difference between english and western riding supplies?

[terryg11]

curious about the diff. between english and western saddles, bridles, harnesses and halters. I know an english saddle does not have a horn (handle) but is there anything else?

[Maple]

1. It's lighter, all of it

and you wear the velvet hard hat. You can probably find pictures on google, which would make it clearer.

[terryg11]

2. been trying

it's harder to find specific differences than I thought. Just thought I would ask the smart people here.

[carpediem]

3. I've ridden both ...

I find English to be a much more active way to ride for the rider. You use your legs and instead of having them hang down to the stirrup as in western, you bend your knee and use your inner thigh and calf to control the horse. when trotting, you actually push up and down with the horses gait so it isn't bumpy. As the other poster noted all the equipment is lighter also. If you are just going for a leisurely trail ride, western is the way to go. I prefer english only because that is the way I learned to ride and jumping is really fun. I haven't ridden in years... I miss it.

[petersjo]

7. Trail riding

I actually do my trail riding using a dressage (English) saddle. I like being in closer contact with my horse--not so much leather between her and me, plus I can use my legs and heels, which can be difficult in a bulky western saddle. IMO, western saddles have too much bulk without much purpose. Learn to ride in an English saddle and you'll know how to ride, not just hang on.

[tjdee]

4. In Western riding, you're supposed to be 'out on the trail.

The reason that the saddle is different is because traditionally, cowboys would be out doing work with the horse, or out on a journey somewhere. So the saddle is supposed to spread out the weight of the rider.

I think the reins are a bit different too, because Western riders also use different neck cues. In general, I'd agree with the first poster that Western equipment is heavier. If you're going to go and buy the Western saddle, you're prolly better off staying in that same store and buying whatever they recommend--in other words, not mixing English/Western equipment.

Why do you ask? Are you going to take up riding? I took both for a short while, but I fell in love with English. I felt closer to the horse, and there was less "stuff in my way". Stopped the lesson before learning to jump :-(

[MaryBear]

5. What?

You didn't like my answers?

[Capn Sunshine]

6. Its all different

From saddles to boots to pants the whole shebang.
English jumpers wear goggles often too plus the helmet; western riders just wear a hat.

Western, much heavier saddle; made for different application
the horn is used for tying off the lariat when you rope a cow for example; its also used aa a grab bar; the boots are pointed to fit in the stirrups better.The pants are not jodhpurs. The stirrups are much larger and set differently on the animal. You don't even carry a lariat when riding english; western depends what you are gonna do.

The animal itself is different breeding for what you want to do whether trail riding, working, cutting horses, barrel racers, track racing, jumping, hunters; they all have specific favorite breeds depending on what you have in mind.

I was just at a BLM wild mustang auction this past Sunday. Great place to score cheap horses for western equitation.

[Snow]

8. I learned rding in my 50's

and found it to be fascinating. I was in Korea in the Peace Corps ages ago where for daily exercise I went to the village martial arts gym (MooDukKwan for you taekwondo afficiandoes). I've kept that up over the years, so when I took up riding, dressage was a natural fit. It's just like the martial arts <I>kata</I>, or forms - a pattern of movements and steps designed as a learning technique for fighting. The only difference is that with dressage you've got a large, hairy, pointy-eared partner who may or may not be willing to go along with all this. SOmetimes, to help me get it right, I would ride older horses who knew it all, schoolmasters they're called, and those guys were really entertaining and educational to ride. The partnership, communication, and working together to learn something I really enjoy. I can't speak to Western riding, my experience is very limited - although the poster who talked about it as basically a working style of riding seems right on to me.

[izzie]

9. That brings me back to childhood. All style.

If you have only rode Western do not think you can ride in an English style. I have rode both and went to a riding camp as kid. English is harder to stay on. Your more at ease in a Western style. You could ride for houres and not get worn out but English is more tight.