Which One Should You Choose? English vs Western riding
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
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I was taught in a western saddle and one of the first things my coach told me was to keep my hands off the saddle horn. She would always tell me that it was more dangerous to hold on to it than not hold it. She said it would he harder to control the horse and it didn't help support you in the saddle. I am happy I learned that on like the first day I rode there because it's important!
I had an opposite experience. I only had introductory Western lessons, I was taught to hold on to the horn because they said its easier. However, I never liked it. I felt like it's quite unnatural, so I never really relied on holding on to it.
I used to do that but I actually started to ride more bareback, and that stop me holding on the saddle horn more, and it got me why more balance
that person trying to come into the room lol
Moms are the same in every country 😂😂😂
Western is chill for me, its fairly common here in *insert that very western state that starts with T*. I am to anxious to try English don't know why.
:D Well I lived in OKLAHOMA for 2 years so I know how popular western is in certain states! Outside the USA though English is more popular. I think it's great you want to learn english and it will definitely improve your balance and riding even if you keep doing your western thing. ;) Keep us updated on what you think when you give it a go!
I ride western
Count me in ol son super puncher live for ever
I also live in the very western state that starts with T and it is common lol
Western is really popular here with a state that starts with M and is in the north, lol. You may want to give English a try. It really has helped me be a better rider and personally, I feel I have more control over my cowboy-like horse (short, burley & fast - loves to spin, if allowed). It's the direct rein and leg aids that has really helped me with her. Westerns pretty awesome too though. We've done both.
I have 2 English saddles, a Dressage saddle, a Western saddle and an Australian saddle... and yet I often ride bareback lol
Its funny. I love riding western but my best friend does English rlly well
aw very cool! Maybe you should try a saddle swap day and try to ride in each others saddles :) it will help you both to become better riders to try it out! and might be a lot of fun to try
I did English riding my first six mounths and I left the stable because the instructor was verbally abusive and abusive to the horses when I moved I started westren and I got to bond with a mustang he’s a really sweet horse the owner and trainers said that Iv gotten the horse to do things in equestrian practice no one else can do and when brushing and picking his feet he always lifted his feet up for me to pick them my instructor was suppressed about the bond between me and a mustange
I always wanted to do english but where I was learning it didn't made a good job teaching it. Currently I'm doing western, I enjoy it so much! If I said that english riding is bad, I would be lying, it teached me so much and both are amazing, every western equestrian could learn things in english that will help improve ur riding skills and vice-versa with english equestrians.
Both are beatiful in their own methodology, I don't see why people still are fighting to see which one is the best. As long it's not harming/abusing animals, y'know..
Anyway, I'll never regret doing english riding.
that's great! thank you for your story and your wisdom :)
I'm actually looking and seeing which might be better for my gaited mare... she's 6 and I fully intend on doing the best to keep her happy and healthy.
@@estheryocum257 Lol me too! My arabian mare is really good with jumping, if I didn't buyed her in time she was going to be sold for show jumping 1,20 meters
But she's good with barrels too, I really like both disciplines but it's so hard to choose between them! And everyone at my barn do barrels, aghhh idk which one to choose! I just hope my horse is comfortable :/
@@tinycowboycollective I like both disciplines too. I would love to do Barrel Racing, I think it would be fun.
When my mother took me to Buckeye Ranch for my first riding lesson it was English but when it closed I went to Rolling Ridge Ranch where my instructor was an old time cowboy who taught me western style.
As someone whos showed in both, I would have to say start with western. Its easier to learn balance etc. However, if you start english western will feel alot easier and maybe even a little weird as the saddles are vastly different. English can be harder in the learning process. But one is not better than the other. Each dicapline has its own tricls and tips on how to become a better rider
Thanks for sharing! I think that there are no shortcuts to balance. If you want to be a good rider, you cannot skip that step and you have to learn balance (on a lunge line with a good instructor) no matter what saddle you choose! Once you have balance then going from one saddle to the next will feel a bit strange at first but the basics remain the same
Nah start english. Learn to control your body and your leg without leaning on the horses mouth (Most Western Barns don't do lunge lessons and most english barns do) then move to whatever sport you want
@@NoThankUBeQuiet ? every western barn I've ever been to (visited, boarded, taken lessons) had lunge lessons for beginners. also, I've seen more English beginners lean on the horses mouth then Western begginers. I do all-around showing and pleasure in western, and eventing in English.
My trainer takes both English and western, and when I first started English, and then I went to western
@@NoThankUBeQuietmy western barn started on lunge line and both teach balance,but western is just easier to learn balance,even tho English is a little better,there both good,no one’s better,I don’t understand why PEOLLE say western or English is better
All three of my children are taking English lessons. My daughter is 7 and my boys are 5 and 3. Don't be afraid to let your little ones as crazy as they may be at home take riding lessons. My 3-year-old is probably the best at riding so far out of all my kids. My boys have high functioning autism and apraxia and audio processing disorder. My son'd went the whole summer without speech therapy and they are talking better than they has ever been talking after just the summer. It continues to help even with speech therapy.
