[westernarabians]

I want to ''hang up the western saddle'' so to speak and work on English.
I love western, first love, always will be my number 1 choice but I'm no liar, English to me, is challenging. It is even hard to mount!! I tried to get in an English saddle and it felt every time like the saddle was slipping!!
I always get my western saddle tight, I live the cinch.
With the English its different, lol you got to work this spandex thing....

yes... my trainer put me in an english saddle one time, put me on the lounge line, too with no bridel, she made me put my arms out like a bird. She made me post.

Ahh Posting, ick lol Thats a WORKOUT. I love to post in my western, but doing it for like 20 min straight....burn baby burn then you get off the tempo or you go to fast then sllooooooowwww up then go to fast then sloooowwww up. lol

You guys have guts!!

So then we did the canter, arms out.... Oh Guess what!!


Saddle wasnt on tight anough....it slipped...... AWAY SHE BLOWS!! I Ate Dirt...........exxcuterating pain (wow I butchered that word)

However I want to try it again, and on King. Cause he is narrow and Marq isnt!! lol

I also think it will do us good. Challenege us. Make us work harder. Make are Bond stronger.


So any Advice? Has anyone switched from Western to English. Im not switching just learning English also.


Pictures? Dressage? Jumping? Ect?

[Jr.pie]

AHH Someone in the same boat alas!!! I was into western and barrels mostly back in my 4-H days( about 13 yrs ago) I'm 28 now and -trying- to show english , new horse new get up and a new era!!!!!!! 3 kids later !!! However I do believe I weigh less now than in High school so at least the spandex part doesn't scare me any more!!!! AH HA HAH A

[JumpsxGlory]

I've always ridden english and from what I hear from riders switching from whatever dicipline they ride to english, they say it's a lot more challenging to grasp. It's hard to give pointers over the internet, I'd have to see you ride in order to give pointers, but I do have pics! I don't know how much they'll help but they might! lol.

My horse and I...



Pics from Rolex

[mustang_dodger]

i ride both western and english. i first started english i thaught it was tough at first then i got hang of it after about a month or so. i like it now. i think my horse responds better under the english saddle.

[willeys bonanza]

I started riding in an Endurance saddle that looks like a western with out the horn. I learned defensive so i wasnt acutally learning western. But when i bought a horse and i wanted to ride english it was hard cuz there isnt anything really there! That was the first time i fell off. Plus getting my legs strait instead of out infront of me was a challange. Youll get the hang of it once you do it more!

P.S. I was at the Rolex too! Great pics!

[CowGirlUp1833]

I was never a "true" western rider....but I rode in a western saddle for years before I tried English. WOW. What a difference!

The first time I sat in an English saddle, my horse started trotting, I had to hold the saddle to hang on, couldn't steer and ended up IN (Yes IN) a tree! LOL...off he went and I was still hanging there! ROFLMAO!

Great memory now, but BOY was I embarrased then!! LMAO

[QuarterPonyGrl]

I know exactly what you're talking about! I started riding when I was 7, and I rode western. I'm now almost 15, and I just started doing english less than a year ago. The key is to hang on with your calves, it always makes everything a lot easier. lol.

[nnep_rider]

I've never experianced that! I started out english, but I have been in a western saddle and it feels so big and comfy! Good luck...I'm sure you'll get the hang of it .

[Launa]

I love riding in an English Saddle. I have always ridden in a Western and that really hasn't been long (about three years since I rode my first horse)
I think my husband and others were nervous about me switching to English. I got some resistence when I wanted to buy one. My hubby would say he was concerned that there wasn't a saddle horn to hold on to if we went up and down trails in the mountains. He was also concerned because Tucker has spooked and fallen to his knees a time or two and there is nothing to grab. So......I started not using my saddle horn in my Western and pointing out to everyone how I wasn't using my saddle horn. When Tucker spooked the last time at a Quail he dropped to his knees and everyone saw that I kept my balance and stayed in the saddle without the use of a saddle horn! They also saw how I went up and down hills without the use of my saddle horn! The next week I got my English Saddle! I love it! It is different but for me I like the difference. You can feel your horse better (closer contact) and I believe your horse can feel your seat better. I know that Tucker responds a lot quicker and lighter. Love it!