Getting into western

[reneigh]

I have a 7 year old 14.2hh 1/2 Connemara 1/2 Standardbred mare that I do dressage & a little jumping with, and I'd love to get her under a western saddle sometime to just have fun. Plus, I think maybe the extra weight will help build up her back and hock muscles.

Where should I start? I used to do barrels & poles, but that was almost 4 years ago, so I don't know a thing about western saddles (sizes, types, etc). I just want to get her in western tack for fun, nothing serious, so I'm not looking for a trainer or anything. So any advice would help me a ton!

=)

[DixieGirl]

Ok, I ride western so I'll help. First to start off you should probally just play aroun with a western saddle until you have decided what disipline you want to do in western. The saddle I recommend and so does my trainer is the Wintec. They are really good quality saddles.The size you would ride in would be 2 sizes down from an english saddle. I think when you ride english since the saddle is smaller you ride two sizes up. Am I confuesing you?? The bit I would recomend is the Tom Thump. It has a curb chain (have to buy seperate) and you can lossen it or make it tight.Headstalls are the same. You can use Nylon, Leather, or Synethic. If you want you can PM me if you have questions about western. ;)

[reneigh]

Ok, I ride western so I'll help. First to start off you should probally just play aroun with a western saddle until you have decided what disipline you want to do in western. The saddle I recommend and so does my trainer is the Wintec. They are really good quality saddles.The size you would ride in would be 2 sizes down from an english saddle. I think when you ride english since the saddle is smaller you ride two sizes up. Am I confuesing you?? The bit I would recomend is the Tom Thump. It has a curb chain (have to buy seperate) and you can lossen it or make it tight.Headstalls are the same. You can use Nylon, Leather, or Synethic. If you want you can PM me if you have questions about western. ;)

Ok thanks! I'm not looking into saddles at the moment, I need to sell my close contact so I can buy a nice a/p that is more comfortable to ride in and then I can start looking into a western saddle.

Haha it's a bit confusing (the sizes). And actually for the bit I would probably just use my hackamore until she's used to the western saddle. I'm not sure how she would do with more than I already put in her mouth sometimes (french link snaffle or linked eggbutt). Hackamores are good in western right?

[mandyicequeen14]

If ur showing i dont think the judges would be crazy about them, but if its just for fun that would be fine.

I would just start out on trails w/ ur horse so she can get the feel for the saddle. I would recomend doing western pleasure fisrt b4 barrels cuz barrels can make a horse kinda crazy ( i do barrel racing, im not trying to shoot down the sport)

[DixieGirl]

Oh yes!! A lady I know rides in a hackamor and she does western. You would ride in tow sizes down from what you do english. Example....

English:16 inches

Western: 14 inches.

Understand??

[reneigh]

Oh yes!! A lady I know rides in a hackamor and she does western. You would ride in tow sizes down from what you do english. Example....

English:16 inches

Western: 14 inches.

Understand??

Alright good, she really likes having her mouth left alone =P

Ahh ok I got it =)

[reneigh]

If ur showing i dont think the judges would be crazy about them, but if its just for fun that would be fine.

I would just start out on trails w/ ur horse so she can get the feel for the saddle. I would recomend doing western pleasure fisrt b4 barrels cuz barrels can make a horse kinda crazy ( i do barrel racing, im not trying to shoot down the sport)

Nah i don't think I'll be doing any showing western, although you never know =) I really like western, so maybe someday if she seems like she really likes it I can get into it more!

I don't think I'll be getting into any fast sports with her lol, she is quite the crazy horse already. I think I just want to get into pleasure

[DixieGirl]

If ur showing i dont think the judges would be crazy about them, but if its just for fun that would be fine.

I would just start out on trails w/ ur horse so she can get the feel for the saddle. I would recomend doing western pleasure fisrt b4 barrels cuz barrels can make a horse kinda crazy ( i do barrel racing, im not trying to shoot down the sport)

I agree with you totally!

