What's the difference between the different types of horse riding?

Question

Things like western riding, english riding, side-sattle, and any others.

Answer 1

The different riding styles have different purposes.

Western riding was originally used by the cowboys out west.  The saddles are easier on the rider and distribute the weight on the horse more.  They have a horn and an optional back cinch for roping - the horn is to dally the rope around so the horse holds the cow, rather than the rider, and the back cinch is to hold the back of the saddle down when the cow pulls forwards.  Today, Western riding is used for trail, endurance, contesting, and cattle disciplines.  It's great for riding for a long time or for anything requiring sudden, quick turns.

English riding was originally used in Europe.  The saddles allow the horse more freedom of movement, particularly through the spine, as a correctly fitted English saddle does not touch the spine at all.  The rider has more freedom to help the horse by standing in the stirrups freely to, again, give the horse more freedom through the spine.  It's best for disciplines involving speed, jumping, and forward movement, and is used in racing (modified), all jumping pursuits, hunting, and dressage.

Saddle seat riding was intended to free the horse's front end to show off his gaits better.  The rider sits further back, with his legs straighter, so the horse has less weight on the front end and the saddle, called a cutback, does not interfere with action of the horse's shoulders.  It's used for park riding and showing and not much else.

The side saddle was popular during Victorian times as an alternative for women.  It was believed to preserve the hymen, which might rupture if a woman rode astride.  It was also required to preserve decorum - a woman showing her legs or wearing breeches was an affront to society.  The style itself is an abomination, unsafe, insecure, harder on the horse.    In my opinion, of course.

Enough info?

Answer 2

The tack that is used and like the western saddle is more supportive and has a horn which an english saddle isnt and doesnt...........and the way you ride and different gaits like an english horse would canter while a western horse would lope...and in english riding you use both hands on the reins while in western you usually use one hand on the reins because back in western times they used that hand to hold and use a lasso........also the position and most of the cues used are different in each type

Answer 3

The tack used, the position of the rider and cues used, and the rider's objectives.