Yeah, it would be a little detrimental to my scores to ride in something other than a western saddle. 
I dunno - I spent decades riding hunt and dressage - trained a lot of good horses - but I love my old Billy Cook - my Hubby will tell you I married him 30 years ago for it!
Besides my MASSIVE Impressive bred AQHA horse looks kinda silly hunt seat - he became a Superior Halter horse and Congress Reserve winner before i owned him. He is just too big to be a hunter and zero impulsion = super comfy ride with no dressage ambitions - but the horse can deliver a stellar bridless one tempi
Because a Western saddle is the only one I own at present, even though I have taken both Western and English lessons. I hope to try an English saddle on my mare someday.
Saw a freestyle reining class a few backs at the World Appy show in Fort Worth. Gal came out in dressage outfit and tack, pranced around for a while,
and then swapped the top hat for a western hat and away they went. Brought the house down, spins, slides, etc.
There are as many different western saddle types and styles as there is riders.
http://www.western-saddle-guide.com/types-of-saddles.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Western-Saddle-Styles&id=6726078
http://ezinearticles.com/?Western-Saddle-Styles&id=6726078
https://www.outfitterssupply.com/tucker-western-saddle-comparison.asp
http://www.qualitywesternsaddles.com/history-of-western-saddles
Different reasons I grab the western instead of my english:
A: getting on a young/green horse for the first time. I like starting in a western for many reasons.
B: Trails, it’s my sit and relax saddle.
C: Games. Have run barrels and poles and keyhole and done the bat race (the one where you run down, dismount, spin around with your head on a bat 5 times, remount) in an English… successfully…but better times and feel more secure (and in the right mode) in my western.
Because you can’t dally off in an english saddle.
[QUOTE=altermeup;6296936]
Because you can’t dally off in an english saddle.[/QUOTE]
Or tie hard and fast.
In our area we mostly tie down, as we work alone.
You can rope without a horn, but have to be very good working that rope until you are close to something to tie to, tree, fence post, trailer, bumper or such.
[QUOTE=altermeup;6296936]
Because you can’t dally off in an english saddle.[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Bluey;6296984]Or tie hard and fast.
In our area we mostly tie down, as we work alone.
You can rope without a horn, but have to be very good working that rope until you are close to something to tie to, tree, fence post, trailer, bumper or such.;)[/QUOTE]
These two need like buttons
[QUOTE=Bluey;6296984]
Or tie hard and fast.
In our area we mostly tie down, as we work alone.
You can rope without a horn, but have to be very good working that rope until you are close to something to tie to, tree, fence post, trailer, bumper or such.;)[/QUOTE]
I don’t think anybody would head for me if I even thought of bringing an english saddle near the roping pen :lol:
[QUOTE=altermeup;6297062]
I don’t think anybody would head for me if I even thought of bringing an english saddle near the roping pen :lol:[/QUOTE]
Right.
We don’t rope in pens, we have chutes there.
We do outside and with a neck rope, generally some leather hobbles will do.
Many years ago before long lasting antibiotics, if you were going to need two people, may as well use a chute to doctor and keep the cattle in.
Competitive arena roping is a whole different ballgame.
[QUOTE=Bluey;6297075]
Right.
We don’t rope in pens, we have chutes there.
We do outside and with a neck rope, generally some leather hobbles will do.
Many years ago before long lasting antibiotics, if you were going to need two people, may as well use a chute to doctor and keep the cattle in.
Competitive arena roping is a whole different ballgame.[/QUOTE]
I’d like to get some experience in real ranch roping, but there’s not really much opportunity for that in Michigan. There’s not much for competitive arena roping either, unless you’re traveling out of state to compete.
[QUOTE=Bluey;6296984]
Or tie hard and fast.
In our area we mostly tie down, as we work alone.
You can rope without a horn, but have to be very good working that rope until you are close to something to tie to, tree, fence post, trailer, bumper or such.;)[/QUOTE]
Good thing WE know what we’re talkin’ about; I’d be careful on the train talking about tying hard and fast and dallyin’ off! 
[QUOTE=SwampYankee;6297152]
Good thing WE know what we’re talkin’ about; I’d be careful on the train talking about tying hard and fast and dallyin’ off! :D[/QUOTE]
Here when we brand, we heel and drag and our hats have shape to them.:winkgrin:
Question first:
So original Australian stockmen also used chutes? From the looks of their saddles, it looks like no one every roped anything on their ranches.
Why I ride in my western saddles:
-
Hard to fall out of.
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Comfortable.
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Very pretty and enduring works of art. As a piece of beautiful, functional, “investment tack,” a fine western saddle beats the pants off of an English saddle.
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Comfortable for the horse, too. Lots of surface area does wonders.
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Well balanced.
Yeah, it would be a little detrimental to my scores to ride in something other than a western saddle.
That did make me laugh, Reiner !!
[QUOTE=reinerspook;6296588]
because . . .reining in an english saddle would.not.work. :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
Wait wait wait… what about this?
[QUOTE=Isabeau Z Solace;6297740]
Wait wait wait… what about this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzOn5QE9lG0[/QUOTE]
Right on!
Whoa! now that was an incredible freestyle – “Secretariat” does reining! LOVED IT!
I like my western saddles for the trail, even though they weigh more than my English ones (I’ve been doing 25 mile rides the past few years, so there’s been lots of conditioning mileage, too). I like that they have broader weight distribution, thanks to the nature of western vs. English trees; plus they’re great for being able to attach various accessories to (cantle bag, quirt, fly whisk, sponge, water bottle… anything and everything!).
I use either the Western saddles or, more likely, the English ones for my “oh-so-serious” ring riding.
I grew up using English saddles, so this gravitation toward western is sorta surprising, actually!
