Horseback riding tips?????????????????????

Question

Ok so i ride english saddle whenever i ride. but every year i go to my cousins farm and they ride western. me and my cousin always gallop around the farm, but a wester saddl is alot wider and bigger than an english one. can any of you western riders give me tips on riding with a western saddle???

thanks!!!

Answer 1

Bigger, yes, but it's probably the horse that's wider.  Whenever I ride with an English saddle with big knee rolls I feel like I'm being split in half! :)

Anyway, yes, it is different!  The Western saddle spreads your weight over a larger area, which  makes it easier on the horse's back, but gives a whole different feel to the rider.

Sit deep, and try to accomodate the motion with your hips.  Accentuate the motion until you get used to it.

For example, at the trot, you can either accept the side to side motion by bumping your hips left and right with the motion of the horse, or you can accept the front to back motion by moving your hips forward and back with the motion.  Ultimately, you can do both.

At the canter/gallop, you're supposed to sit and just absorb all the motion with your hips and lower back.  Again, work at it by accentuating the motions at first.  If this won't work, you CAN stand a little in the saddle and let the natural shock absorbers of your knees and ankles work for you.  Not show-acceptable, but ok on the trail.

Good luck!