What a powerful and inspiring story!!! Love love love it
I rode English for YEARS. I just started riding western a few months ago and I'll never go back to English. I'm taking cutting lessons and reining cow horse lessons now. I LOVE it. I will never get in an English saddle again.
Reining horses and cuttin' horses are fabulous to ride and work with! I lived in oklahoma for two years and they are super stars. That is great that you found your passion. Would you say that learning to ride english in the beginning for so long actually helped you as a western rider? Because many of the students that I've worked with who start of english (especially jumpers!) they can change disciplines super easily without batting an eye! But I unfortunately see a lot of western riders who are scared or nervous to try and change disciplines for fear of not having a horn to grab onto! Which is a shame because western outside of the USA is extremely rare to find.
@@coachkrystalkelly I did think about this a lot after the video. I think it was a lot better to start out English. There's a lot more technical things with English that they don't quite teach you in western that I think is really good to know. For example, diagnols. I've learned my diagnols very well so I can feel them now, in whatever horse I'm riding, English or western. So I can pick the right leads from the get go. It also does help a LOT with balance. I would probably say a couple English lessons then bareback. Bareback will teach you EVERYTHING.
...and side note... if you're a western rider and holding onto your horn, you're not a true western rider. In all my lessons, the horn is off limits. Of course, barrel racing and a couple other things are different but I don't think you should be barrel racing in an English saddle. 😂
@@kayleycars101 All excellent points! Thank you for sharing. I have done barrel racing with my mare in an english saddle! I think once you know how to ride, the saddle matters less and less. (Though it does help to use a discipline specific saddle of course for higher levels! So I wouldn't jump a 1.40 meter jump in a dressage saddle :P ) But for beginners as you mentioned having a solid base and starting out english and not relying on a horn to "stay on" is a great place to start!
Western is way more fun
Love both English & Western riding styles :)
Barrel racing & show jumping in both styles each have their own risks but are so much fun to do :)
Started English, but am now taking lessons in Western. I love both so much for different reasons but if I had to choose one I'd say English since the saddle isn't as bulky and you can get a better feel for the horse in my opinion at least.
Would also like to note with the horn thing, very true! The only time a saddle horn helped me is when my horse zagged left and I went right and the horn caught my stomach. Very painful but I'm sure less painful than the ground 😂
Thanks for sharing! I am happy you enjoy them both. I agree that you can feel a horse better in English which is why I highly recommend western riders to try english out and master their balance and feel! It helps their western riding so much more that way. :)
@@coachkrystalkellymy area as all western barns,they don’t teach English,it’s either cutting,barrel racing,or just western basics
Though I am a western rider, I did English for 1 year straight trying the learn to jump and doing pole work. Now that I’m western, those English years were worth it
I WAS ALWAYS TOLD IF YOU CAN RIDE WESTERN, YOU CAN RIDE WESTERN, IF YOU CAN RIDE ENGLISH, YOU CAN RIDE ANYTHING. I THINK IT'S TRUE!!
I grew up riding whatever I was given. I have done English equitation in the morning at a show, and barrel racing in the afternoon, winning both on the same horse. I trained with a woman for endurance. That kicked my butt. I did saddleseat which I love (saddlebreds, not Tennessee Walkers), some jumping, which my horse hated. I even dabbled in team penning. My horse who quivered every time he heard a cow moo, got into the ring, dug down, and went full on cutting horse his first time. He was an amazing Morgan horse, willing to learn anything.
Don’t think you can only do one discipline. You can do anything once you have developed a good seat and good hands. My best suggestion to go from good to great, ride bareback for an entire winter.
Thank you for sharing your story and also capturing exactly what this video is about! Learn how to ride correctly and you can do anything. Cross training is great for horse and rider and a big part of what I teach so it’s great to hear your experiences
I rode western. never held on to the horn of the saddle. However I was getting taught English riding at the same time. Both styles are fun in there own right. Riding is super fun.
Well said! Riding a horse is a gift, doesn't matter what size, age, color of horse you ride or the saddle you choose. :)
Hey there 😊
I started lessons and she started me on a western saddle not using the horn which I was glad about because I wanted to learn to balance , I am a older gent (64 ) but in good shape and so far so good 🐴
That’s great that your instructor is teaching you balance without holding on first!!! That’s the most important step. As long as you learn to ride correctly you are ahead of the game
I'm kind of like, both types of riders cause I do English and I wanna stay on English (I've been doing it since I was like 9 or 10 and I'm 13 now) and I wish to do eventing when I'm older. I'm also learning acoustic guitar at school because I just love that country vibe and I even have my own set of western boots that I literally live in! I'd say that whatever you are is what you should do, if you love English, you don't have to be perfect, if you love western, you don't have to be a full-on cowgirl or cowboy. :)
I went from western to bareback & now I’m trying English. I like that it’s lighter for the horse & me & seems like easier to fit an English & tack-up
Started western, still doing ranch and barrel racing. Just recently after 7 years of riding started getting interested in english.
Where I learned western (the only horse riding school available was western, I’m from Alaska) we were told not to rely on the horn. West is originally for work and you need both hands for work. It was fun! I hope I won’t have too hard of a time switching, I am highly interested in English!
