What do you like better??

Question

do you like riding English or Western? I love to to western because the ppl are a lot nicer. When you go somewhere that has English riding, they are so snobby, while when I go to a western barn they are so nice and willing to help out. I also like western because it is all about speed and fun and so laid back, while with English you have to sit up right and hold the reins right and everything. What do you like better?

and for ppl that are saying that you dont think that in western its about speed, I am talking about in competition

Answer 1

Your right about the western thing but if you choose a discipline its not just about speed. Western pleasure has nothing to do with being just fast it is slow also. I totaly agree with you on the part about being nice. Western people are so laid back. I used to board at an english barn and holy crap they were all rude and then you go talk to some one rides western and your like were have you been all my life jeepers. Western is the way to go!!!

Answer 2

Well, I ride english, and it's rude to say that we're all snobs. DEFINETELY NOT TRUE!!! Yeah, there are some snobs, but english riding was originally a rich sport, what do you expect?

I've met snobby western riders, too. The way you ride doesn't make you snobby or nice and willing to help others! At my barn, all english, everyone helps one another, and when we host shows, we help the visitors. We give each other feed back on riding and caring for the horse. That's all that matters, the well-being of the horse.

And personally I don't think western riding is all that fun, my opinion, not trying to be rude. I don't like how the seat in the saddle is. I prefer english because I get an adrenaline rush from jumping at high speeds and making the horse bend and get on the bit and everything. The way we sit is for safety. Slouch and chances are if your horse starts to rear or buck, your not going to stay on in an english saddle. Heels down so our feet slip out of the stirrups if we have to do an emergency dismount. Reins are so we can keep our horse on the bit.

Yeah there is speed involved in western riding. But, jumping is about speed too. You have a time limit.

I'm not trying to be rude or anyhting or insult your discipline, but if english sucked so bad, would it be a discipline? So, try not to insult people on they're riding style. That's they're opinion. Chances are they don't have the same one as you.

Answer 3

I much prefer english, I prefer the saddle and the position you ride in. I love jumping, which can be all about speed just as much as a western event. I like that the saddles give you closer contact with the horse, so you can really feel them moving. Jumping is a high, more than galloping around in a pattern for me and I've done that, though it wasn't half as tight or as fast as barrel racing.

I actually chose the stable I'm at because it was the least snobby one in the area, as well as the only english one in the arena. The riders and trainers I met at the other stable I checked out were obnoxious, and they were all western. But I've met some really nasty english riders. Every riding sport, every sport, has nasty snobby people involved in it.

Answer 4

I switch back and forth! I trail ride both Western and English, but when I want to go off the trails and jump then I'll ride English for certain. Honestly, the balance and seat positions are very similar, only the bit and mouth control is different. Also, just because you ride English does not make you snobby, however, I see your point about how alot of times if there are a group of people riding English, they seem snobbier (but this is DEFINETLY NOT always true!!)

Answer 5

I've had horses all my life. Always rode western, timed events, barrel racing, pole bending etc. I do find that the western riding folks are a bit friendlier, not as uptight. I think that maybe has alot to do with the financial status of the really hard core english competitors. Now not to lump them all together, I know of a stable of very friendly english riders. I prefer western because it is a bit more laid back. As for speed, yep its fast! The person who mentioned loping etc are unfortunately speaking of those poor horses in western pleasure classes who are forced to hold their heads in an unnaturally low position. That is not the position our Maker planned, just some idiot humans ideaof what looks good. I prefer a proud head held high. Its sad. We used to have a 1/4 mile racetrack at the arena I used. Raced my quarterhorse against a registered thoroughbred and won every time. We then went to a local dirt road for a longer race (approx 3/4 mi) and the thoroughbred won. Quarterhorses excel in sprints. One day I would like to see the contest where a man races a horse and instead of using a t-bred use a quarterhorse. The man would get his butt whipped. Sorry for my rambling, I just love horses, any breed, any size , any color!!!

Answer 6

Ride the style YOU prefer...choose the activities you prefer. Yes each style has snobs.
More importantly its not all about speed its about control and the bond between horse and rider.
In western competition you have to sit upright, hold your hands a certain way, have heels down.
In English or western the judges do not like you talking to your horse because you are suppose to use cues with your hands, reins and legs .
If you like English, speed and jumping do the cross country.
If you like western and speed go for cutting, reining,barrel racing, stock horse competition.
If you like English or western and speed go for gymkhana, you can ride either.
I ride western, my daughter rides English, my husband rides in an Austrian saddle in gymkhana
Just my humble thoughts

Answer 7

I love horseback riding western. It is so laid back and easy. I do agree with you by saying that English people are snobs because I used to take English lessons, I hated it because they thought that they knew everything about horses and always critisized my riding. If I needed help because the bridle was slipping, the English people just stared at me. They were very rude to me. After that, I went to awestern barn, and the people are so down to Earth. Because Western tack is heavier, I have had many times when the pad slips or something and three other people would come over to help me. I ride western now and I love it because it is, like you said, so laid back. I can just sit on the saddle slouching, and not be afraid of someone critisizing me like I would constently have to remember in English. I also find that a lot of the horses are nice and everything because there is less dicipline in their training, although western riders make the horses know that they are the boss. I love western and I dont think that I will ever go back to riding English.

Answer 8

Well, I love to ride bareback. It's so much fun, and you can impress people a lot more if you jump two feet bareback than if you jump 4 feet with a saddle. especially if the person has jumped bareback before adn they know what it's like. And it's really nice to be able to feel your horse's muscles and it's a lot easier to tell what leads you're on, and if they're gait is off. I do ride Western though, and I love riding Western for barrels. Cause barrels are soooooo addicting and a major adrenaline rush.

Answer 9

I like western better because of the speed and I agree with you, the people are a lot nicer. However english is fun because of the jumping. I also like to go trail riding english because its more comfortable.

Answer 10

i grew up in britain and of course learned english - it has its fair share of snobs.
western riding is easier, to stay in the saddle, i dont believe it takes the same level of skill as english riding dressage and showjumping and the like.
even barrell racing has its origins from the humble english gymkhana game of flag racing which children play.
rodeo riding is a different story - i dont agree with that either, its cruel to put an animal through that for sport, but then thats another topic.
i have ridden western since i moved to texas and found the snobbery to be much less, people are more willing to help you and give you advice, and western saddles are much more comfortable.