Starting western...help!

[horse_lover]

I'm going to start western on my 3 year old (Khanfederate Spy) he is at training right now (Western) I'm a pretty good english rider bt when it comes to western i don't got a clue! since spy has only riden western i have to ride him like that, I eventually will gradually change from western to english with him, but I don't want to mess up his good western training...

ok, well I've ridden western, like on trails and stuff and one night i barrel raced, but don't really know how to ride, ok, here's what I know :
1. ride with one hand
2. you don't post 3. change hands when you change direction ( I think) 4.lean forward: go, lean back: stop

most of that stuff I learned when i went barrel racing one night.

I wanted to know like just some tips for how to keep good positon and what that position is (if there is a special position) AND how to fit the tack to the horse and me! ok, how short should the stirrups be? I know in english when your leg is hanging down the stirrup should be at the ankle (samefor western??????) AND how many wrinkles should there ben their lip from the bit again in engish: 2 in western: ???????

Any other tips you can think of like maybe a habit you had that I should look out for...

thanks,

Lizzy ;)

[musiccraze777]

I know this isn't help, but wow, I didn't know you don't post for western riding. Sounds like it would hurt with the saddle banging up (unless you're bareback), but I guess if the trot/canter/gallop is smooth as an unwrinkled blanket, it won't be a bother...

So all I can say is don't do it with a horse owning a rocky gait (unless you're walking like a snail, haha). But I guess that's a given. I just mean with Smokey (I was actually using a western saddle), I naturally posted...but if I hadn't, oww. I would've had to tell him to stop.

But someone who really rides western (unlike me) should see this and give you real tips. =P

[horse_lover]

maybe you don't post, i don't really know, I planned to anyway... :confused:

[musiccraze777]

I thought you said you don't post at western. Maybe I misunderstood, hehe.

[iluvcreek4vr]

You can post at western i do cuz my horse has a bouncy trot. Relax and enjoy yourself. And get a cowgirl hat lol! :)

[horse_lover]

I thought you said you don't post at western. Maybe I misunderstood, hehe.


I didn't think you were supposed to, but idk

[horse_lover]

You can post at western i do cuz my horse has a bouncy trot. Relax and enjoy yourself. And get a cowgirl hat lol! :)

lol, ok! :)

[Raggle]

I ride Western but admittedly post on my Mom's 16.1hh TB/Paint. Once she begins to accelerate it gets difficult to trot without posting. O_O

[musiccraze777]

Sorry I got this whole thing into a topic about posting...

But, guys, she wants more western tips if you guys have any!

[horse_lover]

lol, thx! ;)

[horse_lover]

ANY ONE else???????

[iluvcreek4vr]

-Stirrups are lower
-you sit deeper in the saddle
-Western saddles are usually more comfortable than english so it will feel really different at first.

Thats all i can think of i am really out of it right now(should be doing my homework) lol

[cherokee_92]

you dont switch reins into the other hand when switching directions if you are left handed drivem with that if ur right handed you use that hand. Same basics as english in western when you stop you put ur weight in the back of the seat and feet go out moved forward.alot of them you dont even have to pull on the reins for a stop. Dont get carried away with leaning forward when going sqweez alot with the feet like english.

[xxrequiem]

Western rider to the rescue. =P

Your stirrups are however long is comfortable to you. Longer stirrups make it easier to sit to the gaits. You should -not- post but if you don't intend to show, then that's okay. The bridle fittings are no different and you do not have to ride with one hand. You would keep the equitation line you do in english - ear, shoulder, hip, heel. You would generally sit back a little more. Cues are whatever your horse has learned. Depending on what your horse has learned, you would vary your rein contact - if he was away at prof. western training your reins would be a little slacker. If riding one handed you do not switch hands with direction. People often think that there is a huge difference between western and english; the biggest one is only that you do not post.

edit;; if you must post, it is easier in a western saddle to post from the stirrups, even if you have learned to post from the knees. Posting off the knees is rather uncomfortable, at least in a western saddle.

[horse_lover]

ok, well I'm comfortable with my stirrups pretty short... and I know i can't have them jumping length short, I put them up as high as the would go... and they a still longish... here I'll take a pic then post it oh here so you can see...

[horse_lover]

actually, I just talked to my mom and we are going to get a whole new saddle!!!! I'm happy happy happy!