I have been riding since i was 8 yrs old (now 41) and was always wanting to do 3 day eventing. It never really happened although I did work with horses at riding schools until 13 yrs ago. I was taught English and loved it, my 2 yr old daughter is learning english now too. However I had my first Western lesson yesterday and loved it. I plan on carrying on with western myself but am glad I learned English so that if i do fancy switching it up and jumping again then I can.
That’s great! And an excellent example of how having a solid foundation is key 🔑
I feel like it depends on a person.
And it also depends on your goals, but starting in an english saddle is the better route to go if you want to learn balance and feel and then swap to western later.
I'm a green rider but totally understand why starting in English style is better. As a pro musician, I once advised someone choosing between an acoustic piano and an electric one for their daughter to start with the acoustic. While the electric is convenient, switching from electric to acoustic is not easy (or likely impossible in the classical field) due to differences in touch, nuance, dynamics, etc. The other way around is quite easy though.
Love this comparison and analogy and it explains it exactly correct. Swapping from English to western EASY PEASY but from western to English is extremely difficult!
I also started riding Western when I was 9, but stopped when I was about 12. I want to get back into it now, and I'm thinking of re-staring in English
Being some who has rode in both, western is easier but that doesn’t mean you should start with it. You can but if you start with English first then you can learn the harder way which means Western will be really easy, or easier. It is truly up to what you think is best though
I really like a synthetic Australian built kind of like a western but with no horn and more English style stirrup straps instead of panels and an English girth. I started Western and moved to english. Leather Western saddles were just too heavy. I agree with a lot of what you're saying, too.
That's great! I have seen the type of saddle you are suggesting but I haven't gotten to ride in one myself yet! I can definitely see how it's a nice mixture of both worlds
😂 I’m 53 and picked up and cleaned my old roper saddle 😳 I was throwing that thing around at 12 😂
10 years of being sick… wow that thing is heavy!
I taught myself how to ride as a kid and I always use the Western saddle. Using the horn as a handle is just bad sense because you have center of gravity is way higher than that horn and you will most definitely fall off If you use the horn as a handle You have to really use your core muscles and your thigh muscles to keep your balance and to hold you up in a saddle
I ride western and a lot of people say that English saddles are a lot more comfortable but to me western saddles are way more comfortable than English saddles are
I regret getting rid of my all purpose saddle. My horse was porky at the time and I was talked into getting a dressage saddle by an instructor that favored dressage style riding. She said that my horse would benefit by the wider panels on the dressage saddle vs. all purpose because the all purpose had a the narrower panels. My horse's weight has dropped to a more appropriate weight and I think the saddle would've fit better now. So bummed out. Thank you, Coach Krystal, for another great video. Appreciate your information🙂
Our horses bodies changing can definitely affect the saddle fit! I’m sure you could sell your current saddle and find another with the type you like. Dressage saddles are perfect for doing dressage but if you are doing a lot of other things than an all purpose works. My husband rides mostly out on trails and he loves his all purpose
@@coachkrystalkelly Thank you, I appreciate your feedback. I know there are lots of saddles with adjustable gullets, so those type would be a serious contender for me. I plan to do more trail rides in the near future; alot more casual riding.
Grew up in SW Florida. Not sure if anyone else experienced it but I had a combination of both? 😂 Though I was mainly trained English but we always used a western saddle. Wasn’t until I went outside of FL that I trained fully English w/ an English saddle 😂😂😂
My training in FL was very relaxed lol
I think it’s great to try both styles. But I’ll always prefer English
is there a place in SW FL that you recommend for riding lessons?
I'm actually starting bareback to improve my balance before starting in the western saddle. I plan to trail ride, so no jumping lessons for me!
bareback lessons are a great way to get that connection and feel for the horses movements! I've had lots of situations on trails where there was a fallen log or steep hills so learning to be balanced in a forward seat is also vital for learning trail riding. Keep it up!
i love to jump and barrel race... i did bothe when i was a kid. have to do it again....
I'll start by saying I don't ride myself, but my 7 year old daughter has been riding for a year and I sit in on her lessons a lot and I agree with you. She's taking English lessons and her instructor is excellent. She has learned to have a great seat and has great balance in the saddle. I did not choose one style or the other. I'm sure her instructor chose English for the exact reasons you stated
That's great!
Me at 13 weighing 90lbs and standing 5'1with a 15.0hh horse having absolutely no problem saddling up my horse weather I'm using the barrel saddle or the antique ranch saddle.
Barrel saddles don’t typically weigh much. Roping saddles can weigh 75 lbs or more though.
I've heard a couple people say it's harder to move from Western to English than English to Western, I never understood why and since I have never ridden English I won't argue but if it's because people think the saddle horn is a handle then I can see why. Growing up I was taught the saddle horn was for one thing only, to dally your rope around. It was made plain to me that the one thing I could do that would be guaranteed to make me look like an amateur fool would be to grab leather. Through the years I've had a number of horses decide they didn't want me on their back, sometimes I've won, sometimes they did but I had that so deeply ingrained that I have never grabbed the horn on a bucking horse.
