats is incorrect) with a minimal moment of suspension. Western horses have a low knee and hock action, hooves are kept close to the floor. The idea is minimal effort for both horse and rider, with maximum comfort.

If you click on the classical riders thread from a few days ago, there's a link with a very good description of riders posture and aids for turning. Western horses will neck rein (as well as understanding the usual direct rein), just bring the outside hand closer to their neck so the rein touches. The direct rein movement is the inside hand away from the neck, in the direction you want to go, without pulling back. The horse will follow the weight of the rein.

Curb bits are for fully trained finished horses so stick with a snaffle or side-pull if you're not sure what you're doing.

Western reins are split, so either cross them over the neck and leave the ends dangling (ie right rein lies down left shoulder, left rein lies down right shoulder). Or bridge them (right rein up through your fist, out the top, across withers, down into other fist, end dangles out the bottom. Same process for left rein/hand. So you end up with both reins in both hands. Hope this makes sense!).

Raise your hands a little and sit up/back to slow down, without pulling back or increasing the contact. Horse may have been trained to come to a sudden standstill at "woah" so be careful with voice commands.

Dismount as if you're stepping backward off a step, ie only release one foot from the stirrup. If you dismount the English way you risk being left hanging from the horn (pommel of western saddle) by your jumper, or worse your bra, lol.

You only need the forward cinch (girth) on the saddle, unless you're planning on roping cows or something equally energetic. Cinch needs to be adjusted before mounting, its not easy to do from the horse, walk him around a little so he breathes out and you can tighten it properly. Have fun!
 
I didn't make it clear above, there should be a loop on the reins, not held tight enough to have a straight line from bit to hand like with English riding. This is probably the part you will find psychologically hardest, especially if you normally rely on your hands a lot. You may feel as if there's "nothing there". But the horse can feel your hands so both reins need to be equal length and you need to pay attention to what you do with your hands. It's not the same as walking an English horse on a loose rein whilst holding the buckle and resting your hand on the pommel.
 
Thankyou! That's really helpfull! How do you fit western tack, I was planning on using an engkish bridle with a snaffle and no noseband untill I'm more used too the snaffle, are quarter horses usualy quite buzzy? X
 
I spent last summer on a Canadian horse ranch and before I went I was quite worried about how well I would adapt, but I needn't have worried because it's so easy! Granted most of the riding was just pootling along trails, but you don't have to change your aids much. However when I got back I did get chastised by my instructor for my loopy reins, and it took me a while to get used to having a contact again!
 
No nothing much about quarter horses really, sorry. Western reins are weighted differently you may find English ones don't quite cut it and will probably be too short. But bridle should be fine. Not much idea on saddle fitting. I think semi quarter horse bars are a medium fit, quarter horse bars are a wide fit and full quarter horse bars are extra wide fit, but not totally sure. Also I know there's a great variation between brands anyway, like ladies clothing size 10 in one shop can be size 12 in another. Seat size 15" western is equivalent to 17" English, quarter horses are short backed I think like Arabs and cobs. You definitely need a decent western felt pad under the saddle too, not just a blanket. Saddles are designed to be fitted with pads not used alone. Saddle must be in proper contact with back, not bridging ie only touching at withers and back end with no contact in the middle, that would cause pressure points and dig the spine at the back. There is a common misconception with western saddles that one size fits all. It doesn't! Like English saddles they must fit the horse.

Actually I remember when synthetic English saddles were first
 
No nothing much about quarter horses really, sorry. Western reins are weighted differently you may find English ones don't quite cut it and will probably be too short. But bridle should be fine. Not much idea on saddle fitting. I think semi quarter horse bars are a medium fit, quarter horse bars are a wide fit and full quarter horse bars are extra wide fit, but not totally sure. Also I know there's a great variation between brands anyway, like ladies clothing size 10 in one shop can be size 12 in another. Seat size 15" western is equivalent to 17" English, quarter horses are short backed I think like Arabs and cobs. You definitely need a decent western felt pad under the saddle too, not just a blanket. Saddles are designed to be fitted with pads not used alone. Saddle must be in proper contact with back, not bridging ie only touching at withers and back end with no contact in the middle, that would cause pressure points and dig the spine at the back. There is a common misconception with western saddles that one size fits all. It doesn't! Like English saddles they must fit the horse.