[snapmyapp]

I show western and ride western every day, and tot ell you the truth, the weight of the western saddle wont build up your horses back, but it could possibly break it down. we started riding a old halter horse who had NO withers, and no he has some. check out my little trainign tips thing on this board titled "riding with ease" that might help ya out abit

[reneigh]

Ok I'll check that out, thanks. The other thing I'm confused about, too, is the size. All the saddles I've looked at say "full quarter horse bars"... would they fit my 1/2 Standardbred, or no?

[Beth&Gem]

I know a trainer over in the sattes that Traines western

[reneigh]

like i said before i'm not looking for a trainer. and i don't need a trainer far away in like california. the us is a big place..

[reneigh]

Oh and by the way you might want to not lie about your horses, too. Like in your picture of "Lucy" she has white on her right hind leg, and in the other picture, no markings!

[ForeverEquine]

For my personal preference, I like barrel saddles. They have a deep seat and are generally shorter and lighter than most other western saddles. You're horse is just a little bit shorter than Gam, I think he's finally reached 14.3 hh XD, and they fit his back well. I also recommend a really nice thick pad. I'm going to buy Gam one of those new air ride blankets that have the ventilation and shock absorption. Pricey but I've heard they're worth it!

I'll be doing a lot of trail riding with Gam in the future so I just want him as comfortable as possible.:)

[mandyicequeen14]

For my personal preference, I like barrel saddles. They have a deep seat and are generally shorter and lighter than most other western saddles. You're horse is just a little bit shorter than Gam, I think he's finally reached 14.3 hh XD, and they fit his back well. I also recommend a really nice thick pad. I'm going to buy Gam one of those new air ride blankets that have the ventilation and shock absorption. Pricey but I've heard they're worth it!

I'll be doing a lot of trail riding with Gam in the future so I just want him as comfortable as possible.:)

ya i agree barrel saddles are the best, and are light weight. they have a nice deep seat so if ur horse is feeling her oats you can sit deep in the saddle and not get thrown off lol

[reneigh]

For my personal preference, I like barrel saddles. They have a deep seat and are generally shorter and lighter than most other western saddles. You're horse is just a little bit shorter than Gam, I think he's finally reached 14.3 hh XD, and they fit his back well. I also recommend a really nice thick pad. I'm going to buy Gam one of those new air ride blankets that have the ventilation and shock absorption. Pricey but I've heard they're worth it!

I'll be doing a lot of trail riding with Gam in the future so I just want him as comfortable as possible.:)

Oh yeah I know what you mean! I actually did barrels & poles 4 or so years ago, so I definitely get how comfy the saddles are =) I just really would like something cheap since I won't be using it for showing or anything competitive, just for fun and to get her doing something different, plus I love riding western!

So if the saddle is a bit big for her, I can just get a bulkier pad and it should be fine?

[reneigh]

ya i agree barrel saddles are the best, and are light weight. they have a nice deep seat so if ur horse is feeling her oats you can sit deep in the saddle and not get thrown off lol

Haha I'm not too worried about getting thrown off, especially in a western saddle. She can't even get me off in a close contact :P

[DixieGirl]

Also, Barrel Saddles are more safe because they keep you in place more.

[DixieGirl]

I show western and ride western every day, and tot ell you the truth, the weight of the western saddle wont build up your horses back, but it could possibly break it down. we started riding a old halter horse who had NO withers, and no he has some. check out my little trainign tips thing on this board titled "riding with ease" that might help ya out abit

How could it hurt your horse's back!?!?

[reneigh]

How could it hurt your horse's back!?!?

Think about it.... 14.2hh pony who has never had a western saddle on her back all of a sudden is told to work with a 20-30lb saddle and she doesn't have a strong enough back for it. That's why.

I started her yesterday! my friend let me use her saddle and she did so well! She was obviously nervous about it, but she did great for her first time. I was going to lead her around but she was shuffling around and not wanting to stand still, so I unclipped the reins and free-lunged her till she calmed down about the stuff flapping around and then clipped the reins back on and hopped on! She was really getting into it with lowering her head and we did a little bit of trotting, too. =) I'm riding her western again today, hopefully I'll have pics of me ON her this time. I'll have pictures up in her gallery later tonight if I get on here. =)

[Skip_n_Hide]

Aww thats great well done :D

It will be good for her to get even more variety with her work :)