Horse people..?

Question

Where I board my horse, there are English and western riders. Mostly western. I don't want to seem stereotypical at all, but to me it seems like English riders act more [I don't know if "stuck-up" is the phrase]. My horse is capable of riding both ways but I haven't ever ridden her English since 3 years ago when I got her. Don't take this offensively if you are an English rider. I am just wondering if this happens at other stables or barns?

Yeah I mean I am friends with the teenagers. It is mostly the adults at the barn though that talk down to most of the western riders. Adults or kids.

Obviously if they are talking down to me I have talked to them before. They are I3itchy to anyone who doesn't ride English and are very cliqueish.

Answer 1

I think the reason for english riders and I could be wrong but somewhat on the right track being stuck up is it was the way the rich rode their horses cowboys were considered lower then them because they lived on ranches and didn't have alot of money like the english did. So thats been carried on through parents and their parents and so on and so forth. Anyways now adays people are rich on both sides or just ride for pleasure. Don't let them intimidate you that you ride western. Just keep your head up and the old cowboy saying is "you never let anybody see you sweat. Hope things work out for you and take care.

Answer 2

i do eventing, and love it!!
I work hard for what I get, I had to retrain my $1500 off the track-TB to where he is now, and he's doing awesome!

I used to do reining and barrel racing a while ago and it was O.K. but idk.

In my opinion, western is more political. If you show western pleasure or something like that all it's judged on is- who's horse is the slowest? who's horse has it's nose is touching the ground? who has the most expensive outfit? which saddle has the most silver? IDK I never really got into it.(and the english riders are the one's who mommy and daddy bought them everything? lol...) **In defensive of the western riders** I do have to say the AQHA, APHA and other associations are working to change this though and it is getting MUCH better.

I love english because to me,it's so so much more challenging, and your judged on what your performance was worth...like in dressage and jumping. The horses also just seem so much more entergetic and have more personality.

To actually answer your question, I've never had a problem either in the western or english saddle. I've boarded at many barns, and I found everyone fun to get along with. Like someone else said, did you actually talk to these people? Out of the barn some people think i'm a snob because I'm kind of shy and they never talk to me and I never really talk to them. Go out to the barn with an open mind =)

Answer 3

Actually I will agree with you but in an odd sort of way - years back I worked and boarded my horses at a large stable they had 100 boarders plus 60 or so lesson/stable horses.... The owners and most staff all rode English - excelling in hunter/jumper and mostly had TB or warmblood they tended to look down on all other English disaplines and breeds (I had Arabs I rode English Pleasure which is English to an extreme with cut-back english saddle, double bridle - high stepping action - no jumping) All other arab people were looked down on and arabs were sterotyped as being spinny - yet mine were very good natured and frequently on trails I had to retrive run away Thoroughbreds...
Western riders were also looked down upon, I suppose it was because Western is more "relaxed" however in the show world western can be very demanding, especially reining events.
so yes it does happen at other barns

Answer 4

I owned a hunter/jumper stable many years ago. Although we only taught huntseat, we had boarders who rode western, huntseat, saddleseat, and then to break it down even more we had people who only did dressage, cross country, hunters, jumpers, 3 gaited, 5 gaited, barrel racing, and we also legged up thoroughbreds for the track. The next catagory would be the people who preferred only certain breeds, arabs, saddlebreds,
throughbreds, quarter horses etc. I understand what you are saying, however I don't think stuck-up is the right phrase, the people who rode western were more layed back which is a good thing, the hunter people were more intense, however they thought the saddleseat riders were too flamboyant with the way they presented themselves especially when showing I did think they were pretty enthusiastic myself, but to answer your question everybody (for the most part) got along just fine. One big happy family. Unfortunately you always get certain people who seem to think they are better than everyone else so instead of judging the style of riding consider this people are people! And believe me I saw them all! 365 days a year, so if someone looks down on you for riding western it's their problem, just keep on riding and enjoy it. good luck

Answer 5

English has always been the "proper" way of riding.... Western riding was born out of necessity. The horn was used to attach a rope when the cowboys had to go out on a cattle round up, and possibly rope a steer or wayward calf. I ride both English and western, but am much more relaxed when riding western. It's a more comfortable, and laid back way of riding, but still a "working class" riding style. Maybe that's why some people look down on western riding.

Answer 6

It does in my neck of the woods.

In my opinion & others that I know English riders are more "nose in the air/stuck up type" for 1) English is more "proper" 2) the horses themselves, the tack, etc. are more expensive 3) mommy & daddy bought & paid for everything. Where as Western riders are more of the hard working, blue collar type who will save up for their equipment rather than have it "handed to them"

Just as an after though...how can one not act "snooty" wearing those knee high boots, skin tight britches, a coat & tie, and that "crash helmet" while rideing. I'll stick to my Wranglers, button down shirt & hat.

Answer 7

I ride both english and western. I have worked with many trainers of both styles, and they all have thought that they were the best at what they did and no one else knew what they were doing. I think it's horse people in general. Everyone has there way of riding, and that's kinda that. Sad, but true.

Answer 8

I agree with you - I ride English (even though I am not stuck up), and it does seem that a lot of people from my barn act that way. I'm not really sure why, though - maybe because of the competitiveness of English riding..?

Answer 9

It's not just you. I don't ride English ever because my I've had back problems and it's unhealthy and uncomfortable for me. I'm a natural at Western, but the girls at the stable I rode at were very aloof and didn't seem interested in talking to me even when I politely and cheerfully spoke to them. I don't judge, and I try to get along with everyone, but it does get irritating. Luckily, I don't have to deal with it anymore. I don't board my Arab, I have him at home.

Answer 10

western is definately a more layed back way to ride. its how you take english style riding. you could be a gentle but sucessful english rider or you could be a "force your horse's respect " or "this is the proper way to ride" english rider. but ultimately its just which style is more comfortable, exciting, or even more challenging to you