I’ve ridden for many years, 45 plus, but always English, fox-hunting, eventing, h/j for fun, trail, etc. Now I’m doing more straight Dressage and thought it might be fun to dabble in Western D. Have no idea regarding saddles, etc. My main horse is 17hh perch/tb cross and have a cute coming 3 mustang, she’ll probably finish close to 15.2-3. and chunky.
Guess I’m looking for others who have made the switch and any advice…Thank you
We have Morgans that we cross train, our horses learned to adjust gaits to match the tack they wore
The primary issue we discovered was all the tack that they could use, same horse would have numerous saddles and finding storage space for the tack became the problem.
Although I have not entirely switched from English (H/j, dressage, fox hunting) to Western (Ranch Riding) I feel I have changed my focus. This will be my 58th and last year of fox hunting. It will be my first year of Ranch Horse showing --I am currently taking lessons and have been focused on this discipline for just under a year.
You asked for saddle advice, but my advice is to find a trainer/instructor first, then look for equipment. There are a ton of people who claim to be Western instructors and trainers (I’m seeing all kinds of clinics on FB right now). Use caution. My criteria is:
And the usual must teach in such a way I understand what I am supposed to do --and I need to see myself and Bob, my horse, progress.
Once you have found a T/I that suits you, follow his/her advice on equipment. Bob needed a different bit --T/I tried two before we settled on one that suited Bob and me. I really wanted to buy Bob a new saddle but turned out my kid’s 4-H saddle (inexpensive -ok, cheap) 20 year old saddle fit Bob and me perfectly --but I needed to add some REQUIRED pieces: flank strap, chest strap, rope. My T/I also advised on attire (I wear a 36" inseam, she told me to by a 42" inseam to get the length and “scrunch” one sees in western riding and to iron them so I have a sharp crease!) --western boots (not ropers) etc. She did refrain from rolling her eyes when I asked what color saddle blanket would be best for Bob --but likes the one I picked (he’s a roan who changes color with the seasons --I picked black, teal, and orange, pattern).
My point is it would save you money to follow your trainer’s advice on saddles --buy the wrong one (there are many styles) and you will need to buy the right kind after you find a trainer.
Western Dressage is the least western of all the “western” disciplines. For the most part, it’s just regular dressage in a western saddle, so just keep doing what you’re already doing.
As far as saddles go, many people will advise you to look for a nice older used saddle. But this isn’t always the best advice. The vast majority of old saddles are heavy, too heavy for me, a short old lady with a bad shoulder, to easily hoist up on a tall horse. And you have a very tall horse, so be sure you take this into consideration.
You can find saddles in the 20-30 pound range. I used to have a very nice Circle Y Pioneer that weighed 24 pounds and I could manage that easily. I once bought, and then immediately resold, an older saddle that weighed about 40 pounds and it was a struggle.
It may take you some practice to comfortably hold and fluidly adjust the length of split reins riding two-handed. When I first learned, the trainer told me to sit in a chair while watching TV and hang my bridle over the back of a chair in front of me and just practice letting out and taking in. Your trainer or YouTube can show you the proper way to hold the reins.
@NoSuchPerson --one of your comments concerns me —“it’s just regular dressage . . .” --I haven’t done it, and honestly, I don’t want to if it is “just regular dressage.” I HAVE a lovely upper level dressage horse retired here that I worked with for two years and showed one time --even though the horse is super well trained and an absolute rock-star at competitions (won both his classes with nothing but compliments from the judge --who had nothing good to say about ME except that I needed to consider more lessons) --but I DID NOT ENJOY the practice for the show. I have two dressage rings (left over from when my kiddos did it) --large and small. I dreaded going out there daily and doing our practices. I dreaded our lessons. And I did not enjoy the show (two classes, 10 min, and we were done --picked up our blue ribbons and score sheets, thanked the organizer and left). Rock-star dressage horse subsequently threw a bone chip and is no longer ride-able, but he’s a good guy and he is fine retired here.
I am totally enjoying Ranch Horse practice with Bob (my QH) --there are circles to perfect in that too --but so much more! We move cows, do trail stuff, well, even practicing ground-tie is fun. There are even two in-hand classes to practice for. When I do go to my first show (planned for May 8-9-10-11), Bob and I are qualified to enter 12 classes —however, our trainer instructor has suggested we only enter two a day, total of six.
A nice lady who lets me practice in her indoor and another gal-pal are encouraging (pushing) me to try Western Dressage. (whiny voice here) if it is as you said, “just regular dressage . . .” I don’t WANT TO! I guess I could go and try one class just to appease them, and then make a decision, but I don’t want to practice one more step of dressage –
So, is it really “just regular dressage in a western saddle??”
Pretty much. Let me suggest you find the tests online and read them, especially the directives. The gaits are somewhat modified, but the tests are dressage tests.
From my perspective, by and large, yes. Western dressage is what you get when a group of people say, “I love dressage as a discipline, but I also love riding in a western saddle and riding my lovely QH/Paint/horse without the big movement of a WB/today’s successful dressage horse. Let’s come up with something that incorporates classical dressage but allows me to ride my sweet little QH in a western saddle and be competitive.” And what they came up with is something that looks a lot like traditional dressage, but in a western saddle with a more western-type horse.
Check out the web site: https://www.westerndressageassociation.org/
And go look at the tests: https://www.westerndressageassociation.org/wdaa-tests
If you don’t enjoy riding dressage tests, then I can’t imagine that you would find a different challenge in western dressage. If you want something different, I think you’re on the right track by pursuing ranch horse.
And to be clear, I am not anti-western dressage. I happen to have a sweet little QH and have reached the age and level of brokenness where I quite like riding in a western saddle. I’ve probably got another year or two of very low level jumping left in me and after that, I suspect you will start seeing us competing in western dressage.
But, again, if you’re looking for something that is NOT dressage, don’t look for it in the western dressage world.
Another agree on it being very close to regular dressage. My understanding is that western dressage still focuses primarily on precision, harmony, and balance, blending Western riding with classical dressage principles. It’s also my understanding that the judging is more forgiving on more of an all around or off breed horse vs a warmblood.
Ranch riding is like…working cow horse/cowboy vibes and more about overall function. More practical vs polished.
I made the switch from H/J to the breed show all around and I love it. 
I always tell non-horse friends that it’s essentially the decathalon of horses. You can show as much, or as little, as you want. Currently, we compete in: hunter under saddle, english equitation, western pleasure, western riding, western horsemanship, showmanship, trail, halter. In the past, we’ve done over fences classes and, if he was trained, we could show in the driving classes.
The Pinto Horse Association has clubs around the country as an easy way to dip your toe in if it’s of interest. They register horses of all breeds and colors (solids, too) and even have donkeys these days. Might be worth exploring if you’re looking for something to switch things up. Good luck!
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