What Discipline Suits You Best?

There are many different Riding Disciplines and with a little study it should be clear what Discipline would suit you best. I am giving here just an overview of the main riding styles and what you need for each of them.

Let's start with the Western Riding Style. This seems to be a very popular style in America. This all started a long time ago when the cowboys and vaqueros had to spend long days in the saddle. The saddle were originally designed by the Spanish Conquistadores for war. Over time, the Mexicans gave the saddles a make-over for their work in the saddle; they needed it to be functional for ranch-type duties, hauling heavy tools and materials, and even for roping cattle. The horn was added to the saddle for this purpose. They are still heavy duty saddles that can stand up to rough handling. It got its name from the western parts of the United States where the cowboys and vaqueros worked on huge ranches.

The cowboys and vaqueros in those days included several competitions and horse races in in their parties and fiestas. Some of them where really fun and exciting, others rather cruel. There would be races through the desert where the contestants would have to show their skills on rough terrain and their familiarity with their surroundings. In another game they would bury roosters so their heads would still stick out of the ground. The vaqueros would come racing by and grab the roosters' heads...not too nice, but popular in the days right before California became part of the USA.

Than there were the round-ups. Once a year the cattle and horses needed to be rounded up and branded. You can still see the different disciplines at the Rodeos: Roping, Team Penning, Barrel Racing, Reining. All skills that helped the cowboy to be faster, better and quicker.

When you ride Western Style you usually hold split reins in one hand. The other hand is free to do other things. Cowboys needed that hand for roping and holding on to equipment.

Reining is often compared to Dressage in the English Riding Style. It is a refined training and teaches the horse to do intricate patterns in different gaits. The horse really needs to listen well and be very responsive. There are some really good trainers that can teach horse and human this fun riding style.

The English Riding Style came from Europe (and England) a long time ago and was more associated with social activity than with a job. The English Riding Style needs a different saddle. This saddle is very light and less bulky than the Western Style saddle. Just like with Western Style Riding, there are different saddle types for each discipline. The Dressage Saddle has longer flaps and puts you in a straighter up-right position than the Jumping Saddle, for example. There is no horn on the saddle so you can lean forward when jumping. English Style Bridles and bits are very different from Western Style Headstalls and bits. The bridle usually has a noseband, sometimes a flash and always a brow band. It always goes over both ears. The headstall has no noseband or flash and not always a brow band, it sometimes only goes over only one ear.

There are very many different Different disciplines within the English Riding Style: Dressage, Show Jumping, Hunt Seat, Fox Hunting, 3-Day Eventing, Tetrathlon, Endurance and many games like Polocrosse,etc. Of course, even in an English Saddle you can go on Trail Rides!

 

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