Question:
I am new to riding. I am age 34 and have ridden only 3 times in my life.
One very bad experience (the first one) and 2 good experiences on trail ride
situations.
I have always wanted to learn to ride. I live in town, so owning a horse
and frequent riding probably isn't in my future, but, I would like to be
able to feel comfortable and confidant riding on trail rides. If I became
adept enough at riding, maybe at some point and time I would go further
(possibly look into owning/stabling a horse at one of our local stabling
facilities). My ultimate dream would be to have a hobby-farm type set up
somewhere down the road...but...that is a long ways off, if ever.
Back to wanting to learn to ride. I have always been fascinated by horses
and riding. I have always loved the horse movies..."National
Velvet"..."International Velvet"...etc. etc...love horse
racing...steeplechasing, eventing, everything horses, basically.
I live in rural MN and the place I most recently went trail riding does
Western style riding (like the other 2 places I went trail riding on). I
suspect in this rural area, Western style riding is the overwhelming
majority of riding done in these parts. The woman who owns the trail-riding
business that I just went to recently learned English style riding herself.
She teaches riding lessons and states that she is getting more inquiries
about learning English style riding. She said she could teach me to ride
either way.
I really really want to learn English style. It appeals to me more than
Western style. However...the problem is...any type of riding that I will
probably have access to will be Western trail riding situations. Would it
be stupid for me to try to learn English style instead of Western style? Is
one that much different from the other? If I learned English style...would
going for a trail ride on a Western type riding situation be that much
different? Or...is it basically the same? Would the horse know both ways
of riding? I suppose these are really naive questions...well, I know they
are, but, I am hoping for some good answers.
I would be happy to learn how to ride any which way really...just happens
that English style is my preference.
Another question that I am sure is asked frequently is: Which is harder to
learn? English or Western style riding? The instructor said that when she
took her English riding lessons she was very very sore afterwards...said it
was a different way of riding and not being used to it at first...well, said
it was pretty rough on her. She didn't think it would be as bad for
somebody who really is just brand new to riding. I would be sore either
way! I am just wondering which would be harder for me to learn as an adult?
Also, is one style of riding more "correct" than the other? Or...is it just
a different style?
Please let me know what you think. I will be watching for your responses.
Thanks a lot!
Answer:
You say you live "in town" yet also in "rural MN". Even if you lived in New
York City, you could own a horse adn irde it every single day. Many people
have done it. I have owned a horse and ridden while residing in NYC,
Milwaukee, and Ann Arbor and there are plenty of others on the internet
who live "in town", own horses, and ride regularly. Please don't limit your
thinking like thatIf she just learned English herself, how can she do a credible job teaching
you? Even if the lessons were free, I suggest you pass on that and find an
experienced English instructor if you are serious about learning to ride.
It will be well worth learning correctly from the get-go rather than having
to un-learn incorrect technique.
I would be SHOCKED and AMAZED if you weren't reasonably near some decent
English stable that gives lessons. Look in the phone book. Call a few
numbers and visit the places. In MN, you might want to make syure the one
you choose has an indoor arena so you can continue productive lessons during
the winter.
This sounds to me like she doesn't know who to do ANY type of riding
proficientlyIf you are intersted in English riding, find a good stable that has
experienced instructors, pay your money, take lessons, audit other lessons,
and learn to ride.
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