Do You Ride Horses?

[karkadorr]

I'd be glad to help. ^^
I've never ridden Western, only English, but I can assure you that English is very very fun (well, to me at least)
As I'm not sure about how Western riding is like, but from photos and videos, I've gathered that you use your seat and leg a lot more than you use the reins, so in English, you use them a lot more. You use them at the same time as your legs to get the horse round and underneath you (in Dressage) and in show jumping, you can use them to steer, though it's best if you use your seat and legs to guide and balance the horse. Overall, the things you've learned in Western can come in handy (especially the use of seat and legs), and I hope that English goes well for you!! xx

edit;; would you guys mind looking at a photo of myself jumping and critiquing my position?

[ayeo]

I'd be glad to help. ^^
I've never ridden Western, only English, but I can assure you that English is very very fun (well, to me at least)
As I'm not sure about how Western riding is like, but from photos and videos, I've gathered that you use your seat and leg a lot more than you use the reins, so in English, you use them a lot more. You use them at the same time as your legs to get the horse round and underneath you (in Dressage) and in show jumping, you can use them to steer, though it's best if you use your seat and legs to guide and balance the horse. Overall, the things you've learned in Western can come in handy (especially the use of seat and legs), and I hope that English goes well for you!! xx

edit;; would you guys mind looking at a photo of myself jumping and critiquing my position?

Thank you for the response ImperialFate! It's really appreciated!
I hope you don't mind if I were to copy what was said uptop and maybe jot it down on some paper? (:
It may seem weird but I want to gather lots of information about English riding. :3
Actually, I hope Most of you won't mind if I were to try and gather some more information from you all?

I hope this doesn't sound awkward or weird in anyway, but once again, I want to gather lots of information about English riding before I start my lessons. :3

Thank you! <3

[Toppyrocks]

Hi there Kaia!

I ride English, though I'd love to try western, and aside from one western lesson and a few rides in a western saddle (it was a difficult horse and it was much easier to not be thrown with her antics in a western saddle) I haven't done western. But I've noticed that there seem to be several common sticky spots people seem to come to.
English horses really have to, for the most part, stretch through with their hind legs and push, lifting up with their front end and shoulders, which takes lots of leg and some hand(contact almost always) Impulsion is KEY. I've also noticed that some people, switching either discipline, have to get used to keeping their heels down again. Whatever the reason is, I think Opal explained it a while back, the way you use your muscles to keep heels down is different in the different saddles, and it takes adjusting no matter if you are going from western to english or english to western. So basically, impulsion, contact, and heels might be some spots that you have to get used to. It's different for everyone though, right? You might have no problem at all, and if you are good riding western I'm sure it will only take a bit of getting used to to get the hang of english :)

[ayeo]

Hi there Kaia!

I ride English, though I'd love to try western, and aside from one western lesson and a few rides in a western saddle (it was a difficult horse and it was much easier to not be thrown with her antics in a western saddle) I haven't done western. But I've noticed that there seem to be several common sticky spots people seem to come to.
English horses really have to, for the most part, stretch through with their hind legs and push, lifting up with their front end and shoulders, which takes lots of leg and some hand(contact almost always) Impulsion is KEY. I've also noticed that some people, switching either discipline, have to get used to keeping their heels down again. Whatever the reason is, I think Opal explained it a while back, the way you use your muscles to keep heels down is different in the different saddles, and it takes adjusting no matter if you are going from western to english or english to western. So basically, impulsion, contact, and heels might be some spots that you have to get used to. It's different for everyone though, right? You might have no problem at all, and if you are good riding western I'm sure it will only take a bit of getting used to to get the hang of english

Hmm, okay! Thank you Toppy!
This information will be fairly useful later on. *Goes to write stuff down.* ouo;
Once again, thank you for the help! I'm actually really excited for my English lessons to start!
I will report back to you all after my first one. :3

See, I now tend to have some troubles keeping my heels down. I'm beginning to get used to the feeling and it rarely happens for me to just suddenly flatten my heels, but I guess it happens to us at some time, right?. Now are there any ways I can re-frain from that happening again?

