Why do most english people think that western is easier?

Question

Because it's not. Western performance is not easy! No riding is easy!! Can't we just be equal?

No rude comments please.

Answer 1

It is something that bothers me so much! When (some) english riders answer questions telling people not to ride western because it is only for beginners and lazy people it makes me so sad... why can't we just be friends!



After riding both english and western I think that most people who say that western is easy have never seriously tried it. In my experience I find english and western of equal difficulty. Riding western doesn't just mean riding in a western saddle on the trail, you have to seriously try it. I do reining, my instructor always jokes that I need to make the cues subtle enough so that the english riders think it's easy. Remember that just because you don't see lots of cues, doesn't mean that we aren't doing anything!



They are two very different things with their own set of challenges that require an equal amount of discipline, precision and effort. I don't think either discipline can put down the other, we should be on the same team.

Answer 2

Well, as a Western rider myself, I'll be honest and say that I've never ridden English, so I really wouldn't know, but as a guess, I would think that English riders look mainly at the saddle. The western saddle, you are supposed to sit in, and you have a horn to grab on to, and a generally deeper seat.



While it may not actually be easier to ride well either way, it may actually be easier to stay on a horse in a western saddle, than an English saddle, which has no horn, just a low pommel, and is relatively flat, though a dressage saddle does have a bit of a deep seat.

Answer 3

The way I see it: Western is a much more relaxed discipline. The horses and riders are in a much more relaxed manor than English, thus allow the horse and rider to communicate through more relaxed movements which can make it more lazy as the rider isn't doing much because the horse is more responsive.



Western is also though of as the way the cowboys rode way back when. A lot of galloping around in the saddle and long trails driving cattle. Most people forget the more complex things like reining and roping. (I tried throwing a lasso on horse back once, it's not easy). Just as much training goes into a western horse as an english horse. There is no way to compare the two.



Western was designed for work horses, English for pleasure. The only difference being that English is now an internationally recognised pleasure sport while western is still getting there.



People think that English requires more discipline than Western but that isn't true. Every sport requires the same amount of time, energy, practise and discipline.



You can't compare either as they both have there uses and purposes. Neither is better than the other.

Answer 4

I've read a couple of these answers saying it doesn't take balance to stay in a western saddle. I beg to differ - it takes just as much balance (if you're riding correctly) to ride western as it does to ride english. Most western riders do not use the horn, which I think is the biggest misconception. I ride both disciplines, and there are challenges with both. For those of you english people who think it's a cakewalk to ride western - I challenge you to go to a cutting stables and ride a cutter for a day. See how confident you feel after that task. Western people who think English riding is a cakewalk - I challenge you to go jump a course for a day and see how confident you feel.



Personally I ride western most of the time because I'm doing long trail rides on green horses, getting cows in, ect. For me it's more comfortable, and I enjoy it. Before everyone starts yapping their mouths, why don't you put yourself in the other's shoes first and get the facts. Otherwise, you sound like a know-it-all and no one will listen to your thoughts.

Answer 5

I personally think it's because of the saddle. In an english saddle you are more "on" the saddle, in a western you are more "in" the saddle, and thus feel more secure.



I used to be like that before I learned more about balanced riding. Now I find them equal. But if I ride a horse I don't know, I do prefer western just in case the horse acts up you can stay on better, lol.



Also, looking at classes, the western riders look to have it easier then the english riders.

Answer 6

I have been riding for 36 years, English and Western. Jumping, Pleasure, showing western and English. Even on cattle drives. Western IS easier because of the balance and saddle position. It isn't as physically demanding and the leg, hand contact isn't as intense.



I'm not saying Western is easy, especially showing, reining etc, but it's not as physically demanding as English. Sorry, just the facts.



EDIT: For those who stereo type and think English riders were "born with a silver spoon in their mouths" think again. If any of you follow my posts you would realize that I worked from age 13 on a dairy farm to pay for food for my horse and supplies. I milked cows, bailed hay, fed pigs and sheered sheep. I rode Western and showed Western Pleasure, barrels, cutting and reining until I was 30, then started to learn to jump, at 34 I started dressage and in the last 5 or so years I have gone on cattle drives, team penning and sorting. So, I'm not "born with a silver spoon in my mouth" I work 2 jobs as well as teach children with challenges, how to ride and take care of horses. I always start my riders in a wester saddle as the balance is easier when you are trying to learn to use leg, steer your horse and learn what it's all about. Western is just easier all around.

Answer 7

I ride both. I ride hunters, jumpers, cross country, dressage, and pleasure. For western I do barrel racing, gymkhana, pleasure and trail riding. Western IS easier. English is a lot more control, and the seat is a lot harder to maintain and keep perfect.



The western world is a lot more "relaxed" then the highly competitive, perfectionist world of English. I'm not trying to sound mean or anything, but from 12 years of riding experience: yes, western IS easier.

