Western or English?????

Question

I have been riding english 4 2 years know! I rode western 4 4 years and it was also what I did when I was a beginner!! I like english because the saddle is more comftorable 2 me!! But I like western because I would rather wear jeans and trail ride than go compete in shows!! All in all I guess I like english better because I don't mind competing in english pleasure!!

Tell me what style of horse back riding u like better and why!!!

Answer 1

WEll i am learning English so I prefer Western but when i am good at english i would probaly prefer it.

Answer 2

I like English because I prefer the look of the tack, and I like jumping and being on more refined horses

Answer 3

i have only rode english really, i have used a western saddle just to try it out and only walked up and down you know just for fun!! so i cant really say that english is my fav cuz i havnt tryed western properly however i think english looks more 'proper' and smart which makes horse riding look important but thats just my opinion :)

Answer 4

I like English better, but that is probably because the only Western saddle I have ridden in was cheap and very uncomfortable. I like how I can feel my horse more with my English saddle and I like to jump. They are both respectable disciplines and each one has benefits. I find it beneficial to teach my horse a little of each discipline. Makes him more versatile and each discipline has things that are very beneficial for a well rounded horse.

Answer 5

I prefer English. I like the freedom of movement and also being able to feel my horse. I haven't been to a show in 12 years, and love to trail ride. Nothing wrong with trails and English saddles!

Answer 6

It really depends on the horse. If i am riding a horse who accels in dressage/jumping, i enjoy english because i can practice sidepasses, circles, and jump. But if the horse accels in westren, then i can do speed. I can canter as fast as i can and whip around barrels. I can also go for a lazy trail ride. Depends on the horse for me!

Answer 7

it really depends on your preference. for short trips afield or crossing a long stretch of country in shorter time, english is fine. for longer periods of travel at a slower pace, i like western. western style is also great for working horses on the farm or camping trips, where you need to carry items with you. if you are crossing rough terraine, western is also a good choice. i enjoy riding in english style when i'm out and about, or engaged in field excersize with hedgerows or jumping fences and such..or showing off.

Answer 8

English! because I feel you can feel the movement of the horse better and have more fun in posting the trot and jumping and etc!

Answer 9

Western all the way. You can't rope a cow from an English saddle. There is nothing to dally to. I show and work. Western is more practical, in all aspects of riding. I know people wont like my saying this and I will get the thumbs down cuz some people can't accept another point of view. English riding is beautiful, but western is practical. Western riding is based off of work, not lords riding to hounds. The nobles didn't rope, brand and doctor cattle. They rode in  groups chasing a fox.  And that is the origin of both disciplines. Me? I'm practical, I like the fact that if I wanna jump something I can, but if I need to rope a calf to doctor it, I can do that too. I do plan on learning to ride English, just to see what its like and to make myself a better rider and just for the education. But my heart will always be with the cowpony's. And again the true difference is not that western is more relaxed it is that western is more practical. Both disciplines have their excitement. English with jumping. Western with team roping, calf roping, bull dogging, cutting, working cowhorse, ranch horse. Lets face it when you are dealing with cow critters things can get quite dicey. Luck and safe riding.

Edit- As far as comfort of a English saddle vs. a Western saddle. Any properly fit saddle will be comfortable. But again I will spend anywhere from 2-10 hours of every day in the saddle, and I am comfortable. The key to any saddle is proper fit, if you are in a saddle thats too small its not going to feel good.

Answer 10

i perfer western, its more relaxing and you can still compete in barrel raceing and other stuff like that, its much more easer then english in my oppinon and if you want to do both theres no rule saying you can't

Answer 11

I do both.  I like english because i feel propper.  but i like westurn because well i just like it.

Answer 12

i ride Western, with a little English. im goin to be taking more English lessons soon but i have been riding Western since i was a baby. lol.

i will always be mainly Western but i do enjoy learning to jump and maybe will get in2 Dressage or Western Pleasure. i really want to learn to Vault.

but rite now i barrel race, stuff like that and love it.

i learn new things every day.

