English or western riding?

Question

I am just starting horseback riding lessons and i am trying to decide between english and western. What do you like better and why? If you have tried both tell me the advantages and disadvantages of each. Thanks so much!!

Answer 1

I honestly, would try to go for both, if at all possible.But It really depends on your personality and interests. I ride at a hunter/jumper barn, but let me tell you, I wish I could go back to riding western. Not that I don't love jumping, I just wish i could do barrels and stuff again. Just experiment with both styles a little more and see which one suits you best.  

Answer 2

Well, what do you want to do?  I knew I wanted to jump, but western just looked so much easier (it isn't really..It just isn't as formal) and I decided to learn the basics (walk, trot, canter) in a western saddle and then switch to english.  Looking back now, I don't think it made a difference at all and if I had to choose again, i would take English instead because western just isn't "my thing".  Neither have specific advantages/disadvantages.  It is all about you personal preference.  I HATE HATE HATE long stirrups and they bothered me every time I rode western.  English takes a little more balance as a beginner, but I think it feels more secure because of the shorter stirrups.  Why don't you take a few lessons on both and decide after that?  You really need to feel what you like best.

Answer 3

I personally don't see the down side of riding western. Comfortable saddles, loose reins, a place to put yer saddle bags, a place to hang yer rope, a place to sling yer rifle(for varmints), and you got something to dally to when you got yer self a 2000lbs ornery critter roped.

Edit- Who ever says it does not matter about posture for Western riding has not competed in enough events for western. Posture is important for both. In fact proper posture in english is the same as western. If you don't have posture you don't have balance, if you don't have balance you can not ride.

I spend any where between 6-10 hours in One saddle, a western saddle is built for comfort. Why? BECAUSE THEY ARE BUILT TO WORK IN ALL DAY. A cheep  saddle will be uncomfortable weather it is english or western.

Answer 4

i would start with english. it makes it easier for you to sit properly on a horse with out relying on the saddle too much

Answer 5

I think it's better to start out English and work your way up to Western.  Starting out in English (which I did) will force you to learn how to sit properly, not rely on the saddle for you to stay in place, etc.  Western riding is more relaxed.  

Answer 6

I like english because you use bothhands on the reigns and that makes me feel like i have more control but thats just me.

Plus is like english saddles better and i love the clothing =]

Answer 7

I am going to try to be diplomatic here, and understand that it's hard...

Personal preference is what it comes down to. Why are you riding a horse? What is it that you want to do? I ride western because I grew up on a working farm and that's what I learned. I never knew there was something you could do with a horse besides work and play until I was much older. I can tell you this. I notice a lot of snobbery from some English style riders, and some will tell you that for some reason western riding will instill in you some kind of bad habit. I would counter that it only seems to be so from an English riding point of view. I can tell you this. In my years of experience with horses, every single English barn I know of turns their problem horses over to a "cowboy" to fix it...

My advice to you would be to decide ultimately what you want to do on that horse. Are you looking to take part in any events? If so, then I would assume the event would determine the style you want. English style riding is much more about control of the animal and rider together, while Western style is more relaxed and easy going. Either style has ample opportunity to learn bad habits, as well as pros and cons. I have ridden both ways, have even ridden an English rig on the worst bucking horse I've ever been on, but I like my ample seated cutting saddle for comfort on the trail. I would really encourage you to look into both styles and find what you like. Start by researching events. Here's a short list that is by no means comprehensive, but will get you started.

English:

Dressage

Hunter/Jumper

Endurance

Polo

TB Racing

Cross Country (this along with endurance would be my favorite english style events)

Western:

Trail Riding

Western Pleasure

Barrel Racing (also poles, etc.)

Roping (calf and team)

Team Penning (my personal favorite and loads of fun to watch)

Cutting

Reining

Check all those out and see what interests you. Before you ride or get into horses, I would also like you to research ground work including grooming, since that's a huge part of being involved with horses. Also can be the most rewarding part. Best of luck to you.

