Just for fun- recommendations for someone considering western

[SkipChange]

So I’d love to hear what you love about western. Cutting looks like so much fun. I’ve always thought reining was awesome. Some H/J friends of mine love team penning. Barrel racing looks cool. I love trail riding. Pleasure, dressage, probably others I don’t know about…

So what do you like? Or what would you recommend to someone considering switching from english?

>>>>I had a severe injury to my foot and to make all the boring medical details short- I don’t know how I’ll ever tolerate wearing english stirrups for very long. Western stirrups would probably be more comfortable and even if they aren’t going stirrup-less in a western saddle is more pleasant. It’d also be kinda good if I tried not to fall off :lol: especially over the large jumps I used to jump. I showed on the A circuit in jumpers for years and some hunters and equitation. I leased out my Amateur Owner Hunter because of my injury and they will hopefully buy him at the end of the lease. I’m probably moving to Texas at the end of the year.

Sorry if there a ton of threads on this! Feel free to direct me to them if there are.

[SilkSkotch]

Well…depends on what you like to do. Do you like to have goals? Do you enjoy showing?

I personally have enjoyed reining and trail riding the most. I loved reining because it was FUN! As well as it was a scored ride based on movements. My horse seemed to love it as well and overall the people tend to be pretty friendly and laid back!

Trail riding is my Fall sport! I love being able to trailer out or ride on the farm at my leisure and just ride. Through water up and down hills and not around in circles.

We also played with barrel racing! While thrilling and fun it didn’t keep my interest long.

I’d love to try team penning and cutting, but not sure how my gelding would like that!

Also shown pleasure in the past and find it a little boring and political.

Overall I have two horses and absolutely love that they did/will do or try anything! It’s been a wonderful journey! My gelding and I are now trying western dressage.

[SouthernYankee]

I switched to Reining from eventing and love it. (although I’m in the process of going back into eventing, that’s where my heart is). The horses are fun and the people are friendly. Beware the farrier work can put English horses shoes to shame… I’ve paid more for sliding plates than I ever have for a set of studs.

Currently I do a lot of trail riding. it’s fun, it’s relaxing and even my non horsey SO has bought a horse so he can go on the rides and camp out with the group…

I also play around with donkey penning and cow sorting. Both are cheaper alternatives to showing, and even offer opportunities to win money…

If you want to trail ride and compete look up ACTHA, the competitive trail horse stuff. It’s a lot of fun and a good test of your horses training. The competitions are pretty cheap and members get some great discounts on various products…

Everything mentioned above I do with my reining horse, he was very successful in the arena and has sense proved himself outside the arena. He truly is the most broke horse I’ve ever sat on and a true dream to ride. I’ve even thought about sending my TB/WB (eventer prospect) filly off to a reining trainer when I get ready to start her under saddle, just to get her basics solid. And I fully plan on trail riding and working cows with her before starting her over fences.

[Silk]

after a serious medical issue (organ rejection) and subsequent treatment, I started riding western. I did it becasue the posting was killing me, energy wise. i like western pleasure…ther is somethig about going slow and really enjoying the ride I rode western for 2 months and it helped me physically get back into a bit of shape - no where near what I had, but I love the security and feel of the western saddle. I just got on a hunter pony tonight and did ok in the english saddle (pony is being rehabbed, so I wasnt on for long) but boy…did I long for my western saddle try the western pleasure…very easy on the body and the longer stirrup is easy on the knees, feet and back ! I will say though, you need the right horse!

[Silk]

I should add that the western riding allowed me to get back to teaching a bit and riding a new boarder’s training project, too.

[Beverley]

Well, I ‘go both ways.’ Grew up riding western, from end of college to our move west in the mid 90s rode pretty much exclusively English, maybe hunting but some jumpers and hunters and eventing as well. Currently each of the two horses has its own western and english saddle- but most days I go western. I do enjoy team penning and team sorting and working cows. Mainly I do trail riding, and do have foxhunting holidays at least once a year, this year it was last spring in Colorado. Western saddle is easier for back country camping and day long trail rides, you can carry more gear (and pack more food and stuff for lunch!). I will do a competitive trail ride in early October to support a local club. I’ll probably go with the western saddle. Nonhorsey husband, who did ride English a bit in the 70s-80s, these days is much happier being packed in a western saddle. For sure, for certain issues associated with approaching adulthood, and I think mainly of arthritis and other deterioration, the ability to be secure in the saddle while riding with longer stirrups can make it more comfortable and therefore more fun. And fun is what it’s all about!

[js]

While cutting looks fun, from all I’ve heard it gets very expensive. Not only are the good horses pricey but paying for cattle classes gets expensive quick. I’ve never tried it because I didn’t want to get hooked on something that would break the bank. I like to barrel race, did that in high school and college, can be done without breaking the bank if you don’t expect to compete at the top but doesn’t mean you still can’t make it to the top. I enjoy Western Pleasure and Halter but they are very political in the show ring, if you are there to just enjoy the ride and not going for points then worth considering. Western Pleasure can get a little pricey when you look at the cost of the fancy saddles and outfits. Reining is fun! Doesn’t have to be expensive though it can just depends on how competitive you want to get. I like riding hunt seat AQHA, I realize the hunter world doesn’t consider it “real” hunt seat but I like to ride it anyway, again, again, with most AQHA it can get political depending on the shows and how many there are hunting qualifying points. That said I always found the people friendly and enjoyed showing AQHA even if I wasn’t there for the points but just to show, same with barrel racing, always found the people friendly and helpful. I’ve been riding dressage the last few years, I have not found the atmosphere in that discipline very friendly or helpful.

[Bluey]

Cutting and penning/sorting are considerably more physical than other western disciplines mentioned.

You will need to use your feet more cutting and penning and be light in the saddle and fitter.
I think you want something more sedate now and for that, the slower western disciplines first, then working up to reining.
Reining can be slower when you are learning, but to go all out competing is a step up physically from, say, western riding/pleasure.

Why don’t you get started with whatever you can find locally and then see what works best for you now, then decide where to go once you get your riding back in gear?

[SkipChange]

Thanks everyone! I have enjoyed reading what everyone likes! Helps me get a better feel for some differences in each. I don’t really want to fall in love with (another) discipline that would break the bank either. Pleasure and competitive trail are sounding more interesting. Aside from my foot I am in physically fit and love exercise. My foot could potentially get better, but these things are so unpredictable.

I kinda like going fast though… I love showing–the work and preparation that goes into it, but I would rather just compete occasionally. There’s not very much at all near my current location and I won’t be moving for a couple more months at least so I just thought it would be fun to dream for a while.