Question:
why do english riders (not all) have rude comments to say about western riders?
rodeo queen
2013-01-10 16:44:05 UTC
like for example calling them stupid and unintelligent. like really i probably am smarter then you. i get straight A's and i am taking college classes in high school. and to be on the rodeo team for high school you have to have a 3.0 G.P.A minimum. and for most high school activities you only have to have a 2.0 G.P.A
as for rodeo horses, they can cost just as much as jumpers, and dressage horses. the gear cost even more then english.
as for sponsor i think rodeo competitors have it a little bit easier to get sponsors then english riders as rodeo is becoming a HUGE industry well at least where i live (building indoor rodeo arenas in every city in my county right now)
im not trying to say every english rider says this but it seems like there is becoming a lot more judgmental english riders like who are you to judge what i do and you have no idea what it really is?
i have lots of friends who ride english, and i feel like western people are a lot nicer then SOME english rider.
i feel like its just stereotyping because not every western rider is a "hillbilly" or "redneck"
am i missing teeth? no
do i walk bare foot everywhere i go? no
im extremely girlie, and wear high priced designer clothes. my friends who ride western and barrel race are the same way and do rodeo pageants.
so what i want to know is why the rude comments? is it because of the lack of knowledge of what western riders are really like?
28 answers:
Kai
2013-01-11 01:15:52 UTC
I respect both disciplines. It takes spunk to get on a horse and muck out stalls and work in the mud. All riders have that spunk and we should all respect each other because of it. I think a lot of English riders just find their sport snobbier than Western riding because it originated in England and they think it is the "proper" way to ride. Because obviously anything that comes from England is perfect. Lol. Western riding originated in America and we associate it with cowboys and western films or even worst rednecks and hillbillys. Hollywood has kind of done in Western riders if you ask me. I have ridden both and they are both wonderful sports with slightly different aspects to them and we should accept that and move on.
Horsegirl
2013-01-11 13:12:36 UTC
Hello so I am a hunter jumper rider so I can answer the question! I think that English riders believe that western riders are lazy when they ride, because they don't usually have good posture, unlike english riders that are good. Also, from my experience with barrel racers, I think of them as rude and inconsiderate. I was riding in a ring, and in the same ring were a bunch of barrel racers and they kept getting super close to me at a full on gallop, and my horse was already hope and they were just so horrible. Sorry if that was offensive but it's true.
Amber
2013-01-11 09:23:08 UTC
Personally I have no clue why some think of us as lesser people. I ride both English and Western and work with horses with bad attitudes in both riding styles. They may think that way because of their more cleaned up appearance when riding? Really I have no clue, but all I can say is no one has the right to be stereotyping us western riders. My friends English horse cost her only $900 while my mare cost me $2500, so in no way it has nothing to do with the horses. They may also think of it this way because Western looks more laid back but in no way is it like that. Something I watched that brings attention to the western vs. English rivalry is swapping saddles! It takes a barrel racer and a show jumper and they have to swap riding styles and compete. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeUD78G09lY

But other than the fact that both of riding styles may end up criticizing the other, so it isnt just English riders stereotyping Western, but ive seen many Western riders stereotype the English riders as stuck up and snotty. All I have to say is to just ignore it, if they cant recognize how good of a rider you are, then they too are probably not the best rider either.
Samantha
2013-01-10 16:53:25 UTC
Honestly, since I am both a english and western rider (mainly jumper, basic dressage, barrel racing, and sorting).

I know the feeling of "english riders" think western is stupid. Most english riders (not saying all) are mainly people who are of "high class" and lots of money. I used to ride at one of the top riding schools in California and I worked as a working student. Well, top riding school = mainly people with young daughters who have parents with money. Well when I returned after a year of taking a break from training when I was 11, I worked as a camp counselor and since I was the youngest with a bunch of 13 or 14 year old stuck up brats. They always picked on me and talked crap saying I was apparently lying about owning a horse when I was actually at that riding school long before any of them showed up.

Keep in mind its also mainly a female sport and girls talk crap anyways because a lot of them now a days think they are the ****.

If you are not a famous western rider, they will just pick on you because they think everything they do is better then what you do.