Actually I remember when synthetic English saddles were first made, being told they only come in pony cob and full size :-0 !
 
its all about neck reining for the steering. Got my clyde to neck rein its quite easy to teach. You keep your contact with the mouth to a minimum. No contact with the legs needed either. They pick up on your seat and where you transfer the weight in the saddle. I learnt in the USA on quarter horses. I dont know how they train them in the UK.

Quarter horses are extermely intelligent and trainable.
 
Whoops! Excuse my double post. Yeh all my dressage tests say lacking impulsion and need to shorten reins lol. I don't bother telling them he's a western horse, we only enter for fun.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
Dismount as if you're stepping backward off a step, ie only release one foot from the stirrup. If you dismount the English way you risk being left hanging from the horn (pommel of western saddle) by your jumper, or worse your bra, lol.
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I have perfected the flying dismount from my western saddle if I'm not near a mounting block as at 16.3hh there is no way I can leave my foot in the stirrup and get the other foot to the ground!

However when there is a handy mounting block (or even dismounting block!) I now dismount western style even in english tack!

I agree with the comments on reins, I still ride in English reins but they have occasionally got caught over the horn so I plan to invest in some western ones A.S.A.P.
 
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It's amazing! Riding a well trained western horse is one of the best feelings.

I'd recommend going for a western lesson and asking tack fitting questions of the trainer. If you say what area you are in someone would be able to recommend someplace.

Have a look at Western Riding UK (UK western riding magazine). There are articles and videos on their website that should help. Lots out there on FB, youtube and the net.

I found it quite hard going from English to Western as the aids and responses are quite opposite from what we learn English. It's about letting the horse figure out the right thing and making the right thing easy then learning from mistakes.

I'd describe QHs as the border collies of the horse world; very clever and need stimulation and thrive on work/new challenges plus they are eager to please. That's a big generalisation but pretty much my experience of the breed.
 
Also, it may feel easy to most who have tried western, but if you're used to riding privately owned English horses then got on a friends schoolmaster in the arena under instruction, or went on an average riding school hack with one of their horses, you'd say that was easy too. Just like when people move from riding school horses to owning, its a whole different matter when you have sole responsibility for schooling the animal.
 
TPO said:
I found it quite hard going from English to Western as the aids and responses are quite opposite from what we learn English. It's about letting the horse figure out the right thing and making the right thing easy then learning from mistakes.
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See I didn't find this as I tended to hack on the buckle and neck rein in English tack anyway. My horse is naturally quite chilled and I didn't really find much difference in the basic aids.

I ride out with a pure western rider on a lovely QH (got my saddle form her!)and when we swapped horses we both managed to ride each others horses with no communication issues!

The only basic western aid I don't use is rein back as we compete in English Dressage and that is a very different aid!
 
Sorry hit the post button too soon. Meant to say if you got on my horse and relied solely on neck reining, you might be ok for a while in the arena or quiet hacks but eventually through lack of schooling he'd be taking the mickey big time. You need to be able to ride them properly just like any other equestrian discipline.
 
I think it depends if you're more inclined to ride in a styles resembling classical English riding or not. Some English instructors teach and ride in a way that is far removed from the classical style. Most people need my horse warmed up, tuned in, then me to instruct them. My friend who does classical riding, I told her to get on and see what happened, she had no problems at all. What's more after 10 min she asked him to gather himself up and had him doing a trot that wouldn't have looked out of place on a flashy horse doing dressage, despite him never having been trained for English riding. There's really not that much difference between western and classical IMO. However the kind of riding that I've seen taught by most riding schools or low level BHS instructors is not classical riding. If you hack out on the buckle, using your body to stop and steer as well as to go faster, rather than relying on reins, you probably ride more along the lines of the classical style.
 
Neck reining is a part of western riding but weight aids, IMO, play a bigger part. You also ride two handed in western, it's not all one handed neck reining.

