What is better english vs western?

Question

I have ridden western i LOVE barrel racing but nothing else in wester competions. I want to start english riding and learn jumping

How long before i would start competining.

What are some other activities down with english riding?

Answer 1

Western isn't as formal as English, obviously, but it's more fun!

If you ride English, you can do eventing. You will have dressage, where you just do courses and is judged mostly by your horses position. You will have jumping courses. You will have cross country courses, where you ride through the forest and jump over logs. In my opinion, cross country is the best! When you walk the course it takes at least an hour, but you ride it full gallop mostly in around 4-5 minutes. The ground can be uneven, you can go through water, and you have things like coffins, ditches, penthouses, etc. to jump. It isn't a race. In fact, you can get penalties for going to fast. There is also a time limit.

You probably won't be able to compete for about a year if you've never ridden English. It may vary depending on how experienced you are with general riding.

English is worth it!

Answer 2

Western is better for things that involve quick turns or long periods in the saddle.  Contesting, cattle work, and endurance riding are all better done western.

English is better for things that involve straight ahead speed or jumping.  Racing, jumping, and dressage are all better done english.

English is also used in equestrian games - international team events similar to contesting that you might enjoy.  They  basically do a lot of relay races.  One I can think of they have to take a ball from the previous rider, ride to a bucket and put the ball in (dismounting if they drop it and getting back on) then running to get another ball which they hand off to the next rider.  

Other English pursuits include dressage (similar to Western reining, but more  so) , jumping of course, eventing (cross country jumping, stadium jumping, and dressage), hunter paces (team events where you ride over trails and optional jumps; ideal time wins), and many varieties of hunter showing.  

There's also saddle seat, which involves riding gaited horses on the flat.  Can be fun, but I prefer hunt seat myself.  

How long before you compete?  Depends how quickly you pick it up and what level you want to start at.  Having ridden western for a while, I'm sure you can pick it up pretty quick.  Jumping takes (or SHOULD take, I've seen some scary stuff out there) longer.

Have fun with it!

Ooops! I meant Mounted Games, not Equestrian Games, though that's English too.  Here're some links:

http://www.usmga.us/

http://bestofhorses.com/go.php?id=546

Answer 3

Western is more for beginners or for people who'd rather be 'safer'. Eastern saddles don't have that k**b at front to hold on to so it's more for those who are better experienced and requires more leg power to keep yourself stable.

Answer 4

i would have to say english. i started out riding western and it was too boxy and i felt all closed in. also it is safer. if a horse rears up and falls back on you the horn of a western saddle can break your ribs and cause severe damage. english also helps you rely on your own balance instead of relying on your saddle to keep you safe. so my opinion would be to go with english. it is way better for you when it comes to your riding ability. it helps a lot. also it is a total adrenaline rush when you jump your first 4 foot fence! one of the greatest days of my life was when i jumped my 1st 3' fence. so i def recommend english! have fun!

Answer 5

Well being a barrel racer really wont help you with going English

But it will teach you how to become a better rider then all the other barrel racers out there ,,

Jumping is fun

and when you start competing is when you have broken all the bad habits you have learned in barrel racing

So it really up to you ,how fast you learn Its going to be hard at first ,, But well worth it

If you go western , there is reining stock horse cutting e.t.c. and they are a blast too so don't count them out ,,



Matter of fact you might want to take reining lessons/

You will learn tons about riding proper,,and then English !

I am glad you want to improve your self ,, barrels are not the best way on how to ride well or right ,,

,, Good for you !!!!