Its a female thing, don't take it personal.
2013-01-10 22:01:01 UTC
Wll, didnt this cause quite a battle of the style? I ride western, hopefully about to start English this spring when I am buying my horse, I go to a few shows every year and the few that I tag along on are filled with stuck-up Western riders who all like to cuss at people who didn't spend $300 on their show shirt and dont know a thing about riding with the horse instead of just on the horse. Then again, I have met the snobby English riders who think their Dutch Warmbloods and Thoroughbreds can crush me and my 'cowboy hillbilly' attire. The thing is, it depends on their arrogance and ignorance. My closest friends are English and Western riders and we get along perfectly fine and still ride together all the time. The thing is, both styles of riding are equally as hard and take just as long to perfect. In Western you dont just jump up, grab onto the horn and go "YAA!!" And your done..No, it takes a perfect seat to not fall out ans look like a fool, and you have to have a good position so you dont fall when turning, barrel racing or not. And English isint a style that you just hop on an stick your nose in the air and your instantly awesome and can ride..No, once again, it requires skill. Oh, and to that one person that answered? Western riders do two-point also, it's not exactly a foreign word or something we are not aware of. Nuff said.
?
2013-01-10 18:19:13 UTC
Why do Western riders say rude things about us English riders?



Because we're human. Some Western riders are snobby and rude too. It's not just English riders. We're all human, so we all have different opinions and preferences. It's always about who has the best (expensive) horse and the most expensive tack. There are snobby people in all disciplines. It doesn't matter whether it is English or Western.



I hate it when people stereotype the English discipline. Not all of us are snobby and rude. Western riders can be just as snobby and rude. It depends on the individual person.



Besides, I think you just needed a way to brag about yourself.....
Brittany
2013-01-10 16:59:16 UTC
I ride English and I have lots of friends who ride Western and are really nice. I don't think Western riders are hillbillies. i think that English riders pick on Western riders because a lot of English riders are rich snobs (not me or anyone who answered this question) who are looking for someone to pick on or that English riders know that western riders have more of a purpose and are better riders than they are and just don't want to admit it.
lily
2013-01-11 21:38:10 UTC
You're assuming that you're smarter than I am just because I ride English? Really? I'm in all honors classes and have a 4.28 GPA so rethink that one.

To me (I've never ridden western so don't get upset if this is offensive) it seems like equitation (which is what I show) seems more about perfection and control where barrel racing just seems like 'go as fast as you can without falling'. In equitation you have to memorize difficult courses while making it look easy but with barrel racing its the same sequence every time, and while yes it must take a lot of balance, its not the same kind of control as in equitation.
Emura
2013-01-11 03:14:00 UTC
Why do western riders (not all) have rude comments to say about English riders?



-They are all rich

-They are all snobs

-They haven't worked a day in their life (referring to barn work)

-They look funny

-They are afraid to ride on a loose rein (loose rein meaning neck reining when they say it, not an English loose rein)

-They all ruin horses by starting them to young



The road goes both ways. I know many English riders who are far from rich, very humble and not snobbish, work had for what they do, they do ride on a loose rein, and they don't like to start horses jumping or doing XC or dressage at 2 years old.



Just like I've met plenty of western riders who do not fit the stereotype. As humans we look for the worst example of a group and make that the standard. Germans=Nazis, Americans=fat, gun happy, soda guzzling, burger loving, etc. Does that make the stereotype right? No, but no matter what we do there is always a stereotype.



Now on the other hand I have met snobby rich english kids who throw their 2 year old in an elevator gag then strap on a flash and wonder why their horse won't jump 4 feet, and I've met western people who literally should not be allowed around horses without lessons (which they then give the excuse of "I taught myself so I don't need them"). These are the ones who go barrel racing every weekend (because to them western=barrels, nevermind reining or western pleasure or any of that other stuff that actually requires training (barrels requires training too but is the easiest of the group to get into without training)), are yanking their horse around turns, flopping on their backs, etc and think nothing of it except getting a fast time. These are the ones I've found that think stock sweet feed is the greatest thing ever because it is only $5 (because you know complete feed is a waste of money).



I feel in a way the stereotype is because of those people. Barrels is the easiest discipline for anyone to enter without lessons, an expensive horse, and a lot of money in general. I know a lot of barrel racers (the ones who only compete at local stuff) who use horses they bought off craigslist or at auctions (nothing wrong with that, just making the point of they didn't pay a lot), got all of their tack at a garage sale (didn't bother to see if it fit the horse, just that the saddle had zebra print all over it *gag*), and spend $15 every weekend to barrel race at some local competition that brings out everything from the woodwork who think they can ride a horse.



