From English to Western?

Question

I have a 15 yr old 17.2 TBxID and would like to ride western. He has not known anything but english his whole life.

Is it too late to try and ride him western?

If not, what is the best way to go about it?

Would I be able to switch between the two for shows?

Answer 1

Don't do it. If your horse has been trained a English horse his whole life, and is 15, its to late. You'll just confuse him.

Answer 2

It's done all the time and if it's done right, you shouldn't have any problem.  Whether or not you'll be able to show in both disciplines concurrently is another thing...some horses never succeed at that, no matter what age they start at.

Start with the lightest weight western saddle you can find that is well-fitted to your horse.  Don't ride in it until he has carried it around a bit to get used to how it feels...then start your rides at a walk for short periods.  Don't change your reining style until he is comfortable under the saddle you are using.

If you are going to teach neck reining, it will take some time.  I just describd how I do it a few days ago and you could probably find mine and other people's methods in the resolved questions archives.

EDIT:  I just read the answer above mine and want to add a couple things.  My 15.3 Arabian gelding carries his head like any quarter horse you'll see in western pleasure if I ask him for it...he neck reins and jogs with the best of them...he also goes California style and English...it's all about the training.  Conformation and size matter, but not as much as some people think.  As for prejudice from judges, I couldn't agree more.  There is a lot of that in western showing.

Answer 3

Well my Western trained horse does English also so I'd say its never too late to switch. Just get a good Western Trainer!

My horse does both happily....

Answer 4

It probably is to late to show him western if you are doing western pleasure. For a horse to go most of his life in a faster discipline it is very hard to slow them down. The best way to go about it is to start riding only western. Like my horse trainers say 'you can always speed up a horse but you can't always slow them down'. I show in both disciplines and when I practice I only practice western to get the slow part down, because I know my horse can extend. Also Thoroughbred aren't really the 'ideal' western horse. They don't fit the image and a judge will see that. If you were to do a trail class or just trail ride the horse western it would be fine. Also headset is a major thing from going from english to western. Western classes usually want the ears right at or below the withers and for a horse with a higher headset most of his life it will be hard to bring them down. (I suggest buying draw reins, they are a huge help.) And yes, you would be able to switch between the two at shows. This will take a lot o work but it can be done. So good luck and I hope this helps.

Answer 5

i think you could switch, but get a good instructor that has good knowledge about switching from english to western.

Answer 6

Considering his breed and height I wouldnt reccomend it as it will be both awkward for you and your horse. But if you really want to it IS possible just get him REALLY used to the western saddle before you get on. My originally western-turned english horse now wont carry a western saddle anymore after hes been english. Haha and its a little strange as he is western pleasure bred QH.

Answer 7

It is possible and for most horses the saddle does not make that big of a difference.

But you are going to have to teach him how to neck rein and if you are going to show you will also have to teach him how to accept a shanked bit.

In English you direct rein but in western you do not. It works more off leverage and rein pressure.

That will take time and practice.

Many people who ride both styles ride more English style with the reins. Or like they are riding a young western horse.

Most western horses start off in snaffle bits and then with more training more to the shanked bit.

Answer 8

It's never too late.  My 15 year old 14 hand POA does both, because my instructor owns an English saddle and we own a Western saddle.  She does not have a problem with it.  Longe him in a western saddle first, to get him accustomed to the leather creaking, and just the general "difference".  If he respects you and responds to your cues effectively he will not have a problem with it. You will have to get him used to trotting and cantering slower than he is used to (for western pleasure especially), and teach him neckreining if you plan to show.  A shank bit is standard in Western riding, but only switch him after he knows how to neckrein, as a shank bit is a leverage bit, unlike a snaffle which is a good steering bit.  Good Luck!

Answer 9

I'm going to have to say it is never too late. :) I did the opposite as you, and started riding my 10 year old gelding in English instead of Western. It was only a couple of lesson sessions and we were already doing jumping, hunter hack, and hunter successfuly, in shows!

He is used to wearing  a saddle, and probably doesn't care what it looks like. Be casual about putting it on, just like you would with his normal saddle. If he DOES spook at it, just drop it and let him sniff at it until he is comfortable with it. It might be a good idea to move into the roundpen to work with him around the saddle without having to hold onto a lead rope or worry about him shying away.

Yes, you would be able to switch between the two for shows. :) The actually mechanics of riding don't really change at all between western and english from the horses point of view.

Of course, it might be a bit more frustrating if you have never ridden western or are not used to riding western.

Anyway, I have ridden two of my horses that way, english and western, all kinds of events in both, and switching between english hunter and western drill team on the SAME DAY at the SAME SHOW.

Just don't be afraid try it out and see how it works for you. My best bet is that he will hardly care or notice the difference. :)