: D

Answer 13

English. Why? Because when you ride english you can really feel the horse and english riding is much harder and more disiplined. You can also jump, and who doesn't like jumping? You also don't have to go to horse shows if you ride english.

Answer 14

I would say western because to me its extemly easy and to most of my friends also you have been riding it for longer so you would be best at riding .also you and your horse will be  more us to riding western .For me its not that hard to fall off a Western Stael when I am cantering or jumping.I Know I'm different but I hope this helps you out . But you should stick to english if you like it better then western.I'm sorrie if this sounds like motherly advice because i am an older sister.

                          Doggie Out!!!

Answer 15

To me, riding is about a good relationship and excellent communication with my horses.  While I understand the academic differences in styles of riding, for the most part, I think it is up to individual tastes and bascially irrelevant.  My warmblood is an eventer so in the past we have done jumping, cross country, and dressage (now we primarily concentrate on dressage).  My TB is somewhat in a perpetual work-in-progress so we work on basic gaits and transitions.  When riding my QH, we concentrate on pleasure gaits and some reining techniques.  When I ride, I wear breeches and sometimes western chaps because it is more comfortable and/or secure depending on what we're doing and who is working that day.  Competition is no longer important to me.  I concentrate more on the level of communication and accomplishments with my horse and that is what I find rewarding.  I don't want to place limitations on me or my horses by putting us into a rigid category.  I guess I'm kind of a "cross-rider" since I'm not on one side of the fence.   My saddles are western, dressage, jumping, and endurance (all treeless).   Ask yourself a question, "Is your horse English or Western?"  Answer:  Neither, it's a horse and can do any discipline.   I say forget the "labels" and do what YOU love!

Answer 16

i like both, and i comete in both

Answer 17

I ride western. To me when your horse is going up a slate cliff on trails over logs crossing creeks or rivers , ditches or just a plain ole rocky trails you want to be comfortable and practical ..able to flow with your horse. Looking "proper" doesn't fit in with western backwoods riding. When we finish a 100 mile trail ride over 4 days I thank the good lord above for my western saddle.

Answer 18

I like English better because you can compete more. And more stables teach English.

Answer 19

Western, I'm a country girl.

Answer 20

I have only ever ridden English. It was how I was taught ( no options)

I also like to wear jeans and trail ride. There is more to riding than competing. I just ride for fun.

Edit: would still love to learn Western just because

Answer 21

One of my favorite parts of horseback riding is showjumping, so for that reason I'd have to say English.

Western is more for fun and stuff like trail riding  unless you get really into  barrel racing or other Western competitions.

English is a little more formal, but still fun. English riding does not have to be shows at all, you can trail ride and ride for fun with English. In my opinion (though not necessarily everybody's) English provides more of a challenge with more stuff to improve on. Jumping is REALLY fun, so for all of these reasons I would choose English, but you should make up the decision for which style to do yourself, or even do both if you want.

Answer 22

What the!!! "More Refined" horses, sorry to tell ya chick but western horses are just as "refined" as your English mounts. They all have four legs and make a ton of p**p!!! What makes English horses so special??? AND I RIDE ENGLISH!!! My horse was broke western and I converted her to English, she is a True Blue TWH!!! Yea, she is western what is wrong with that!!!! She could kick your "refined mounts" in their gold plated BUTS!!!!! She jumps, looks just as nice wearing a western saddle (I just happened to take English lessons so western is not by best), and hey guess what she can do dressage movements just like your "refined horses"!!!! And she looks good doing it!!

BEAT THAT!!!!

Answer 23

I perfer English to Western because I like to get all dressed up and compete in local shows!

Answer 24

i like english better because i think you can do more, like jumping and dressage

Answer 25

Its gotta b english, i love cross-country and do the odd 2f3 class aside. But tbh i havent really tried western because i live in england and dont know anyone with a western saddle.

Answer 26

I really like English for the fact that the saddle is lighter and less equipment to put on. They are usually tall and elegant. Everyone in my area including some of my friends ride western and I wanted to be different. Also English style looks more dressed up and proper. It also looks more important and gets looks from people that watch including my parents which are unfamiliar with the English style.

Hunter/Jumper <3!!