[valkyry]

Hi! I am very interested in starting riding lessons. I live on the Westchester/Putnam county border in NY and have only found schools for English-style riding in my area. The only riding I have ever done is Western-style... Any thoughts on the different schools and how to go about choosing between the two (that is, of course, if I can find a Western-style school)? Any suggestions on how to choose an instructor? I would appreciate any input.

Thanks!

[mymorgan052895]

in my opinion i think it is better to start saddleseat, even though i started huntseat. it teaches you proper balance and correct positions. it all depends though on what you are planning on doing in your future in riding.

[myerspark]

Well I was in your shoes when I started riding. The only riding I had ever done took place in a western saddle. I was so discouraged when all I could find were english barns in my area. I thought it would be easier to stay in the western saddle (the horn is very alluring).
Anyway, I decided to try this english barn (jumping and dressage) and I've been hooked ever since.
When looking at a place to take lessons things to look for would be:
clean facilities
healthy happy horses
check the instructors background, see how much experience they have in the discipline they are teaching.
Some people like certified instructors, it can make a difference, at least you know they went through some type of training course and didn't just wake up and decide to call themselves trainers.
I would suggest taking trips out to barns you may be interested in. Ask if you can audit one of their lessons, that gives you a chance to view their teaching methods and see if you like it, then decide to take lessons.
Also when choosing a discipline take time to read up on it. You can google anything now and find a lot of good information. Read up and see if it sounds like something you may be interested in.
I originally wanted to jump, when I tried it I realized that I was scared to death. Now I'm what some may call a dressage queen. I couldn't think of doing anything else.
The most important thing is just to have fun, look around and find something that you enjoy doing, then stick with it.

[StockHorseGirl]

Start with dressage. Dressage teaches you the correct, balanced position that you will base all your riding off of. I even ride in a slightly altered dressage position while riding western. I am not far along in dressage at all thanks to my pathetic ex instructor, but I know the classical position and it has helped me a lot.

I hate to disagree with mymorgan052895, but if you wanted to ride saddle seat I would do it when you are more experienced. Many saddle seat instructors will teach you the chair seat, which is leaning back with your legs stuck out. It's not very balance, and it looks bad, IMO. My ex instructor was a saddle seat riders and now she rider leaning back slightly and with her legs a little stuck out. Not all saddle seat riders look like that, but a lot do. Here's one that isn't like that though. She's is very balanced and correct.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:C...seat_rider.jpg

And I can't stress this enough- Find a good trainer and keep a business only relationship with them. This doesn't mean you have to be cold to each other, but when you're having a lesson with a trainer you should be riding and the trainer should be professional. We formed too close a friendship with my ex trainer and it caused tons of problems. She was talking to my mom when we were supposed to be riding, taking 10 minute smoke breaks, never showing up, and hardly doing her job. It made it really hard when we had to let her go, too.

[Liberty's Gal]

When I first started riding it was in a Western saddle which now that I think back has been a bit of a mistake...

My plan was always to ride english/dressage but it was 1.5 years before I made it in an english saddle.

Now I have had to back track for awhile until I learn my balance and seat in the english saddle.

I think Western allows you to get away with more ' beginner' mistakes, loss of balance, improper seat and leg position without as much detriment as the english saddle. Plus it is easier to learn proper leg position and use of leg pressure as an aid in an english saddle.

But I will echo the earlier poster and say a good insturctor who matches your learning style if the MOST important thing when you are just beginning, more important then a particular style. Once you have the basics and your confidence down you can change your riding style if you want.

[skysthelimit]

Go with "balance seat" instruction. With a basic foundation in the correct riding position, you'll be able to branch off into whatever other style or discipline suits your fancy. This includes western disciplines.

Dressage, I think, would be a good place to start if you can't find a place that teaches just the balance technique.

I've gone from barrel racing to jumping and it really helps to have a very solid foundation in the correct riding position. It also helps keep you safe, because if yer balanced, yer not as likely to take a spill. lol.

Good luck!!!~Brit

[smitty]

There are many opinions here about which discipline you should begin with. All of the folks have good points. It truly IS up to you as to which area of riding interests YOU!

I did not see this mentioned and if I missed it I apoligize. One area that is paramount when "farm/instructor shopping" is looking for safety. I taught for many, many years and safety was of utmost importance to me...all of my students knew it too. There was no horsing around the barn, no running, etc.... This is not to say that we did not have fun. We had a blast and a ton of laughs. We were successful in and out of the show ring.

In recent months I have had some friends with children of their own ask which farm I would reccommend to them. There are tons of farms in my area. The farms range from the very elite to the very basic. Some have huge indoor areans and some do not. I always reccommend the ones that I know are safe....indoor or not, fancy or not. Safety is paramount!!

I would visit several types of farms. You can watch lessons and see if you like the way the trainer works with students of ALL levels or is he/she just going through the motions while daydreaming of what to eat later on. If you see a farm that is particularly interesting to you then visit it several times. Go unannounced...see what is going on. Talk to other students, moms, dads etc. Once you have made up your mind you will know in the future what is acceptable and unacceptable should you move to another facility.

Finding a safe, well kept, reputable barn will make your journey to becoming a proficient rider a wonderful experience.

[Solly Jumper]

The first riding I ever did was in a Western style (though I never took any lessons, just riding around here and there.) I began to seriously want to learn how to ride, and there really are only English style barns around my house, but I had no problem with that. While in a western saddle you do feel much more secure (and you end up feeling kind of "naked" in an english saddle after riding western), I find it A LOT more comfortable. It's definitely worth a try, and if you don't like it, you can always continue looking for a western barn.

As for trainers, make sure that you find one that you feel you can easily get along with. It is no use getting a trainer that you don't like and are going to constantly bump heads with. Personally, I would make sure that the barn has an indoor and outdoor arena, so you can continue riding safetly in the winter. And like the person above me said, watch a few lessons to get a feel for their program. I had to try out A LOT of barns before I was satisfied. Some I only stayed at for 3 lessons and decided it wasn't right for me. One I stayed at for nearly 5 years and decided I wanted something new.

Personally, I feel starting in an english saddle is a good idea. I think because you have a bit less security in an english saddle, it enables you to learn to hold yourself and have a better position. If you still want to ride western after learning the basics on english, then go ahead!

Good luck in your search!

[seaecho]

I am also switching to English (part of the time - I still have my Western endurance and equitation saddle), and am very excited about it. I'm trying out an all purpose and a dressage saddle right now. It DOES teach you to balance better than Western. Its easy to get sloppy in a Western saddle, and that horn does mean security to a die-hard Western rider. But I think its fun to try something different, and a bit of a challenge too. Good luck!

[Kat&Ashton]

I rode saddle seat for years and it has been a very difficult transistion to hunter style. It has taken a lot of work on my leg position.

I would start with english riding and learn the basics. No matter what style of riding there is the basics that need to be learned. Stop, Start, Go, Steering and so on.