stayinthesaddle

Balance is so important, in all riding styles. In Western riding, you do not post to the trot but rather sit down into it. Engaging your abs, hips and thighs - you think "down and back", not "down and rigid. You stay in constant contact with the saddle and therefore with the horse. You are able to move with the horse (at his tempo) and as you learn, you can start to control his speed and tempo through your seat. Its quite a joy to learn to trot and be comfortable and in complete control of both your body and the horse's.
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I teach basic western riding lessons, and I can guaratee you that learning the basics (comfort, communication, control and confidence) is the cornerstone of becoming a competent horseman. You need to find someone that can teach you in a meaningful way, someone who can teach you how to actually work with the horse, and someone who not only "looks good" but actually walks the talk. Not all great athletes are great coachs! In regards to English or Western - learn what you want to ride. Learning English may be beneficial, but if you are going to be a Western rider - seek out a Western instructor and learn ground up from him/her. Western riding is designed for people to find comfort on a horse from sun-up to sun-down (ie. the cowboy way), quite different from English.
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