Answer 8

I think that most English riders think of Western as trail riding or something else easy. This is what Western riding is normally associated with from what I can tell. There is a lot of technique in riding English, especially in Dressage.



I do not personally agree with this though. I know that all riding is difficult. Western is no easier than English.

Answer 9

It is easier to keep your balance on a western, it is easier to control a horse on an English saddle. My son who is 7 and has down syndrome used to use a western saddle so that he could get confidence by being stable and balanced, but know he is pretty good he can use an English saddle. Of course it also depends where you live, it was a bugger for me to find a Western saddle in the South East of England for a fat cob! And i imagine it would be hard to find an English saddle in Montana, so you just go with what is easier! It would also depend on what you are doing, i do mainly dressage so an English is more suitable, but say you do barrel racing, a Western saddle would be more suitable. It's not that one is better than the other, it's who it's for, where your from and what you will do with it. Hope i helped! x

Answer 10

I ride H/J and I don't think that o_O



Reining/cutting is intense.



Western saddles are much more secure and easier to "stick in" than an English saddle.



English people look down on Western people because they're all "backyard hicks riding little cow ponies", and Western people look down on English people because they're "snotty, proper, uptight brats".



And then you have Western Pleasure people...........

Answer 11

I ride Western. I think it's because both Western and English make each other enemies. Some English people make out Western riders to be lazy, but don't they remember the West wasn't settled in a Dressage saddle? Some Western people make out English people to be snobby, but don't they remember English saddle was typically the "first" real saddle?

Watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrYOQ52U3LQ



Hope this helps!



EDIT: The Clever Horse: True, we do know the barrel pattern, but that doesn't mean that it's hard. Barrels:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBgbJQLOKOc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcL0dzLhfL0



We do have to memorize patterns, such as in a trail class. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NK5SyN4DlIM

Or reining:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wLikusmCEA

^^

Now tell me that isn't easy.

Answer 12

They didn't say it is easy just easier. Mainly because the saddle holds you in and you don't have to balance yourself. Western you get to relax more and that is why they use the saddle for trails mainly. In english your horse is more forward moving and in western you are supposed to collect as much as possible. Try telling me that isn't easier than pushing your horse to move forward. It takes alot of strength also to jump. If you haven't noticed, most western horses are docile and bombproof. Jumpers are like thoroughbred, even the warmbloods, are more hot than a QH.

Not that I am saying that barrels aren't hard, but compared to jumping, it is easier. You always know the pattern, and in jumpers and hunters you don't until you get there. Plus your horse knows it too. That can make it harder. Usually you don't as much things like jumps to spook your horse either.

But why does it matter? Everyone should do what they want to do. Maybe western is harder for some people because they can't get the barrel pattern down but can jump? IDK...I just don't see how hard it can be to know how to go around 3 barrels compared to 7-8 jumps and get every lead and a different (but certain amount) of steps between every jump like in hunters. Thats hard.

Answer 13

Maybe it's because they have never tried Western riding and the people they have seen riding in that style make it look so easy!



Some of the English riders might be addressing the Western style saddle and believe it is easier to stay on if your horse is acting up (which I think it is, having ridden both styles).



People who ride in the English style usually know absolutely nothing about riding Western or training a horse in that discipline. They think very highly of themselves, are usually born with a silver spoon in their mouths and cannot imagine that someone who wears jeans and western boots could possibly be as talented as they! LOL! I have met English riders, dressage riders and hunter-jumper people who aren't like that, but I have met far more who are.



That being said, I have also met snooty Western riders, so I think all in all both groups are equal. Both styles consist of people who think they are above everyone else, some who think they are equals, some who are breed-snobs and some who aren't. Nothing is ever going to change these things.



Personally, I think both styles of riding are difficult and require the horses to be well-trained....even all my wonderful trail horses have been well-trained!

Answer 14

I ride english, and have never thought western would be easy.

Never had a chance to give western a go, but have always wanted to - from where I see it each discipline is just as hard, for different reasons and from different aspects. They are both very different techniques to riding, and obviously both need different skills.

Answer 15

I think alot of it comes from the idea that english is a wealthy persons sport and western is a poor persons way of ridding.. if you look back in history the only people who could afford the english saddle expencive english horse and the english appral were the wealthy. Do you ever see classic paintings from england with farmers sitting in a english saddle no you see paintings with men in red coats and tan breeches with well groomed horses and top hats. with fox hounds around them.



and whe you see western art its useally a dirty hard working cowboy on a dirty hard working horse :)

Answer 16

I have rode both, they are equal. Barrel racing, reining, stuff like isn't easy, but jumping isn't either.

Answer 17

I don't I think it looks quite difficult to have long stirrups and make you horse do what you want with them. It does look more comfy on a trek though. :)