The Best Riders
Published by GHC • Jul 4th, 2008 • Category: Riding Adviceby Stargazer, age 11
Do you like English or Western better? That’s probably one of the most common questions asked among horse riders, and also one of the most pointless ones.
It shouldn’t matter what type of saddle you ride in, it is the type of rider you are. A saddle is merely a tool to help us balance on the horse and learn proper riding position. What matters is if the saddle and bridle were to disappear, would you be able to control your horse? The answer to that question for many riders is no, and it’s not because of the saddle that they ride in.
Picture this: Two riders, one English, one Western, competing against each other with no saddle and no bridle. Many people would say the Western rider would win because the Western style of riding has reining, where they sometimes ride without a saddle or bridle. But what goes into this reining? I am sure that it is not the type of riding they do. It is a deep understanding and trust between the horse and rider, which is not just witnessed in Western reining. It is witnessed in any situation where there is a skilled, knowledgeable rider who has a healthy partnership with their equine partner.
It does not matter to the best of horsemen or horsewomen what type of saddle they are riding in, because a true horse person can get on any horse, whether it is trained for English or Western, and know exactly what that horse needs.
I absolutely love this blog, especially your very thoughtful ending. You are a fast-improving blogger with writing skills I can see reaching above the sky. This blog has struck me quiet with its meaning, its phrasing…everything! Keep on happy writing :)
Very nice blog, Stargazer. It was very detailed and from what I see, no mistakes. Every blog you make gives you more and more skill with writing.
Keep up the great work!
-mustangmane
This is an amazing blog- well done! I ride English, and over here it’s obviously quite a pointless question, but for a very different reason, of course. I would love to try riding without a saddle, but without a bridle sounds a bit hard… maybe in a few years when I’m better at riding :).
I’m glad to hear that you all like my blog!
Sweetie-it definately would be challenging to ride without a bridle. To ride without a bridle, you and your horse have to have an amazing amount of trust with eachother. I have not yet accomplished that amount of trust for I have not been able to devote enough time to horses since I don’t have them living in my backyard. :)
Here in Portugal we don’t have western saddles, and we ride well and have a nice relationship with our horses! We have the english saddle and the portuguese saddle and they’re very different. The saddle that you ride is not what makes you a good or a bad horseman or horsewoman. *I’m sorry about the writing errors*
I knew there were other riding styles, but I chose to use to of the more common ones in my area because I knew the most about them. They were just examples. I would like to know more about the portuguese saddle. I’m going to have to research that.
Great blog- I loved how you made that idea that whatever riding style you use shouldn’t matter to everyone else. No one should look down on you becuase you love Western, and someone shouldn’t think poorly of you if you prefer English! Wonderful, Stargazer!
I loved this blog! Iride english , western and bear backand I love it all!
great blog!!!!!!!
I can ride bridleless!Ilove your blog it is very detailed
This is a great blog! I ride english and love it sooooo much!
Happy riding!,
stablegirl