Dressage to Western

[BluRockGirl614]

So, I have an 8 year old warmblood, who I used to show quite successfully on the local Dreassage curcuit. However, because of family issues involving money, I had to take him out of training, and he is now essetially, a really nice backyard horse... and I feel bad, that I cant progress him and continue to teach him higher level dressage work.
So, I came up with the idea of cross training him western. I have started a few horses for dressage and jumpers, and worked with alot of trouble horses. Truck is trained to first level dressage and schooling some second level stuff... now I just need help and ideas getting him started western, so he has something new to do and work towards. Any suggestions, tips, comments? anything would help really...

[DixieGirl]

Good Luck!! Are you planning to show in Western Pleasure or just like trails and stuff like that??

[Ruby Rider]

well if you are going to show western i can't really help but if you are just going to do western for fun... i can help... well first of all... what do you want to do in western...then more people can help[ like do you wanna do reining, cutting, western plesure, or just fun... stuff like trail riding... :D my favorit.. thats what i train my hrses to do ... traill riding.... now i wanna do jumping ... but ya ... totally diffrent story

[StarGirl]

First part of being a western horse is neck reining. Work on that. When you direct rein to the right, cross the left rein over his neck to the right, as if you're neck reining with that rein. Same when turning to the left, cross the right rein over the neck. He'll feel it and eventually catch on when you try it withou direct reining, though you ease off the direct reining little by little with time.

Oh, and a western saddle helps, too......

Sorry, I'm in a good mood haha

[BluRockGirl614]

Thanks guys. :) So, I'm not planning on showing western right now... and I dont have any cows to work with... Im pretty much thinking im training him western just for fun, and to give him something new to do. He likes trail rides right now... but needs some work... like stepping over logs instead of jumping them :o

I've started the neck reining phase... hes just not perfect or consistent about it yet.

Does anyone have suggestions for bits?

[Ruby Rider]

First part of being a western horse is neck reining. Work on that. When you direct rein to the right, cross the left rein over his neck to the right, as if you're neck reining with that rein. Same when turning to the left, cross the right rein over the neck. He'll feel it and eventually catch on when you try it withou direct reining, though you ease off the direct reining little by little with time.

Oh, and a western saddle helps, too......

Sorry, I'm in a good mood haha
ya i agree with stargirl... start neck reining.. with very littl e direct reining.. oh and the kinda bit that i use in my training program is a full cheek snaffe bit.. and get them really light on that then you can go to a harsher bit if you want without pulling on their mouth... but what bit are you using right now?

[BluRockGirl614]

ya i agree with stargirl... start neck reining.. with very littl e direct reining.. oh and the kinda bit that i use in my training program is a full cheek snaffe bit.. and get them really light on that then you can go to a harsher bit if you want without pulling on their mouth... but what bit are you using right now?

I have started the neck reining part... hes just not consistent yet... i think most of what he does is moving off my body more than the rein...
Right now I am using a skinny KK, and i can let him out on a loose rein and he stays very light... That is a large part of the dressage training hes gotten over the years...

[silverleprichuan]

I think the biggest jump will be the amount of contact. Western is based on the idea of self-collection where the horse doesn't touch the bit and balances on their own. Dressage is all about contact and use the bit to cycle energy and thus create greater collection.
While you can definitely do both, make sure your signals for each are very different so your horse knows "okay this is western, let me self collect" or "ok this is dressage let me reach down and accept contact".

[BluRockGirl614]

I think the biggest jump will be the amount of contact. Western is based on the idea of self-collection where the horse doesn't touch the bit and balances on their own. Dressage is all about contact and use the bit to cycle energy and thus create greater collection.
While you can definitely do both, make sure your signals for each are very different so your horse knows "okay this is western, let me self collect" or "ok this is dressage let me reach down and accept contact".


Oh, thats a very good point. Thank you. Do you have anytips on how to make that change?

[Ruby Rider]

I have started the neck reining part... hes just not consistent yet... i think most of what he does is moving off my body more than the rein...
Right now I am using a skinny KK, and i can let him out on a loose rein and he stays very light... That is a large part of the dressage training hes gotten over the years...
thats really good :D using your body to move him too... i don't know much about english riding but how i learned to ride was turn your head to where you wanna go then all the way down your bdy while barley giving direct reign and teaching neck reigning well thets what i do... teach the horse to move with your seat and with neck reining... :D

[silverleprichuan]

Oh, thats a very good point. Thank you. Do you have anytips on how to make that change?



Horses are incredibly smart and tend to catch on quickly. I would use a similar but slightly different bit when you ride western and change your equitation slightly. Western riders use a lot of seat but not a ton of legs or hands, and they also slow with their seat.
I'd go to amazon and look at some used western books, you can usually pick up some good ones for under $10. Reading and watching videos will help you the most to see what you need to change.

[StarGirl]

Horses are incredibly smart and tend to catch on quickly. I would use a similar but slightly different bit when you ride western and change your equitation slightly. Western riders use a lot of seat but not a ton of legs or hands, and they also slow with their seat.
I'd go to amazon and look at some used western books, you can usually pick up some good ones for under $10. Reading and watching videos will help you the most to see what you need to change.

I don't know who you know that rides western, but every western rider I know (including myself) use our legs just as much, if not more, than our seat. :confused: And that includes my trainer, who is world-class. :)

[mhoney05]

these are really good tips. i ride western and im just about to get a young mustang who doesnt know too much so from me personally thankyou cc and the people who gave tips :D

[silverleprichuan]

I don't know who you know that rides western, but every western rider I know (including myself) use our legs just as much, if not more, than our seat. :confused: And that includes my trainer, who is world-class. :)


Sorry I worded that poorly. Both disciplines rely on legs but I've always been told that when riding western you ask a horse to canter with your legs and seat and the horse is expected to stay at the gait. In dressage you ask a horse then your legs and seat constantly support to maintain the gait. If I am incorrect in my understanding please correct me, while I've read about western disciplines I have very limited personal experience.

[BluRockGirl614]

thats really good :D using your body to move him too... i don't know much about english riding but how i learned to ride was turn your head to where you wanna go then all the way down your bdy while barley giving direct reign and teaching neck reigning well thets what i do... teach the horse to move with your seat and with neck reining... :D


Yeah, Dressage is pretty much supposed to be riding the horse almost solely off the riders body, with very small, light aids... so he does move completly off my body, most of the time atleast :D
Hopefully that bit makes the trasition easier...

[BluRockGirl614]

Sorry I worded that poorly. Both disciplines rely on legs but I've always been told that when riding western you ask a horse to canter with your legs and seat and the horse is expected to stay at the gait. In dressage you ask a horse then your legs and seat constantly support to maintain the gait. If I am incorrect in my understanding please correct me, while I've read about western disciplines I have very limited personal experience.

I know that in dressage, the horse should maintain the gait by themselves... you can use driving aids to increase the gate, or use half-halts and leg to collect the horse, but you should not be chasing the horse every gait (altough some people do, this is incorrect) The horse should maintain an even regular gait on their own... while the riders neutral body position supports them.

Thats dressage, i would figure western is a bit like it... but thats why i started this thread... Im trying to figure all this stuff out myself.