Answer 8

Posture and equitation DOES matter when riding western. You can't really win a horsemanship or western pleasure class at a breed show by flopping around in a crappy saddle. There is much more to western than just barrel racing or roping. There is western pleasure, horsemanship, trail class (not trail riding), western riding (a class at shows), reining, and showmanship. If you do all around events and breed shows you can also do some english classes like hunter under saddle and hunt seat equitation. So, I would do western (showing, western pleasure, horsemanship, showmanship, trail class).  

Answer 9

Western.

I just think it looks MUCH MUCH better.

Answer 10

I myself ride western.  I have no need for english saddles.  

Answer 11

I've been a western rider most of my life, but four years ago I had the opportunity to take Dressage lessons.  I never realized how much work my seat and position needed til I took them.  I love both, and most of the horses I start under saddle have the Dressage saddle on for quite a while before I put a western saddle on them.

Answer 12

I love both :) but it depends on what you want to do. If you start with western are you looking to doing barrel racing or other western games in the future? If you do english are you looking to do english equitation jumping etc. and having more strict conformation. Or, you can do both. I started with western for four years and have been doing English for two. Remember, you can alwas switch :)

Answer 13

ENGLISH!!! Western is fun but with english you learn to sit and learn nice posture that doesn't matter in western. if you start with western you're going to form a habit of bad posture (cuz it doesn't matter) then when you go to english you'll have bad posture and that will only make it harder. Besides english is so much more fun. Also in western it teaches you to rely on the saddle as your anchor to keep from falling off(grab the horn if you lose your balance. Hold onto it just in case). In english there really isn't anything to hold on to except to grab mane. And if you start with western it will teach you all these bad habits that will be hard to break once you start english...and english is more FUN!!! hahahaha. I suggest starting with english (more complicated) then move to western but still keep up with english. Hope i helped. Good luck with your riding.

PS english saddles are more comfortable. Western saddles hurt your butt.

Answer 14

Personally i think western riding is better for beginners. I think its better because it teaches u the most important thing balance and getting used to being on a horse.then you can work your way up to english which is allot more work. and it also depends if you want to do show jumping,dressage,cross country in the future or if you would like to do barrel racing or something like that. If you feel that you would like more control with your horse then go with english...if you want to just be relaxed and just sit there taking it all in go with western. I have been riding for 5 years and i prefer english because of control and the activities that come with english riding. western is okay but not for me.

i hoped i have helped:)  

Answer 15

I like both but English is the best in my opinion.

Answer 16

I like English-style riding better. I think it teaches you better balance, to sit up straight and not rely on your saddle. And for me, it just maks me feel more at home.

Good luck

Answer 17

I have only ridden western and I LOVE it, but I have read stuff on both advantage to starting out western is it is easier to stay in the saddle while finding your balance but english saddles are MUCH lighter. It's easier to find places that give english lessons though. ( I found that out the hard way :) In english you can show in jumping, dressage, eventing, hunter, and so on. In western you can show in western pleasure, halter, horsemanship, trail, team penning, roping, barrel racing, pole bending, stake race and so on. Speed events are cheaper to show in then most english stuff. But really it's just personal prefrance. Hope this helps

Answer 18

I love both, honestly! They both have pros and cons. They're both very challenging and exhilarating, but if I were you, I'd go with English. You'll probably eventually learn jumping, dressage, etc.. It's a beautiful, regal sport. However, if you're more into rough Western stuff, go with Western! Barrel racing, all that good stuff...! Very flashy costumes at shows, too! Have fun, sweetie!! You are going to LOVE whatever you pick!

Answer 19

i ride western it is so less complicated! lol

Answer 20

I love them both.

In my opinion, you should start in english, once you advance in riding... you can work your way to western.

The reason i say this is because i believe that english is a lot more complicated... if you ride english first, you will get your balance down, and you will be able to move on to western when you are a very good rider.

Also, there are a lot more activities to do in english, such as jumping, dressage, pleasure, cross country and so much more!!

Personally i enjoy western the most (i barrel race.) but by starting in english... you would be a much better western rider.

I would also recommend getting into a 4-h, or pony club... that will open you up to a lot of other kinds of events, and will teach you A LOT!

So my recommendation:

Start in English.

Once you have become a pretty decent rider, move on to western.

but don't drop english!

Good Luck!