Western to english

[MyHorseBiggs]

I want to ride Biggs english so I can practice the stuff I do at my lessons. And I don't have enough money to get a english saddle so I'd just be using a english bridle and riding bareback for now.

So my question is would it be hard to get him from western to english If I'm just using a english bridle? :popcorn:

Thanks ahead of time!

Tara

[HeartofSteel]

I think that is a hard question to answer. Its all riding, a bridle is a bridle and a saddle is a saddle. Yes they are different but you can practice pretty much any discipline on any horse no matter what the training. What kinds of things are you wanting to practice?

[MyHorseBiggs]

Well I want to practice (for me) posting, and in the future, possibly jumping.

[alittleoffkey]

That depends a lot on how 'western' your western riding is. I ride with more or less zero bit contact the vast majority of the time - most of my communication is done through my seat/legs with a touch of neck reining. If you're riding in a western saddle, direct-reining and he's used to contact with the bit, then it won't be as hard to get him to go english... 'cause he's nearly there. ;)

Half's right - it's just riding - the bridle doesn't change entirely his training or how you communicate with him. It depends on how he's already trained. :)

[Mandzanita]

In my opinion, at this point in time and at the level you're at in english, the horse won't have to do anything different then if ridden western. Go ahead and throw on your western stuff. As long as you are direct reining and ask for a more enthusiastic trot, you can practice all of your new english knowledge while still in your western gear. Heck I do dressage in my western saddle. You should be able to practice your posting and keep your rythm in your western saddle. Posting bareback is NOT an easy thing to do...it can be done though.

At this point you shouldn't even worry about having any contact with your horse's mouth. focus on riding from your seat with no reliance on the reins. It's easy to use the reins for support when you are learning to post. Go ahead and use your western bridle, as long as there is a snaffle on it so you can direct rein.

[cloedoll]

Well I want to practice (for me) posting, and in the future, possibly jumping.

Then you most definitely can. Some Western riders post, I do not recommend jumping in a Western saddle, though. The big thing, in my opinion, is what bit will you be using? Do you neck rein or direct rein when riding Western? If you normally neck rein, your horse will most likely not be used to the direct contact and might get extremely confused/frustrated.

[AUEquine]

Almost every horse I've ever ridden more than once, I've ridden both english and western. Like someone else said the main difference would be bit contact. If you ride with no bit contact when you ride western, then that's the one main adjustment.
However, I've found that most horses could care less what bridle/saddle they're wearing, they don't know the difference!
As far as posting, yes I post on many western horses (barrel horses arn't exactly known for their trot). But if you're wanting to practice for your lesson in an english saddle, then posting in a western saddle isn't the best. The balance system is different for a western saddle than an english, and the posting is not the same in the two. You can work on some rhythm, but your posistion would have to be different for each.

Hop on e-bay or some tack trader sites and see if you can find a cheap used saddle. Doesn't have to be much of anything, just something with a solid tree and safe billets that you can practice on.

Best of luck!

[Mandzanita]

I would stay away from much contact at this point unless you're under instruction. If you start messing with the horse's mouth and head without the proper knowledge of what to do with it you can get yourself in a little trouble and it's really easy to pick up bad habits.

[MyHorseBiggs]

Some Western riders post, I do not recommend jumping in a Western saddle, though. The big thing, in my opinion, is what bit will you be using?

I have tried posting in a western saddle but it's not what that saddle is made for like I barely get out of the saddle and look kinda like a retard doing it. :p

I wouldn't jump until I get an english saddle or would just do small jumps bareback. But that's for the future and haven't learned to do that just yet. :)

And as of right now I use a curb bit but I'm going to try a snaffle on him since he does have a habit of throwing his head up when I try to turn his head. :rolleyes:

[MyHorseBiggs]

That depends a lot on how 'western' your western riding is. If you're riding in a western saddle, direct-reining and he's used to contact with the bit, then it won't be as hard to get him to go english... 'cause he's nearly there. ;)

I don't think my riding isn't THAT western. And also he isn't sensitve to my legs when I squeeze or kick. So I usually have to have contact with the bit when I have a snaffle bit on him I have quite a bit of contact but not too much with the curb bit.

[MyHorseBiggs]

Posting bareback is NOT an easy thing to do...it can be done though.

I'm up for the challenge! I think I have pretty strong legs.. :p Or I could always get more leg mussle. :)

[MyHorseBiggs]

AUEquine - Thanks I'll check ebay I just bought saddle stand on there! :p

(sorry for the different posts, it was confusing for me to have it all in one, lol)

[HeartofSteel]

Posting bareback as Mandzanita said is not easy. If not done correctly you will grip with your knee's and post with your knee's instead of the correct way of keeping everything loose.

[Mandzanita]

Half_Passing is absolutely correct about posting bareback. I would encourage you to really get the hang of posting in a saddle before trying bareback. It's far to easy to pick up bad habits, such as gripping with the wrong body parts, and once you get used to the bad habit it's a sucker to break them! :) Also a curb bit is mainly used for neck reining and if you are trying to direct rein in one (which means using each rein independently) that would be why he's tossing his head. Switching him to a snaffle would be your best bet if you want to practice your english with him.

[FredRock]

I post in a western saddle all of the time, and I pretty much ride "western english" or, in other words, English in a western saddle. I learned to ride in a western saddle and posted.

The only thing that might mess you up for a while is the horn; you have to watch out for the horn. (Although that might actually be better, it'll keep you from posting a little too forward.)

[cloedoll]

And as of right now I use a curb bit but I'm going to try a snaffle on him since he does have a habit of throwing his head up when I try to turn his head. :rolleyes:Curbs aren't designed for direct reining, so that could be your issue right there (unless you're neck reining, but I'm assuming you're direct reining). I would try a snaffle, or don't direct rein in that curb. If you are riding English, though, you are suppose to have constant contact/direct rein, though...lol. Posting bareback is very hard, I just got it down and if you do it incorrectly, it's a lot of bouncing on the horses back. Just saying. =P Small jumps bareback are supa fun, though!

[luv2show]

cloedoll is correct. How are you "reining" him?

[MyHorseBiggs]

cloedoll is correct. How are you "reining" him?

I'm doing a little neck reining with him with a curb bit also I don't use the curb bit if I direct rein him. I think I said something different then what I ment. Opps. :)

[MyHorseBiggs]

If you are riding English, though, you are suppose to have constant contact/direct rein, though...lol. Posting bareback is very hard, I just got it down and if you do it incorrectly, it's a lot of bouncing on the horses back. Just saying. =P Small jumps bareback are supa fun, though!

Yup I know that I english you're supposed to have direct/contact with the rein/mouth. :p And might not post bareback for a while actually. Now just thinking about it seems pretty hard.. :)