It's all about being supple and being able to move the shoulder, ribs and quarters. The horses are still "on the bit" but in a different way. It's quite difficult to explain in a post, for me anyway!

Riding a western school master will let you experience how it should feel and concentrate on what you are doing. It's simple things like in english you bend the horse around your inside leg; in western you open the leg to create space for the horse to move into as one example.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
I think it depends if you're more inclined to ride in a styles resembling classical English riding or not. Some English instructors teach and ride in a way that is far removed from the classical style. Most people need my horse warmed up, tuned in, then me to instruct them. My friend who does classical riding, I told her to get on and see what happened, she had no problems at all. What's more after 10 min she asked him to gather himself up and had him doing a trot that wouldn't have looked out of place on a flashy horse doing dressage, despite him never having been trained for English riding. There's really not that much difference between western and classical IMO. However the kind of riding that I've seen taught by most riding schools or low level BHS instructors is not classical riding. If you hack out on the buckle, using your body to stop and steer as well as to go faster, rather than relying on reins, you probably ride more along the lines of the classical style.
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I totally agree with you, and although I don't like to label myself I have always liked to think that the bridle is only for fine tuning the work! I have often joked that all Dressage riders should have to first do a lap of honour together at canter in nothing more than a loose rein, before proceeding to the Dressage test, but I can't somehow see it being that popular! :)
 
We use a western on the mares i ride, But a normal snaffle and a plain english bridle It's different, I felt like a beginner again the first time i tried it. But i love it now, The saddles are so comfortable.

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Lol @ your dressage comment bertie. I'm not a huge fan of competitive dressage riding, though the people who ride that way seem happy enough with the results. Each to their own I guess. I'm with you all the way about the bride being for fine tuning.

I'm surprised more people don't ride western in the UK. Especially nervous people, you'd think they'd be happier because the saddles feel more secure. Maybe its down to lack of places to learn.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
Whoops! Excuse my double post. Yeh all my dressage tests say lacking impulsion and need to shorten reins lol. I don't bother telling them he's a western horse, we only enter for fun.
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Yes!!LOL.. my instrutor who has ridden to PSG
and has been training and gives western lessons for many years was competing a clients pleasure horse in a little novice dressage show, was in a nice frame working from behind and in self carriage given simarlar coments !!!! sadly like some of the western pleasure with there peanut rolling going so slow it looks lame some of the dressage lot have forgoten what it's suposesed to be about !! I love it when an english wally says "you havent got control of it riding with reins like that" :D no pet its like yours is it ?? unless you have a death grip on the reins it runs off:D
 
With western you should be riding with an independent seat.

Quarterhorses are like border collies, excellent description.

You have to work them, leave in the stable a day or so and look out, very exciting, lol. They are not really pick up and put down horses, they need to be used.
 
Pale Rider said:
With western you should be riding with an independent seat.

Quarterhorses are like border collies, excellent description.

You have to work them, leave in the stable a day or so and look out, very exciting, lol. They are not really pick up and put down horses, they need to be used.
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Agree with this. As a breed they are very bright, generally erring on the lazy side but need a job and a regular routine. They also appreciate boundaries! I have 3 and love them to bits, amazing breed but they all get worked most days and I am very clear about what is right and what is wrong!

Riding-wise, you will find that a Western saddle sits around the horse rather than into it so you will probably find yourself sitting slightly above the horse which takes a little getting used to, especially if it is low-headed. Some people find not looking at the world through a pair of ears very disconcerting.
Cue-wise, lots of good advice here; the general approach is to train a horse to move away from pressure, both from the ground and under saddle. So you'll create 'openings' with hand and leg by taking them off/away from the horse in the direction you wish to go, while applying light rein/leg pressure on the side away from which you wish to turn. When the horse is travelling as you like, you shouldn't be driving on it or 'micro-managing' it, make being good a nice place to be and sit quietly. A well-trained Western horse is incredibly light and responsive, and you should get an instant reaction to a request, not after 3 'asks' with a protest!!
 
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