Thanks for sharing! That is great that you were taught early on not to rely on the horn in order to stay on. It's very correct to think that it is your seat and your riding ability that will keep you on and not the horn! In my experience there are a number of reasons western riders seem to be nervous about riding in an English saddle if they've never tried it and the horn is one of those reasons. But there are also other reasons such as the swells in the front and the large cantle in the back. A lot of western riders feel more "secure" but again the reality is that there is no saddle design in the world that will keep you on the horse if you don't know how to ride with your seat!
I think the issue is the fenders. They almost hold your leg in place so you don't have to build that leg control yourself. Whereas if you start english you don't have them and you have to build those muscles.
I learned the very basics riding English and when my stable shut down for Covid I moved to a diffrent stable , the stable I ride at now where I’m learning western and love it
I do still miss English sometimes becuse I do like jumping ( I have done small jumps with western) but over all no regrets :)
Where we live cost and availability of lessons is also a factor. I have heard rumors of English lessons near me but most places are Western. We also found a place that is very reasonably priced. The kids don't hold the horn to ride, that seems to be more a trail ride/pony ride situation.
Horse riding costs money. Growing up I could only afford 2 lessons a month: but I still did it and still learned English. There’s a lot more to consider than whether or not they “hold a horn” as most instructors do not have any real credentials or qualifications and teach incorrect riding techniques. It’s better to pay more for someone who knows what they are doing than try to save money and risk injuries
I currently ride western. In my opinion, I think most people should start out with western! Most western saddles provide balance, which is something most beginner riders don’t have. I’ve never tried English riding and do not know how the saddles feel, but by the looks western saddles have much more support. However, it is your choice if you want to ride english or western! I think both have learning benefits.
Having worked with thousands of students in over 20+ countries who were beginner riders all the way up to high level show jumpers, avid polo players and WEG competing endurance riders, I still say that the best way to learn as a beginner rider is to start in an english saddle. You shouldn't use a saddle to "get balance" you need to learn to ride. Period. Balance is non-negotiable as a rider unless your ok falling off all the time and possibly getting injured! So learn to ride correctly and once you have a solid foundation and good balance, from there choose which discipline you enjoy most and find the saddle right for the job and for you and your horse. :)
Yeah which is why the beginners need to learn balance without a crutch
I know you said you should use English if starting, but I used western until I was 12 and switched to English pretty okay.
Hahaha I learnt English and when I restarted riding I bought a western but quickly went back to an English saddle because I just felt weird. At home we call the horn the Oh Shoot bar 🤣🤣🤣
Love it!
I don't have a ton of riding experience but I learned to ride on an english saddle very informally while I volunteered at a horse farm for disabled children. On the couple of trail rides that I did were on western saddles and just felt off.
that's great that you got to learn english however informal lessons are not the same as professional coaching! i recommend to always get a professional coach no matter what sport you choose! (for safety for you and horse and for fun and enjoyment!)
I learned western. I liked the neck reign. I did like the Australia saddles. No horn, but leg bumpers. So, more of a mental safety when going over rough terrain, like going down STEEP downgrade. I was leaning way back and mentally thought that at least my legs won’t slip over the horses neck.
Sounds like you need our Sticky Butt Bootcamp!!!
Ohh I ride both but I live in the western area of the US so there's a LOT of western and I would say I ride like around 70% western and like 30% English. But it makes you a better rider!
I think English is better for first starting. I don't ride Western. I am absolutely OBSESSED with ENGLISH! But I don't mind Western.
When I was very little I thought I was a cowgirl but I ALWAYS wanted to be a show jumper! So I followed my heart and rode english and am very thankful that I had that as my base.
We've decided to give my children into English riding because of your video. They have autism and it would be good for learning balance and other things.
That is great to hear thank you for sharing. Riding is so good for building balance and coordination and the English saddle will definitely help them. Keep me updated how it goes!
I wish I was told this and had a choice as a kid!
But now you know! And it’s never too late to start
I don’t like how heavy and clunky western saddles are. I’ve never relied on the horn but I wished I learned English first.
I use western every day. I like it a lot better than English.
So I took English lessons as a kid and loved it, but my parents didn’t want me to become a horse girl so they stopped taking me to lessons...I’m still bitter about it haha well anyways I’m in my 20s now and decided to sign up for lessons. The closest place to me is western and I didn’t think there was much of a difference so I decided to give it a go. Well they made fun of me a lot for my instinctive “English ways”. I’m still confused as to how it’s different though?? Besides apparently no posting?
awww well i'm glad that you are finding your passion again despite your parents delaying it for a while! To be honest, RIDING IS RIDING and don't let anyone tell you different! Horses speak the same language in every discipline and sure they have different "jobs" or ways of doing certain things or cues but the basics are the basics and there are a lot of common universal themes in every sport. Unfortunately a lot of riders have this horrible habit of judging other riders based on sterotypes of the discipline. I've ridden in nearly every sport you can think of (polo, showjumping, endurance, dressage, reining, western, gaited, trail, etc.) and my having done it all has made me a better rider. I have several speakers who really dive deeper into this topic with me during a virtual clinic i'm hosting. I would definitely recomend you check it out if you are interested in more info on how the sports can all benefit from one another and how they are different and related at the same time. Here's the link: www.theinternationalequestrian.com/register Hope it helps!
