Why is english better than western?

Answer 1

I ACTUALLY PREFER WESTERN, BUT AFTER A RIDING ACCIDENT THAT DAMAGED THE MUSCLES & NERVES IN MY BACK, I HAD DOCTORS ORDERS TO TAKE ENGLISH TO STRENGTHEN MY BACK. YOU USE ALOT MORE OF YOUR MUSCLES FOR ENGLISH. ALSO ENGLISH IS MORE DIGNIFIED & DISCIPLINED. BUT WESTERN IS ALOT MORE RELAXED AND(IN MY OPINION) FUN. TRY BOTH AND MAKE YOUR OWN DECISION. THE ONLY TYPE I HAVEN'T LEARNED YET (LACK OF AN INSTUCTOR) IS SIDE-SADDLE. I'M 41 AND STILL LOOKING.

Answer 2

English is not better than Western just different for doing different things.
I like to jump it is much easier to jump in an english saddle and you have so much more contact with the horse to know what he is doing under you.
However I also like to work cattle and there is nothing to dally tie off a calf to on a english saddle. If you are working cattle or roping or dragging a log or something western is much better.
I ride both and have both types of saddles plus an exercise saddle for race horses.

Answer 3

It's not that English is better than western, that's just an opinion. I personally like English better but again, it's all opinion. Western is more or a less structure, looser, and a little more comfortable. One of the reasons for this is that the stirrups are lower and there are less rules and more of a pleasure, leisurely way of riding. English is more show-y. In English riding the stirrups are higher, more rules, and your posture is very important. Western is fun to go on trail rides and very leisurely rides. English is better (in my opinion) to impress people and have structured rides. <-- I hope I helped :)

Answer 4

Both are great, i do both. If you have a horse, train him on both, western is relaxing, and english is proper and you can jump!


I have 3 horses-all 3 are english and western. I prefer bare back though. If you dont have a saddle-dont get one! teach him english, but on bareback. U can jump and it is better for your legs-makes them a hell of a lot stronger. I exercise all 3 horses 1 english, 1 western, 1 bare back. And i rotate each day.

Answer 5

I wouldn't necessarily say it's "better". I mean, I like it better, but it is a matter of opinion. I love the close contact you have with your horse, and how easy it is to take the saddle on and off!It doesn't matter if people say you have to look"prim and proper', because in a western saddle, you must also have good form. And besides, way back in midevil times, maybe before that, they used ENGLISH SADDLES!!! So, if they did it, and they had to do it ALL THE TIME, they must've known which is better. I suppose that answers your question.

Answer 6

Who says english is better? Western can be roping or rodeos or barrel racing. I think its also better than english for pleasure riding. I find the western saddle more comfortable than the english too. You dont have to worry about how you look or be prim and proper. My opinion westerns better!

Answer 7

English isn't better than Western, and Western isn't better than English. I ride both and found that I enjoy them both equally. What REALLY matters is what YOU want to ride. It really depends on what you want to do...jump? dressage? western pleasure? cutting? reining?...Or just take a couple of lessons in each and see what you like best. Possibly even take lessons at a barn that offers both English and western.

Answer 8

i ride english but i admire people that ride western in like reining and barrels and stuff. it takes a lot of training. just like english. it's not easy to teach a horse to jump, but it's not easy to teach them to do a sliding stop either.

Answer 9

i wouldnt say its better nor worse. Each discipline has its advantages and its disadvantages. English is better for people who want to compete in jumping (eventing, show jumping, hunters, eq over fences...etc) western is better for trail riding, gaming, barrels and speed events.

Answer 10

It's like driving a car. If you can drive a standard, you can drive an automatic! Seriously though, english is much more natural for both horse and rider using the "center of balance" which allows both horse and rider freedom of movement in a balanced state.