What is the safest style of riding?

Question

I was wondering; is the safest riding style a western saddle, sidesaddle, english sadle, australian saddle, or something else entirely? I know that the safety of riding depends on the experiance of the rider and so on, but which sadle is consered to be the safest for general pleasure riding?

Answer 1

I'm a bare back rider myself.

If your asking for a beginner on a leisure ride I would say western.
(more to hold on to)
If you are asking for a beginner who will be receiving lessons, I would go with English. ( the proper way to learn competitive riding)

To Colie Marie-Think of it from a mans point of view, western might not be the safest way to go. lol

Answer 2

There is no one safest style of riding. Each style has its risks. Many people are more comfortable in a stock or Western saddle when they first start riding, but they aren't any safer. The horn on the Western saddle can be used as a hand hold, yes, but that is NOT what it was invented for. It is meant to be a place for a rider to tie a rope to when a horse is used for roping cattle and steers. It really is a matter of the rider's comfort level.

Answer 3

There is no 'safest' style of riding, though some are riskier than others. For example, riding around western is less risking than doing an english showjumping course. I would go with a western saddle for general pleasure, its the most suited, though I find an english saddle more comfortable. Sidesaddle is pretty tricky, keep your legs on both sides to start. But most of it depends on the horse. In a western saddle, you can stretch down and grip better with your legs, but with english, there's no horn to get in the way and your hands are both on the reins. Its really a matter of preference.

Answer 4

There is no such thing as a safest style of riding if you get bucked off it does not matter what kind of saddle you are in you will hit the ground just as hard as in an English saddle as you would in a western saddle. But in order to ensure safety of the rider you should always check all of your tack just before you ride. Look at any worn leather, rusted metal snaps/buckles. And when you see something that could be a safety hazard you need to immediately replace it. I personally feel more secure in a western saddle then i do in an English saddle but that is because i have ridden western longer then i have English. GOOD LUCK!!!!

Answer 5

Where I started riding we began with a western saddle. Also, I taught lessons in the summer to little kids and unless they asked for english, we always started with western.

One main reason that we started with western was the saddle horn... generally you ride western with only 1 hand on the reins and inexperienced riders can hold on to the saddle horn for support.

Also, the western saddle is bigger and bulkier and lets the rider sit deeper. So it feels like the saddle is holding you on the horse more than english where your legs are supposed to be holding you on the horse.
Western is more focused on your seat while english is focused on your legs. For western you sit deep in the saddle and let the horse move under you. You use your legs to tell the horse to go, but otherwise they hang at the horses side, stretched long underneath you as if you were standing.
When riding english, you sit more forward in the saddle... the saddle is smaller and for the most part you don't simply sit and let the horse go... you use your legs more and they always have contact with the horses side. You use your legs for posting (bouncing up and down at the trot) in an english saddle too.

Western is considered easier and safer for beginners because it's easier for them to sit in the saddle without worrying about their position while they learn to ride and steer the horse. As you learn to trot and canter, having more saddle around you will be more comfortable.

At some point, however, I think english becomes easier. Once you've developed your leg position, strength, and balance, I think it's better to have your legs holding you on the horse instead of the saddle. If a horse bucks while you're riding western, I don't think the saddle is going to do much for you... the front and back come up higher around you and the saddle is rectangular so it covers more of the horses back, but if the horses's hind end comes up in the air, you and the saddle go up in the air too: then the horse and saddle go back down, but there's nothing attaching you to the saddle. But in english, your legs are holding you on the horse to begin with, so your leg contact can hold you on a bucking horse as well. It's like jumping... people only jump in an english saddle because you need the leg contact to stay on the horse.

Of course, the type of horse is really important too. The western horse is trained to go slower and take smaller steps so that you stay firmly in the saddle. The english horse takes larger steps and bounces you out of the saddle. So the western saddle on an english horse is not the best idea because the horse is pushing you up out of a saddle developed for the rider to sit deep.

So to begin with, western is probably the safer option. But as you develop your leg and balance and ride more high strung type horses who are less predicitable, I'd feel more comfortable in an english saddle.

It's really a matter of personal preference. Whatever you start with and get used to is the safest. If you start with western you'll feel a little uncomfortable with learning english, but that's not to say that you can't switch... with enough practice you'll feel just as good in a different saddle.

Answer 6

Western is common for pleasure riding but I am personally more comfortable in an English saddle.

Answer 7

western saddle is the safest style of riding

Answer 8

Youcan get hurt on anything I ride western becuase it gives you something to hang onto in the front and support in the back.

Answer 9

None is the safest cause there are many was was you get hurt. So my saying is cowboy up!!!

Answer 10

really just which ever you are more comfortable with because the more comfortable you are the better grip you have so which ever you prefer