Other disciplines you tend to need a trainer or you are greatly frowned upon if you compete (reining, western pleasure, jumping, dressage, etc), while in barrels I've seen people get made fun of at local competitions because they have a trainer (comments such as "What you can't train your horse yourself? I do all of my own training!" and yet their horse runs and looks like sh*t).



Stereotypes start for a reason, and the road goes both ways.
Canter16
2013-01-10 16:58:25 UTC
It's most unfortunate, yes. I used to ride western, still do occasionally. I switched because I just felt that English was more of a Challenge and requires more technical aspects then western. I would rather have precision then speed but thats just my preference. Obviously others would feel the opposite. I think the media has alot to do with it too. In movies and stuff they have the hillbilly cowboys riding around on their horses shooting guns. It's just the way most people sterotype western riding. And so yes, I feel like people dont know all that is involved with western riding. Ignorance is the problem in most any situation. Don't let rude and inconsiderate people get under your skin. That's why I love my horse, she doesn't judge and won't "vocally" sass me. :)
Nina
2016-02-24 03:51:18 UTC
i don't use boots so can't help much there. I love barrels and other speed events, cutting looks really cool and theres plenty of cow events and rodeo type events. Western dressage seems to be getting popular! theres trail competitions (in an arena going around obstacles.) and trail races. (don't know if thats the name, but basically a race out on the trail where if you have to cross the finish line within a specific amount of time) reining, and western pleasure! Everybody thinks western pleasure is boring. And it will be if you are on a push button horse who knows absolutely everything and isn't a challenge. I do western pleasure (very small shows :P ) on my TB mare, and its a real challenge! Very cool watching her improve tho :)
Ducky
2013-01-10 19:28:18 UTC
English and western are two completely different disciplines. They each require a specific personality that is completely the opposite of the other.



It's probably related to the clash of personalities....



You cannot honestly say that you don't know of any western riders who call English riders stuck-up, spoiled, and selfish?
Becca
2013-01-10 17:28:49 UTC
I ride both, and love both. Because my mare is amazing to me, I feel as long as you ride that's already enough of a privilege! There are so many people, girls and boys, who want to ride but cant afford it because of today's economy. im almost one of those people. I don pay board at my barn because im training the 4 month and 9 month foal as well as my friends new horse who's 2 and just learning saddles, and all the mares are pregnant so ill be training there foals as well. Im only 16 and a junior in HS so I cant pay for it myself(nobody is hiring). My mom has my TB in NC with her and her OTTB. And Katherine Jennings, she said SOME English riders multiple times, she was saying Most English riders are snobby bit*hes which is a known fact. NOT ALL. I doubt you are one of those people, but many many MANY English riders think they are better than Western because its 'harder.' its not harder, both disciplines are difficult and have many different forms. To English riders, yes you can hold on when your horse takes you over a jump and can correctly use your legs and hands to make a horse do flying lead changes. To Western riders, yes you can grip mane and reins high up and make patterns around barrels at amazingly fast speeds and twist through poles quickly for pole bending. English riders, try doing what I just mentioned western riders do. Western riders, try what I said English riders do. Its not so easy if you haven't been trained for that discipline. So why don't we all just get along? The horse industry is making a BIG rise in the US right now so us who have been in it for years and years need to stick together so not to be bashed by prissy little middle school girls who think they're the **** beaus their Mommy's got them a tiny little pony that they had to work their *** off for. Sigh. I was trained English for the first 8 years, and I trained myself western for the past year. I love them both, and even incorporate them together. I do English exercises for western riding and vice versa.
?
2013-01-10 17:07:01 UTC
It's not discipline specific... I ride English. You're being a little hypocritical here, because you are now dissing English riders. And talking yourself up like you are smarter than everyone else. If you want to make a point, do it in a way that isn't rude to all English riders. No, I'm not rich. I have to work almost half of it off. I have full respect to western riders. Nothing wrong with them, and they do great at many things. But it's not okay to disrespect English riders who put their life and soul into riding.
Sabrina
2013-01-10 18:05:18 UTC
They do it for the same reason some Western riders call all English riders stuck up, spoiled-rich, and too proper.



I ride English. I practice in jeans. My horse and I are not afraid to get dirty. We love to trail ride, and we don't heavily compete. I make less than the average college graduate in my area. This is probably because I'm young and just starting out, but this doesn't change the numbers. I am able to afford my gear, and my two English horses on a low middle class salary, because my husband and I make sacrifices in other areas of our lives. We do not pay for data plans on our cell phones. We can call people... That's it. We rent the second floor of an out-dated, old farm house, and eat nothing but beans, rice and pasta. We don't have the luxury of a dish washer, air conditioning or even central heat. We don't go out to restaurants or movie theaters and we don't go shopping. I haven't gone clothing shopping for over two years! We also work off our horses' board to cut their expense, and work as much overtime as possible. I buy most of my English attire on consignment. One of my horses was bought for about $2,000 and the other was a free trade.



