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.