I feel you!!! I was very lucky my grandparents took me to my riding lessons and paid for them!! My parents were only supportive when it came to their interests like *playing the violin* or *triathlon*.
It's funny that you said your parents did not want to turn you into a *hOrsEgIrL* while most parents would not say this to their sun who is trying to become a professional football player.
I started riding here in England at the age of 11, and continued into my forties, always riding English style. Now at 62 I'm thinking of getting back into it and toying with the idea of riding western; the straight leg position seems designed for long hours in the saddle, and I'm thinking these old bones might appreciate that. Like moving from a sports motorcycle to a Harley cruiser when you reach a certain age!!!
I find western saddles hard, stiff and uncomfortable to ride in for long hours. Personally i would never give up my comfier english (possibly a dressagey-like saddle when i'm older as the one i currently use is EXTREMELY comfortable) for long rides, even when i'm as old as the Queen -- who is 99 years old and still riding english. At the end of the day, its what you are used to, what you know and what you like. Find something that works for you and make sure it is something that can go the distance for you if that's what you plan on doing!
@@coachkrystalkelly I agree I don't understand how they use western saddles for that. Even my cheapest crappiest dressage saddle is the more comfortable
I want to do enlgish cause in just think that english is easier and less comlicated(not that wester isn't) Alothough i really want to start horse riding by this year.:(
Horns aren't for holding onto if you need to hold on get a night latch.
I grew up riding Western pleasure/trail. I like riding Western. I want to try doing Barrel Racing.
I wanted to do English for awhile. A couple months back I got to take English lessons. I loved it and I want to do more.
(BTW a lot of friends said I wouldn't like it). They were wrong.
I think the debate between which discipline is better, is a disservice to the horse world, (in my opinion). I feel it comes down to personal preference and what works for you.
I like both disciplines. I think it would be fun to ride in an Australian Stock saddle, just to ride in one.
No Saddle Bronc rider would hold the horn while going for the buzzer because that would be a score of 0 (zero), and that wouldn't be worth it.
Techniques for both, English & Western, are interchangeable.
The basic horsemanship is very similar for both disciplines!
Correct riding is correct riding no matter what saddle you use. :) thanks for sharing your story!
@@coachkrystalkelly I agree learning to do it correctly is what's important. Definitely keep your videos coming.
@@chadwassemiller3360 thank you! I'm actually uploading one now to publish today. I am happy to take any video requests for specific topics as well so please share any topics you would like to hear about so I can schedule that. I love hearing what everyone wants to learn about!
The other one, who has some kind of injury, or his legs don't move as well, could be made an exception for him as a healthy person. Or someone with balance problems or an illness.
What? If someone has balance problems or injury they can still ride in an English saddle. That’s why there’s para Olympic sports like dressage. But there’s no western Olympic sports
@@coachkrystalkelly I agree
I think English is better for beginners to learn because it’s harder to learn. It’s a lot easier to adjust to Western once you know English as opposed to going vice versa.
Agreed! Swapping over to other sports and disciplines is so much easier if you have a solid base to start with. That's why I was able to pick up polo for example pretty quickly.
I started riding when I was 3 years old. 2 years later I started with horse gymnastics idk what it’s called I did that for 4-5 five years back to back with English riding then I took a year off and I continued until I was 14 then I started to be interested in western so I did that for like 2 years and now I’m back to English. Now I’m 17 and i am getting my own horse and I’m going to ride western I find it more comfortable and better for trail rides and stuff
Sorry for bad English 😢
your english is great! Thanks for sharing. I have ridden more than 1,000+ miles on horse back trails and I've done it all ENGLISH so its definitely not unusual to ride on trails with an english saddle. (In fact I prefer it!)
I started western but realized it's to easy. I started Western and I had ok balence because I did no stirup and bareback. But then I found a love for jumping!
I started out riding english but I hated it so I am now doing western and rodeo :)
What did you not enjoy about english? Was it the saddle specifically or was it just that your more interested in rodeo?
@@coachkrystalkelly I just thought English riding was just kinda stuffy and I didn’t have much fun I thought of it as like you had so many limitations but that is just my opinion. I feel like I’m rodeo you have more freedom and again in my opinion it’s just more fun
@@marleyjhayes9982 Well it sounds like the place you tried to learn english didn't do a great job of it! I don't doubt that rodeo isn't fun (i lived in Oklahoma for 2 years and also rode western at a few stables during that time). BUT I will definitely say that you shouldn't put english completely out of your mind because it is incredibly fun and useful! Learning to ride in an english saddle is great for rider development and balance and to connect with your horse, but it's also fun to jump, trail ride and race around in full gallop with in a nice open field (and pop over a few jumps outside if that's an option) as well as countless other things. I've also played polo in my english saddle and those horses stop and turn on a dime just like they do in western ;) so my two personal horses do everything from polo to jumping to dressage to barrel racing and everything in between. It's a lot of fun! And hopefully you try english again at some point with a different crowd
@@coachkrystalkelly yes that all sounds fun! However you can jump in a western saddle, you can run in a field, and I work on my balance by riding bareback :)
@@marleyjhayes9982 I wouldn't jump 1.45 meters in a western saddle. Actually I wouldn't do it in a dressage saddle either! When you are working on high level movements, then using the equipment that was designed for the sport makes sense. But over a baby jump, yes even cowboys can jump a log in a western saddle! :D And that's good that you still practice your balance and ride bareback. Bareback riding is another thing that can help you feel more connected with your horse.
do horses themselves have preference? does western saddle weight irritate or wear down the horse? or on the positive side, discourages bad behavior or extreme behavior?
