Western v English Riding

GA_gal · 04-22-2013, 12:50 PM

I've been interested in horseback riding for a while now, so I started looking around for some stables nearby. I was surprised at how many I found! It's also less expensive than I thought it would be for lessons, so now the only thing I have to decide is whether to study Western or English riding.

Anyone know the difference?

dinosaur · 04-23-2013, 08:53 AM

The biggest differences are the saddle and the outfit. The English can't afford much leather so their saddles are little and have no function other than setting the horse. The outfits include tights, boots that come up to your thighs, bright colored jackets they call blouses, and a little beanie cap with a small bill. They also tend to bounce up and down in the saddle a lot. I don't think they've ever heard of a gaited horse.

-a cowboy.

ppine · 04-23-2013, 09:31 AM

Dino,
English riders have plenty of gaited horses, and tend to be more disciplined in their riding. Their riding style comes from riding thru farmland with fences, so jumping and riding fast thru that kind of country is what it is designed for. Minimal saddle puts the rider close to the horse. Head gear is complicated sometimes with contact on the mouth. English riders normally post a trot which is not bouncing but moving in time with the horse.

Western riding is more relaxed, better suited for mountains and rough country. It evolved from the Spanish then Mexico to the US. It is designed for working cattle. Saddle is more substantial with provision for roping, saddle horn, strong tree and a rear cinch. Riding on a loose rein is normal with a lot of leg and seat cues.

What kind of riding do you want to do?

**CozInCowtown** · 04-23-2013, 09:36 AM

Unless you live in England we ride western here in the US for the most part.
English is definitely more elegant IMO but only for the girls.
JMO,
+1 what ppine said!!
DC

wvbreamfisherman · 04-23-2013, 10:26 AM

Good to have a succinct explanation. I've ridden a bit, but what I actually know about it could be written on one side of a postage stamp with a Magic Marker.

cabinfever · 04-23-2013, 11:46 AM

Go with western. An English saddle is ungodly uncomfortable, especially for males, but I can't imagine it's much more comfortable for women. Western is more typical in the US, anyway.

Grandpa · 04-23-2013, 12:02 PM

And a western saddle has latigo straps to tie your bedroll and saddlebags on. Never know when you might want to uhhhh take a nap

or have a bite to eat.

ppine · 04-24-2013, 10:12 AM

For all you English doubters, go try it sometime and get back to me. I have ridden English only a few times in places like Jamaica but found that it requires a good seat and improved my riding. Most people in the East rode that way when I lived there.

I grew up in Maryland, home of the Preakness Stakes and lots of thoroughbreds. The girl I took to the prom rode English everyday. Kids used to ride their horses to football games and it was all English. A lot of people that ride that way tend to be arena riders because it takes skill to jump fences and cover the country side.

Western riding is designed to be able to accomplish tasks and get some work done. Reins go in the left hand leaving the right hand free to do things like open gates, shoot a loop, or hold a lead rope.

dinosaur · 04-24-2013, 01:05 PM

To my friend, ppine:

I know I have to explain these things to you. My post was supposed to be funny.

GA_gal · 04-24-2013, 02:01 PM

Thanks for the explanations everyone. I'm not looking to be a competition rider and I doubt I'll ever need to jump a fence, but then again, I don't see myself herding cattle any time soon either. ;-) I'm just looking to ride for pleasure, maybe once a week or so.

Maybe Western would be better since it sounds like saddle is more comfy?