english saddle compared to a western saddle, Please Help!!?

Question

I ride western and am thinking about starting english. I currently ride a 14 inch western what size english do I need?? also, what other equipment do I need?

Answer 1

Generally speaking, Western Saddle measurements are 2" smaller than English.

If you ride a 14" Western, you would need a16" English. A lot of Western riders look at the deceptively simple appearance of an English saddle and think there isn't as much to fitting as with their western. That's not the case. So be sure to fit yourself to the saddle and the saddle to the horse, just as you would a western.

Answer 2

Hi, you would need a similar size English saddle, and a full English bridle, that should do it, depends what bit your horse uses, but you should be able to make the change ok.
Good luck as it will be very different, if you are only used to western riding, I found the same when I tried western style!

Answer 3

the reson you won't have the ability to maintain a seat is for the reason which you have not outfitted up adequate leg muscle groups to stay interior the western saddle's seat. in the commencing up, the western saddle isn't person-friendly to maintain a seat, yet you should use you leg muscle groups, extra in english. English, is extra conforable, yet I dislike it as a results of fact in the experience that your horse is being a real ***, and he should be shown who's boss, the english isn't suitable. in case you're commencing a horse you should experience interior the western for a year or 2. in the experience that your horse is progressed, then an english saddle must be a breeze. truly, in case you have a horse of your very own, or the owner says it truly is okay, i'd experience bareback. you have alot of connection with the pony. And this way the you and the pony can comunicate far extra somewhat. And if the pony is being an *** besides, i'd be arranged to the two permit the pony have that is way, or have a huge gamble that i'll be bucked off. (to not make you anymore apprehensive, sorry) yet I easily have fallen off my horse too many situations to be fearful of falling off. even nevertheless I chipped my hip once I fell of as quickly as, six months in the past, and nevertheless in discomfort. yet not something has ever stopped me from getting back on the pony. the priority the pony has began would be mine to finished. you will fall off horses a hundred situations on your existence, yet you're able to have relaxing way extra effective than the injuries which you have had from falling. So my advice to you is to experience in an english saddle if the pony is progressed, and the western if the pony isn't. English would be stable so you might construct up leg muscle groups, besides as bareback will.

Answer 4

I think western saddles are sized differently, you will probably need a 16" or 16.5" English saddle. I don't know much about Western but you will definitely need a different girth.

To start out you don't really need much. I think jeans with half chaps and whatever riding boots you currently wear are good to start. As far as saddle go, I would highly suggest and All Purpose for you because you are just switching gears. You can always determine later that you want to do dressage, saddleseat, hunters, jumping, polo etc and invest then. I would try Chicks Saddlery to start. For $150 you can get a really, really inexpensive English saddle, bridle and basically all the accessories (leather, pad, irons, girth, bit etc). I only suggest this since you are just thinking about switching, its good to test the waters before you invest too much in something you will keep forever. I mean its a saddle that is probably not going to last a lifetime, but it saves until you figure out what kind of English riding you want to do. Also if you already have a horse you need to think about if the saddle will fit them. Does your horse require a wider saddle, a narrower one, etc?

If you want to get the whole kit and caboodle of gear, for any English discipline you will require:
Breeches or jods depending on your age. Breeches are worn under tall boots while jodhpurs are worn over short jodhpur boots. You can also add half chaps to jod boots which can also be worn over jeans quite honestly.
A helmet, someone else said it but my family has always kept horses and my great aunt passed at age 8 because of a horse accident. My family is very strict about this one because of that...
Boots, as mentioned above if you are under 12 or 13 it is not appropriate for tall boots but rather jodhpur boots, if you are above that age, or soon will be, it is worth investing in tall boots.
Gloves, I love SSG gloves, esp the all-weather ones and they last forever it seems.

If you decide you like English and want to show a particular discipline then you will have to invest in show clothes too but that is more discipline specific stuff for later.

Someone else has said the western saddle was designed 1000 yrs ago. That is not exactly so. The most Europeans, apart from movies, do not know what western saddles are, they are a modern American invention, modern in the sense that horses have been integrated into human society for centuries. If you study even American history, before the cattle ranchers, they didn't use western saddles, they used modified English saddles, known as Cavalry saddles, similar to the modern Australian ranching saddles. The horn and flat seat were adaptations to the ranching demands of work and lifestyle, thus only in the past 150 yrs have they come about. English saddles were the only ones to exist before this time. It was also said that you don't give cues with your legs in English? Well in all forms of English riding you ride with your seat, you weight distribution, your legs (thigh and calf). That person was very right to say you sit differently. In western you kind of sit as if you were in a chair. In English saddles you must sit as if you were standing, then put you feet a bit farther than should width apart and then bent your knees. Its more of a standing than sitting. Read "Centered Riding" by Sally Swift, it will help explain what I'm trying to convey.