Great question! A horse isn’t going to let a saddle stop them from being “bad” if they want to. They are fight or flight animals and they will go to that extreme no matter who or what is on their back if there is a cause for it. So no, western or English won’t make a difference to stop “bad behavior” (only training will.) Horses can move easier in an English saddle as it’s less bulky and lighter but it’s hard to know what our horses think unless you spend the time to ask them and watch them move with the two types and test it and see for yourself which you think your horse prefers!
On a side note my OTTB who we ride English we did a 2 month long ride across Ireland and she carried saddle bags every day during that trip. Everyone thought she wouldn’t because she’s a thoroughbred, but she didn’t mind it much at all during that adventure! Horses are pretty tolerant of a lot as long as you have their trust and a strong relationship. So choose what you feel is right for your horse based on the job you want to do and don’t be afraid to try new things
I only rode a horse once i am going to get horse riding lessons but when ever i rode i rode a western and i am only eight years old
I wish I had you as a coach when I first started out. I started out western because that was the only horseback riding place for lessons near us. But my coach told me the commands and just let me walk around then I got to trot around poles. Mostly we went on trail rides tho but my coach was really not a coach.
I know the feeling! When I was a kid I had a VERY similar "coach" and luckily my parents recognized that her "lessons" were a joke. I hopped around to probably 4 stables as a kid before landing on one (at the age of 11) that suited me better! It is exactly this reason though that I have some online courses as well as this youtube channel so I can do my best to provide information to those that do not have access to decent coaches nearby! So I hope you subscribe and keep watching our videos. :) And let me know if you ever have anything specific you'd like me to make a video about!
Ok :)
I learn and watch your videos
Coz many of the things I learned from my senior is wrong
Now I am 35 age 14years back I learned to ride horse
After getting promotion and transfer I lose the passion towards the horse now I am fat it's very difficult to ride
My body weight now is 109kg
But soon I will reduce my weight coz I need to ride agian .....
If any doubt I will ask you....
Plz correct me (without charging)
@@rmsventureindia2444 Well keep working on your goals and I wish you all the best on your journey! I am continuing to publish videos on my two channels every week so you will always have somewhere to learn.
I ride english, tried both western and English on my very first riding day, and the western sattle just didn't feel good to me. I love the English sattle.
English all the way unless you are doing long hauls which the western saddle is designed for. I'd rather work with the horse rather than letting them do all the lifting🤷
I’ve done plenty of 8 hour days and cross country riding in an English saddle. It’s comfy, lightweight on the horse and yes you can also have saddle bags when overnighting as we did. So yes! Being your horses partner is key, what a great point
western. grew up on it
that's great! Do you do a specific western sport? (Roping, cuttin', barrels etc)
@@coachkrystalkelly hoping to do roping and barrels
@@jaideerandall-swett7885 very fun, I've ridden quite a few roping horses (they are rockstars!) though I can't rope myself. It was a lot of fun though!
Watched again
great!
i see the good of it...what you have discerned....I like to ride western...i feel that i have more of a seat. and stuff....but sometimes...the English saddle looks inviting.
you should definitely consider trying it out! There is no harm in learning more and practicing all types of riding styles. At the end of the day, balance is balance!
Started western now jumpers. It's all fun and enjoyable. I love this video thank you!!
your welcome! jumping is definitely one of my fav fun things to do
I’ve done Wester my whole life since I was about before I could work
I do western and English I’m getting my very own horse but I’m riding western. I do horse riding lesson with English it’s so hard :/
The thing is I wanna jump its like my dream but I don't think I will fulfill this cause I will be only taking lessons 1 time a month since it is very expensive
Many people don't realize this but i couldn't afford riding lessons when i was a kid. I could only afford to ride twice a month and had to muck stalls to help pay for it for my entire childhood. But guess what? I grew up! And horses became my career and my life. I was riding 5-8 horses every single day for my entire 20's and now I can ride when ever i want at our stable here in spain.
Lol I love the person peeking thru the door 🤣💖
😁I love that you love that! 😁
Erm.... Im a western girly and forever will be sometimes jumping can be fun, but my horses are western trained, so they dont do all that i was raised taking care of them as a country girl
Who noticed the door behind her opening?
The whole fun is not using your hands, balance IS the fun
Very true!
