Pros and cons of English riding?

Question

I'm thinking about getting into English riding. Preferable Jumping. What are the Pros and Cons?

Answer 1

as for english cons...the only ones i can think of...tall boots that seem to take forever to break in well enough to walk semi normally in...and i don't care for breeches.  when i ride, be it english, dressage, saddleseat, i wear my jeans and ropers.  i look silly, but i'm comfortable.

if you haven't already, i suggest getting instruction in balance seat, first.  it'll build your ability to jump correctly.

Answer 2

Jumping is fun, you get to wear snooty outfits ( like going to a formal ) and you get to spend heaps of money on new gear for you and your horse.  Could there be anything better???

Answer 3

How can there be any cons when you are making yourself a versatile rider and over all a more well-rounded rider?? Ive ridden english all my life and a couple years ago i started showing some western pleasure, learned to rope, and barrel racing. Its amazing how much you can learn from other disciplines! I know learning to ride other disciplines has greatly influenced my improvement. I think its a great idea to start riding english and do some jumping, get yourself a good instructor and you wont regret it!

Best of Luck!! :)

Answer 4

nothing is wrong with english riding

i love it!

Answer 5

Jumping... X-Country... Dressage... lighter saddles... and barrel racing is super hard on the horses.  

Answer 6

Pros - you'll learn something new.

cons- it will cost you more money

Pro - you will be able to talk horse with more people

Con -there will be more people to argue with.

Answer 7

english looks cooler and you get to jump but its harder and sometimes western is more fun

Answer 8

I don't think there are 'pros' and 'cons' to any style of riding because you can not compare styles that are so different legitimately.

I am a lesson girl, once a week a learn from good instructors but in a very relaxed situation, we don't hold/attend inter-school competition (we hold internal ones are fundraisers for new equipment and things), we don't dress up (well unless you really want to! :P) and in my opinion the most important thing about learning english should be universal to all styles of riding; to learn and grow in a safe environment, to ride horses you can trust and that will look after you as you are learning and to have a good instructor who pushes you to progress and actually cares!

Also i'd like to add that the best instructor in the world (in my opinion :P) once said to me that jumping is just dressage until your horse takes off, if you haven't got the good basics of dressage then you wont be able to set your horse up for good jumping :)

Answer 9

English riding you connect better with the horse.  It is easier to feel the horse under you.  Some people think it is easier to stay in a western saddle, they feel more secure.  Really it just depends on what activity you wish to engage.  Some horses work fine english or western.  Just change the saddle and maybe bridle to go from one style to the other.

Answer 10

I've been riding English my entire life, tried western a few times and was bored silly. I'm an eventer and I love it! English is harder because there is nothing to the saddle to rely on its all in your legs and back you need a good seat and good balance, there are no cons to english its harder it makes you a better rider.

Answer 11

English is harder but well worth with the hard work and jumping is sooooo much fun!! I would try it if I were you! You don't know if you will like it until you try it. The only real big issue is how comfortable you feel with out the support of a western saddle, it took me awhile to get used to it. But I also still ride western mostly trails, and in the arena almost always english.

Answer 12

I think to be a well rounded horsemen, you should learn both. I think its important to be able to set your horse down and do a slide stop and be able to pick your horse up and do a passage. Its good for the horses mind and his body.

Answer 13

Pros:

- You feel the horse better.

- You get better balance.

- Stirrups put less torque on your knees (probably doesn't matter if you're young)

- Saddle is lightweight.

- You can pretend you're on Masterpiece Theater

- Cool outfits

Cons:

- You are more likely to fall off. Let me rephrase: You WILL fall off.

(By the way, "English" horses are not more high strung, as someone said. I've seen plenty of western horses throw their riders. Training is training, regardless of discipline.) The important thing is to get a reputable trainer you can trust and go to a barn that you think is fun. Less drama = better riding.

Answer 14

Haha, "Vinny"'s answer is pretty amusing. Let me ask you... can you pick your horse up and do a sliding and then do passage? I highly doubt it!!! That is so ridiculous.

Back to the question... I believe english riding is very good, I love it. When you are first starting out, it may be best to do dressage because the teacher will most likely focus on your seat, which is the most important aid you have. Jumping can be more dangerous than western pleasure or something like that, but to me it's more rewarding and definitely more exciting!!! Good luck!

Answer 15

Pros:

-teaches more balance

-can feel the horse better under you

-can feel the horses mouth (bits are not always as harsh, westen bits have a ton of stopping power englih ones not so much)

Cons:

-takes a really long time to learn and perfect everything.  I tell people this all the time, it might be a while before you learn how to jump becuse trainers want you to be able to do all this other stuff and no matter how hard you work at it, something will always be wrong.  I ride dressage and it's like come on, jeez!  You'll never be perfect.

-A lot of english horses tend to have a bit of a temper.  I've seen horses throw their riders into walls at shows.

That's all I can think of right now...