English VS. Western Riding 101

The first question that can come up when discussing riding is the difference between riding English versus riding Western. Here are a few of the basics to understanding these differences.

·         Saddle – Essentially, a Western saddle is wider, larger and heavier. It can hold more weight for longer periods of time as the weight of the rider is spread out over a larger portion of the horse’s back. The idea would be that the rider can stay on the horse for a full day’s work. The English saddle is smaller and much lighter and has English saddle pads underneath for comfort. It can be worn for shorter amounts of time and gives closer contact with the horse’s back.

·         Riding – The riding styles can seem similar as both require a comfortable and relaxed position for the rider. However, there are a few key differences. First, the most noticeable difference would be that the English rider makes direct contact with the horse’s mouth, through the reins, to aid in movements and direction. In Western riding there is no direct contact to move the horse. It mainly focuses on weight and neck reining for control. Lastly, an English rider takes a rein in each hand, instead of two in one had as Western riders do.  This slight change in position gives a very different appearance to the riders.

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