@@coachkrystalkelly If I want to hold on something I can drive a machine. As for Saddles, Im really tempted switching toward a english saddle, being the horse is a english Shire and I want the least amount of saddle. The horse is comfier than my couch bareback but I still want to protect the spine. I wont compete in ANYTHING so the saddle is for the horse only. (perhaps looks too, I admit)
I loveeee western but I’ve always had my cross country dreams
ohhh that's a great dream to have!!! :D
I like to ride western but! I am just learning how to ride English!! It is a lot of fun 😁
That’s awesome!
What about buying a new horse that is used to one or the other? Should the rider adjust to the horse? Both use techniques that are completely different, the use and length of reins, the pressure of the legs,.. So for example buying a horse that is used to English riding for 10 years must be difficult to retrain to the western riding and very confusing for the horse? (I'm not a native English speaker and I'm a beginner rider, so please do not send hate ☺️ )
I have two mares that do both neck reining and normal english riding with two reins. They have no problem with either but their main focus is english. Any horse can learn because the saddle isn't important its the training and the ability of the rider to communicate with their horse that counts
I like both but I found I really like riding in the Aussie saddle without the horn...it’s a nice little mix between a western and an English saddle
yes i've had a lot of students do my steady leg challenge and sticky butt bootcamp in aussie saddles! They rave about them but i myself haven't ever used one (showjumper and all :D )
I personally have started riding western (and still do). The saddle actually helped me in the start in trot, but it soon seemed uselles to me lol idk
Thanks for sharing! You might consider trying to take a few lessons in an English saddle (preferably on the lunge line) to work on some trot exercises without reins to get your balance! It will make a big difference the next time you go to ride western and you'll feel more secure in your seat in the trot.
@@coachkrystalkelly I've actually ridden English quite a few times but I don't think it made big of a difference, (I also don't struggle with my balance so that could be the cause here) I don't know, I just might be weird
I live in England and western is not really an option but I am happy riding English
I saw some western riders in Eastern Germany of all places which was really surprising to me considering since I left the USA 11 years ago I haven't seen any western riders.
My first six mounths of equestrian riding I did English and I recently moved stables because the lady was verbally abusive and to the horses and I left her stable reported her when I moved stables I started westren my horse I have to use a lunge line with my horse Was a wild horse and my instructor said I got this horse to do stuff no one else could and the instructor said that nobody can really pick his feet and he let me the owner and trainer looked at me and the. Horse and said considering he use to be a wild horse he has a lot of respect with me so I found this helpful because I dident know that there where more then just English and westren
Never grab the horn. It will knock your balance off and possibly break your arm or hand if things go south. If that horses is that determined to get you off, unless you have experience and think you can stay put, you are better getting thrown off a safer way. Getting caught between their legs or landing to close to them will get you much more hurt. If you've lost your balance, fall, roll away from horse, then get the horse and get back on. Don't get hurt showing off or trying to be big. Breaking a bone either on yourself or the horse isn't worth it.
Why are you trying to ride a horse that is determined to get you off? One of the biggest mistakes riders make is… 1) not mastering the fundamentals and how to ride correctly and 2) not having a relationship with your horse and trying to ride something you can’t and shouldn’t try to ride. I’d suggest you watch our “how to get a sticky butt” video and our 3 reasons riders fall video. Because the safest thing you can do for yourself and your horse is to NOT fall off and have a horse that would never try to get you off.
my first horse lessons where "okay, no reins and no saddle but have this thing around to hold on. Also you'll need to not hold it when I'm making you do circus excercices for balance"
I think I should probably come back to those excercices because my balance is becoming worse with time
Also I feel like the kind of saddle the horse likes should enter into account
(Yes, I'm looking at that French RUclipsr using a western saddle on a horse (okay, they're comfortable saddles and it's easier to keep your balance on it even without holding the horn, for personal experience) that show it's extremely uncomfortable for her while being okay with an English one and then pretends they listen to what their pet wants.)
We have our sticky butt bootcamp virtual coaching program which helps riders develop balance and undo bad muscle memory and bad habits. Feel free to check us out on our website or I can send you our application form to apply.
I’m not sure which French RUclipsr you’re referring to but I find English saddles to be healthier choices for horse and rider if your talking about balance, riding correctly, “feel” of your horse, lightness and less interference with the horses anatomy and biomechanics
@@coachkrystalkelly I'll probably check the program once I finish uni and I'll have time to ride or do stuff related to it ^^
im 10 years old and i do western all the way
Western saddle for beginning
There are 180 countries with horses. Only 3-4 of those countries is western (and aussie style which are simliar) saddles being used. That means there's 177 or so countries who the vast majority of riders use ENGLISH tack! As a professional coach in the industry for 16+ years and having worked in 20+ countries and 5 continents with horses, I've NEVER started a single student in a western saddle. Not once. So the answer is NOT "throw beginners in a western saddle" the answer is... teach students HOW TO RIDE CORRECTLY. :)
My goal I just want to spend time with horses those adorable mammels
English riding has over a thousand years of technique behind it. Wet stern has 100 years at best
Very true!
I started out taking english lessons, then I swapped over to western. I'm now taking english lessons again, I'll never go back to western 🐎
I bet it was a great experience though to try it out at least once! And that is a great outlook to have
I enjoyed this video.
