Question:
I have grown up riding my whole life without the benefit of any real lessons.
Usually trail riding on western saddles, and had several horses and ponies.
Where I grew up, there was not much in the way of formal riding, usually
recreational in the community. You got on a horse, you rode it. My interests
are in relaxing trail riding or working from a horse, on occasion.
My fiancee is a hunter/jumper type. She's been taking lessons for years, and
eventually we intend to have our own (recreational, not business) farm. I have
worked on farms my whole life, including strictly horse facilities, so we have
an understanding of what we are getting into.
I am interested in getting actual lessons to correct my style and form, and
basically to get some saddle time before we start looking at our own land and
horses. Her trainer has suggested English lessons, saying they will translate
to Western style. I have only ridden an English saddle a few times, but found
them uncomfortable. I am 5'10", 220. I have also found reining and cues to be
different from what I've been accustomed to.
The true question is: Which form would be better, English or Western, based on
my needs and current plans? I ask this group because I've been reading here
for a while, and would like an unbiased (????) opinion, as opposed to a
financially dependant response. I'd also like to know the right questions to
ask. Admittedly, this is awkward, having grown up riding my whole life, then
having to admit it might all be wrong, although I never fell off in all these
years.
Answer:
I personally agree with her trainer. Not because English is better, but
because it is what the fiancee rides & you can relate better to her riding
style. It does translate easily and since you are already familiar with basic
Western, one of you may decide that the other discipline is more fun & then you
know both. You might like to jump and she will like to go trailriding and you
can have the best of both worlds.
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