Good saddle resources:
usedsaddles.com (they have a one week trial program with a deposit)
dover or state line as previously mentioned
libertyville saddle shop (I'm a huge fan, I'm sure I've posted it about a million times now)
st. croix saddlery (they also have a one week trial program with a deposit)

To get the right fit
http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/DummiesArticle/id-3334,subcat-PETS.html
http://www.thetackguide.com/saddlefitting.html

Answer 5

I have ridden Western all my life, so when I rode in an English saddle, I did it all wrong, =-) You don't get the feeling of support in an English saddle that you are used to in a Western saddle. Remember, a Western saddle was designed to be in alllll daaay looong. It's a tried and true design, going back 1000 years. While I have always had a good seat, and took top ribbons when showing Western Pleasure or Western Equitation, I felt like I had to work harder to keep my form proper, and my back and hip joints are always sore when I get down. Your fanny sits the seat differently, and after 45 years, my rump doesn't like the change, LOL!

On the plus side, your horse really can feel you and be responsive, through the English saddle. Leg cues are given through your butt and thighs instead of your heels and calves. I can get my mare to change leads with the tiniest shift in the direction she needs to take.

I still have issues with the amount of contact one uses with an English bit. I am used to the loose rein, and the neckreining, but my mares are past driving mares, and really like the security of the bit to push against. So I keep pretty good contact with their mouths. I plan to teach them to neck rein someday, if possible. (Hummm, a question for later!)

Anyway, good luck! It's always good to learn different styles!

Answer 6

You'll need a saddle similar in size to the one you're using now - 14" Plus a full bridle - that is complete with nose band, brow band, throatlatch etc. I used to have a nice Stuben (German) hunt seat saddle - a good, all-around model that served me well for a long time. There are also park saddles, dressage saddles, jumping saddles - so ask at the tack shop. There are many good brands out there too - Stuben, Hermes, to name two - but there are others.

What's important is to make sure the saddle FITS your horse. Get someone experienced to help you. Oh and leathers (stirrup leathers) and irons and girths are sold separately - so be sure to get them as well. Hmm. Oh and a good fleece pad - You can get something cheaper but I prefer fleece - easy on your horse's back. And a fleece girth cover as well - same reason - cuts down on sores.

I'd start out with the widest joined snaffle I could find - at least 3/4" in diameter - wider if you can find it. Your horse is used to neck reining - so even a full California spade bit can be really soft in her mouth. English riding requires what we used to call "Plough" reining - pull the left rein to turn left, etc. A curb or straight bar etc. type bit that's really narrow in diameter can actually hurt your horse. So start with the softest bit you can find. THEN, if you must, get something stronger.

I'd also recommend a helmet. NO. I insist on a helmet. I grew up in the days before body armor (for eventers) and have the injuries to prove how important a well-fitting helmet is to your safety - especially while jumping.

Finally, jodphurs or good britches with leather knees and hunt-style boots (knee high and close fitting). A pair of paddock boots are nice for hacking around- but for real work - jumping etc. you can't beat a well made pair of hunters.

Kid gloves are nice in the winter and easy on your hands. And a hunt coat and ratcatcher with pin and decent riding crop will round out the togs.

The key is subdued - not flashy. In western riding you can get away with reds and yellows and bright colored blankets etc. Not so in English riding. I have seen people place second because they wore too flashy an outfit.

The only acceptable color on the horse is a red ribbon braided into your horse's tail if she's prone to be a kicker.

Answer 7

you would probably need the same size or familiar size for your english saddle.you can go to a local tack show and sit in english saddles and determine what size seat you are. you need a bridle,i dont know about bits, saddle blankets, you may need english riding boots, depends what you are using now. you dont want big, almost "thick" boots, if you know what I mean. if you are going to show english, you need tall show boots, a jacket, a shirt, velvet helmet, fancy pins to go on your collar. if you also go to a tack shop you can ask them what you will need and they should be able to point you in the right direction.

hope this helps! good luck :0)

Answer 8

You may also need to get a different girth when you get the english saddle too.

Answer 9

you will probably need a 16" english saddle then.

Answer 10

You need to go to a Tack Store and look for yourself and sit on them and you decide from there.