How to Ride Western-Style
Learning to ride a horse western-style opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Instead of trotting around a ring and jumping fences, the western rider can discover the joys of roping, barrel racing and trail riding.
- Difficulty:
- Easy
Instructions
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1
Take lessons. It is important to get instruction on proper riding technique from a trained professional.
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2
Wear jeans or long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, riding boots or hard-soled shoes, and a helmet.
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Get a western saddle. A western saddle is larger than an English saddle, covers more of the horse and therefore provides more security. The western saddle comes down lower on the sides of the horse, goes farther down the back and has a pommel, or horn, in front to hold onto.
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4
Use a strap called a cinch to hold the saddle in place on the horse's back.
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5
Fit your horse with a bridle. The bridle has a headstall that fits over the horse's head and a bit that sits in the horse's mouth to help the rider control the horse.
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6
Choose one of two western-style reins for your horse: split reins or romel reins. Split reins are two separate reins, one held in each hand; the romel is two reins attached to each side of the bit and then wrapped together so you only hold one thick rein in one hand.
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1
Tips & Warnings
You can ride any breed of horse western-style. (Arabians, however, require special saddles designed to specifically fit them.)
Wear cowboy boots or a riding boot with a small heel to help hold your foot in the stirrup without getting stuck.
When riding, always wear long pants - preferably jeans - as they will protect your legs in case of a fall.
Wear a helmet while riding. One blow to the head can be very serious - even deadly.
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Comments
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preb
Mar 29, 2010
Not only Arabian horses require special saddles to specifically fit them. You should always ride a horse in a saddle that fits the horse (and you, of course)but the saddle certainly does not have to be specifically designed for that horse only. You can cause any horse tremendous pain if you ride them in a saddle that does not fit properly. Many behavioural issues such as bucking, running away, and biting while the cinch is being tightened can all be caused from an ill fitting saddle. To be sure your saddle fits properly talk to an equine chiropractor or saddle maker. -
eclipse295
Oct 16, 2009
In the Midwest and almost everywhere else (I think) You Have To Use a Curb bit or a straight bit in almost all Western Pleasure, Horsemanship, ans most other rail classes (for western) Some Classes have special rules. check the rule books for the shows you are planing on going to. That way you know that you are not using an Illegal bit and won't get a ribbion
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Sep 27, 2006
To tighten the girth you must understand that horses will know that the girth eventually tightens around their bodies to hold the saddle in place. Finding this out they will tend to puff themselves out, or hold a lot of air. Don't ever tighten the girth on the first pull. Instead tighten it enough that the horse knows it is there, and take the time to walk him/her around. They will eventually release the air they've held. Stop your horse and tighten it a bit more. Repeat the walking process, even if it means lunging your horse for a small amount of time. By then they will have forgotten about the girth, and you can make your final adjustment by tightening it to your satisfaction. Then hop on and ride! STEPS: 1. Tighten girth only a little bit 2. Walk/lunge the horse 3. Tighten girth a bit more (firmly now the girth is now tense) 4. Walk/lunge horse again 5. Make final adjustments to girth Always allow time for the horse to expel the air being held.
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Sep 27, 2006
To tighten the girth you must understand that horses will know that the girth eventually tightens around their bodies to hold the saddle in place. Finding this out they will tend to puff themselves out, or hold a lot of air. Don't ever tighten the girth on the first pull. Instead tighten it enough that the horse knows it is there, and take the time to walk him/her around. They will eventually release the air they've held. Stop your horse and tighten it a bit more. Repeat the walking process, even if it means lunging your horse for a small amount of time. By then they will have forgotten about the girth, and you can make your final adjustment by tightening it to your satisfaction. Then hop on and ride! STEPS: 1. Tighten girth only a little bit 2. Walk/lunge the horse 3. Tighten girth a bit more (firmly now the girth is now tense) 4. Walk/lunge horse again 5. Make final adjustments to girth Always allow time for the horse to expel the air being held.
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Sep 25, 2006
There are a wide variety of bits used for different types of riding. Some bits are very severe and can seriously injure a horse's mouth in unfamiliar, untrained hands. These bits often have a shank that hangs down below the horse's jaw and the reins are attached at the ends. Other bits are very mild and aren't enough to control some horses. An example of this is the French snaffle. It has no shank and two joints in the mouth piece. It's a fine bit for calm, well behaved horses, but other horses will run away on a rider using a French snaffle. Different bits require different use of the reins, as they work on different parts of the horse's mouth- some are specifically for neck reining, some for training, driving, and so on. Before tacking up an unfamiliar horse or switching your horse's bit, it's important to match the bit with the horse and rider's abilities and discipline.