English works better for me😊
It's definitely going to develop you as a rider and teach you great balance and feel for your horse.
I rode English and am currently moving to a state that is primarily western so I'm going to have to transition to western I pretty much no nothing about western other than neck reining and they wear different clothes what types of events and stuff can I do as a western rider other than barrel racing as I personally feel it's to dangerous for the horse
i lived in a "western state" and still rode english.
@@coachkrystalkelly I am going to look again to see if I can find a school that teaches English I wasn't able to find one last I checked
@@paytonlescalleet9714 ask the western stables if they know any or if they know anyone who can help you. also ask around at the tack shop
I was taught western and also to not touch the horn bc balence and all that and it's saver
Thank you.
I have only rad in the saddle once but sat in one like 10:000 time but I usually ride bareback
The difference for me between western and dressage is the "control" of the horse you want when your are riding. Western riders take care of their own balance and bodycontrol and let the horse take control of their own balance. Vs the english rider wants to control the horse balance wich often get that their own balance and bodycontrol gets less succesfull. If you watch the western vs the english rider hands while their riding you can see that the western rider is more relaxed. The english rider use their legs and hands to control the speed, turns and sides of the horse. Vs the western rider use their balance in turns, speedcontrol and sidepasses. Going from english to western for me was night and day. You can just test to trot or canter on long reins and get the feel of what its like. Its like driving a car with a loose steering wheel. You should definentily learn western first and learn to control your own body before you start messing with the horse balance. A good westernrider can definentily ride a dressagehorse without a problem but it takes years for the english rider to relearn and going from english to western. Ive done it myself and its so easy to fall in old parterns.
Or maybe your English coach wasn’t a very good one. Because if you learned to ride English correctly you wouldn’t have learned to rely on your reins. You would have learned to ride with your abs seat and balance. Correct riding is correct riding period and it’s not a discipline specific thing. It’s called riding.
@@coachkrystalkelly you totally missing the point of what I was saying! And I agree with you, read again before you comment further.
How about what's best for the horse?
I feel like horse people think of their horse as secondary sometimes. The western saddle is always better than English because it's larger so it spreads out the rider's weight much effectively. The horn is also good for holding onto if you lose balance, so you don't pull on the bit and hurt the horse. People trying out the English riding style should still stick with a western saddle, imo.
Firstly, there's a lot wrong with this statement. Western saddles are often heavier and no, a bigger saddle does not equal more weight distribution. Why? Because the rider still sits where they sit. Period. If the rider isn't balanced (and needs something like a horn to "catch themselves" from losing balance) then a saddle won't help you. Only learning to ride correctly and become a balanced rider can. No exception. The saddle has nothing to do with pulling on the reins. That's the rider's fault. The saddle has nothing to do with the rider losing balance. Again, that's the rider's responsibility. And its also not the saddles job to make riders weight spread out, because a rider looking down will still put the weight on the horse's forehand regardless of how big or small the saddle is. Thank you for sharing! It's all great points for discussion
English saddles are more often checked correctly by saddle fitters and maintained. I very rarely see western people questioning if their saddle still fits
@@NoThankUBeQuiet I'm not sure you understand what weight distribution means. Yes my shoes fit, and are maintained but are they good for my feet and good for walking? The western saddle is bigger, which means it distributes weight more evenly over a larger surface.
@@NoThankUBeQuiet Also, they do check their saddles for fit each time they put the thing on. LOL! Larger surface area to distribute the rider's weight, the more comfortable it is for the horse to be ridden. It's like the difference between high heels and flats. Flats are more comfortable and better for your feet because your weight is being spread out and supported by a larger area instead of the ball of the foot.
I’m English and have always ridden English, more than happy to learn western
Western saddles don't have to be heavy. Mine only weighs about 12 lbs.
I've only ridden in an English saddle a few times.
I haven't really ridden in the past few years due to caring for both my husband and father, both of who are gone now.
I never took lessons as a kid, didn't have that kind of money. The only riding I did was the occasional trail ride, summer camp and a pony at my grandparents' neighbors. It was always western or bareback.
Decided to take a few lessons to work on things I know I'm weak on, but my horse was lame, so I took a lesson on a different horse with an English saddle.
I hated it. I found the saddle to be very uncomfortable. I also couldn't feel the horse in the same way as I could with mine.
My horse is fine now, so I hope I don't need to ever ride this other horse again.
Hi there! Thank you for the informative video! I was wondering which style of riding would be best suited to faster riding? My end goal would be to compete in ride and tie competitions.
Hey this is an excellent question! I will definitely say an "english style" (or endurance saddle) is the best suited for this type of an event! There is a reason that endurance riders and jockeys use more english looking saddles than western saddles. One because they are lightweight and easier for the horse to carry longer distances and not restrict their movement, and also because it allows the rider to be above the saddle in a more forward position used for faster riding. There are a lot of different types of endurance saddles which would be suitable but a general purpose or english saddle would work well too! I would make sure your saddle fits your horse as your most important concern, though and not worry too much otherwise. Ride with what your horse is used to and you don't have to go buy an expensive saddle to dip your toes in the water.
@@coachkrystalkelly Thank you! That is very helpful :)