I definitely do not fit the English stereotype, and most of the English riders I know don't fit it either. Most of the Western riders I know are far from the Western stereotype too. People who do not ride in an environment of mixed disciplines just don't know what it's like to be on the other side or to know someone on the other side of the debate. People who believe stereotypes are just ignorant. Ignore them. It's not worth your time to worry about it. You know who you are and you know your discipline is not full of hicks and dirty farmers, just how I know my discipline is not reserved solely for the rich and snooty. We're all riders and how we ride doesn't determine whether we're rich or poor, rude or proper, or have all of our teeth or not.
Jeff Sadler
2013-01-10 16:58:37 UTC
LOL because some people feel superior by looking down their nose at others. It goes both ways....I have seen many an old horse trader skin an uppity city fool, by dressing in overalls and selling them a horse at three times what I would pay. All the while making them feel that the broken down nag they got, was a bargain at that price. Then to make matters worse, they come back for another, next year. Never once have I seen them realize that the old horse traders probably have enough cash on hand or in the bank, to buy that fancy trailer and truck they drove the thousand miles to get the horse with.
Catie
2013-01-10 16:56:52 UTC
The higher up you get in competing the more you will see this is not discipline specific. Western riders are snotty b*tches too. It's not a big deal at all. It's just the people not the discipline. If you really want to compete at higher levels you're gonna need to grow some thicker skin and just be nice. Just cause they're rude doesn't mean you have to be the same way back.
Professor Kitty
2013-01-10 20:51:16 UTC
There are plenty of snobby western riders. Also judging by the way you answer questions on here, I highly doubt you're all that smart. You form sentences like a 5 year-old.
horace hockey
2013-01-11 14:54:43 UTC
Snobs on both sides. I usually ride western or endurance, but english does help when riding in a Mc Clellan saddle, which I do in reinactments. It helps to do both if you want to really be versatile.
Skippy
2013-01-10 17:27:39 UTC
Some Western riders say the same about English. Lots of people are straight A students, no matter how they ride. I think some people say what they do, because I find riding western doesnt require a lot of... Balance? I don't know, but it's not the whole heels down two point jumping or dressage thig. Different people have different tastes. I find western is way easier than English, and if your not doing some barrel racing or something it doesn't require a lots of skill. In English you can't just hold on to a horn and yell and gallop off, you have to prefect everything before you start jumping or whatever. And it's a lot harder to prefect. I have and still do ride both and bareback, and I find English is way harder. I have not met a snotty English girl who talks terribly about western riding in my entire life. The ones who do are the snotty rich ones who think they are better than everybody because they have a 3 million dollar horse.
Kikn4JC
2013-01-10 21:53:44 UTC
I never see english riders complaining about how redneck western riders are.... always the western complaining about how snobby we are. Strange.
Azeri
2013-01-10 19:06:09 UTC
Short answer: ignorance. And yes, there are ignorant and mean spirited people in each and every discipline. Learn to let criticism roll off your back, and don't lower yourself to their level. And don't brag about your grades.
?
2013-01-10 18:09:43 UTC
And most western riders I know show AQHA WP/HUS and look down/talk down to me because I ride Thoroughbreds and ride English.



The road goes both ways, kiddo.
.
2013-01-10 18:11:17 UTC
Sounds like you need to hang out with a better class of better educated, sophisticated horsemen.
2013-01-10 17:06:35 UTC
well i dont know but if it makes you feel better i rider english (jumping) and i think it doesnt matter what style you are as long as you love what you do..................eglish is very hard though, i rode western for a while in my lessons and did lots of stuff then i switched. i will NEVER go back!!!!!!!!!! i love english!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Evie
2013-01-10 17:52:05 UTC
Wow. That's f*cking great. We don't care. Don't be an @ss coming on the Internet and whining about how you're supposedly smarter than others. D*ck.
2013-01-10 16:51:44 UTC
I ride both, and respect both. i honestly don't know why because we all ride and love our horses!
Jennifer
2013-01-10 17:21:03 UTC
I think english is yuppie and western is more laid back / have fun.

For instance : the rich kids ride english.

The fun hacker kids ride western.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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