When you hear the words horse riding, you probably imagine someone astride a big, brown animal with hooves, teeth, and a mane, galloping through the countryside with wild abandon. In fact, there are two types of horse riding: Western and English. Both have their roots in the original Spanish saddle and horseback riding traditions but have evolved into modern disciplines with very different goals and rules.In the Western riding category, you’ll find a variety of disciplines — from English, Western Tack, and Western Pleasure — each with their own set of regulations and traditions.In contrast, English riding is a single discipline with a simple set of rules that emphasize smooth and efficient riding, regardless of what type of riding you do. With so many different words and phrases floating around when discussing horses, we decided to clear the air and let you in on some of the insider info when it comes to these two types of riding. Read on to learn more about the differences between Western and English riding.
What is Western Riding?
In the Western riding category, you’ll find disciplines like Western Tack, Western Equitation, Western Trail Riding, and Western English. Western Tack is the practice of training or conditioning horses for riding, using simple equipment and techniques. Western Equitation is the art of showing and competing at a recognized level in one of the Western riding disciplines. Western Trail Riding is the art of riding horses over natural and manmade trails. Finally, Western English is a specific riding discipline that focuses on achieving a smooth and controlled ride through the use of a set of specific aids.Most Western disciplines are judged on a scale from 1-10, with 1 being the most unsound and 10 being the most perfect. For example, in Western Equitation, a rider might earn a score of 8 out of 10 after successfully demonstrating a series of exercises, tricks, and maneuvers.In contrast, English riding is a single discipline with a simple set of rules that emphasize smooth and efficient riding, regardless of the type of horse you ride.
What is English Riding?
In the English riding category, you’ll find disciplines like English Dressage, English Western-Style, English Show-Jumping, and English Endurance Riding. English Dressage is the practice of training or conditioning horses for the sport of dressage, which is the art of training a horse to obey and perform in a specific way. It is one of the oldest and most recognized forms of equestrianism, with its roots in military exercises and training.In English Western-Style, a rider will learn to ride a Western-style saddle on a horse trained to perform the specific movements expected in Western disciplines. In English Show-Jumping, a rider competes in special events that test their equestrianism skills, including jumping, vaulting, and course design, with a focus on style and showmanship.Finally, in English Endurance Riding, a rider rides for extended periods of time, often over rough and difficult terrain in remote and challenging places.
What are the differences between Western and English riding disciplines?
As you can see, there is a lot of variety between the two types of horseback riding. The main difference is that Western disciplines focus on the horse, while English disciplines focus on the rider. When you’re first getting started, it can be helpful to focus on one discipline and learn all the basics before trying something new. For example, if you want to learn English Western-Style, it’s helpful to start with the fundamentals of Western-Style first, like sitting properly in the saddle, using the correct aids, and understanding how to move your horse in response to your aids.In contrast, if you’re an experienced rider looking to learn more, you can jump right into an English discipline. As with Western riding, the rules, regulations, and goals are similar but the emphasis is different.
Why are Western and English disciplines different?
One of the biggest differences between Western and English disciplines is the amount of work required. In Western disciplines, the goal is to achieve a perfect balance between horse and rider. In other words, the horse is expected to handle its own weight while the rider is expected to balance and stay as relaxed as possible without assistance from the horse. In contrast, the goal in most English disciplines is to achieve a very specific and controlled position that requires the rider to provide as much assistance as possible. For example, in English Equitation, the rider is expected to use their legs to move the horse to the right or left in a very smooth and controlled fashion. This is very different from Western-Style, where the rider and horse are expected to stay in a very relaxed state.
How are Western and English disciplines similar?
Many people assume that Western disciplines are more dangerous than English disciplines. However, this is not necessarily the case. While the rules may be different, the goal of the rider is the same: to ride their horse in a controlled and efficient manner.This is also true when it comes to the types of tack used. While Western disciplines focus on different types of tack, like spurs and stirrups, English disciplines use the same types of equipment in different ways and for different reasons.
Final Words
Now that you know the details of Western and English disciplines — including their origins, rules, and differences — you’re ready to start your journey into the world of horseback riding. Whether you want to learn English or Western, it’s important to choose a discipline that fits your needs, fitness level, and personality. With so many different types of horseback riding out there, it’s important to find the right one for you.