Haha, I'm sorry about asking these questions, I'm trying my best to improve my riding and get tips. x3

Edit;; I'm sorry if my posts don't make much sense, I'm pretty tired and it feels as if I can't really think straight. xc

[karkadorr]

Call me Fate C:
Well, since I started with English I've always been used to keeping my heels down (that, and my feet are very weird anatomically; the heel part is really flexible so it's easier for me to keep my heels down) but I try and imagine the position I want to have. Your heels need to be in line with your bottom and pushed down, so I just try and imagine the ideal position I'm going for while I'm riding, and it works for me. Maybe you can try it. C: Oh, and Toppy also mentioned contact, which is very important in English riding, amongst the other things she's said.

[husky.]

Hello, everybody ^-^

I've wanted to talk about all my horsey stuff here for a while, but never worked up the courage to ^^" Now I'm really excited, I just had to post, because I am getting a new horse tomorrow and he is just so amazing. I thought I might share it with you all, because I am almost dying with anticipation and I would love to be more active with this community ouo

Okay, that's all for now. If there is a form to join, just let me know n.n

[.Scarlet.]

@gully- oh my goodness you're so lucky to get a horse! What color and breed is he??

@Kaia and Fate- I've been only riding for about 3 years as well but I've only done English. But I have always struggled with my heels needing to be down. Before my lessons, I try to focus on having my heels down and put that in my mind so when I ride I remember tight legs and heels down. It usually helps me a lot. And welcome to the thread Kaia


Oh and I shall post some pictures later today. I'm going up to help my instructor with two lessons. She has two little boys that come and they're so friggen cute. They ride a horse named Cianna. Who is the sweetest little old mare I have ever met! Her show name was Strawberry Poptart and she's just super cute c: I'll try to snap some pictures for you all to see :3

[karkadorr]

@gully - Oh, I've always wanted to have my own horse. :3 Unfortunately, the area where I live in just doesn't have enough space and livery stables charge a lot, so I've only leased. Right now, I'm just riding two horses continuously at my stable, but I don't lease - I'm hoping to though, very soon. c:

I might also post pictures of myself riding, if you guys don't mind. ;P

[.Scarlet.]

I'd love to see fate! And I wih I could ride that much. A lesson a week and if I'm not busy, I help my instructor. I'm lucky enough to be able to ride her horses every now and then. And she usually lets me help lunge or chase them c: her one 4 year old doesn't realize there are walls in an arena when he runs around it. Lol. And her other one he was lunging didn't realize he had to turn when he's trotting. She had him on the line and he kept trying to trot past and go on the rail. We were like; Sox. You're being stupid. You're on a leash and you think you can just walk anywhere! Then he ran into a standard. A wide standard and freaked himself out. Reared and took off. Thankfully my instructor didn't get dragged. But all he wanted to do was see his gay lover. Lol. He's unloved with his pasture friend Guiddian. And G could honestly care less about Sox. We make up romance stories xD haha.

[CaveyCave]

@Milo
I dunno if he's been sold, i have only been told he's gone to the Baharmas
But, i think he goes there every year as a holiday then comes back in Feb, which is when i first saw/rode him.

I want to go to the yard and work with Quad really...i know all these techniques and stuff to make her more responsive.
But what i love is, Quad is a proper moody mare and she hates it when horses come up behind her, even when they are 6ft away and hates riding off. But yesterday (can't believe i forgot to tell you) i was backing up T and M (on the other team) was about to hook her stick, so i turned Quad into her, squeezing with my left leg to help push her over and then turned her, keeping my leg on (you have to be strong with her) and she did a PROPER ride off, the whole slam. I was soooo proud of her! I couldn't stop smiling and patting her C: I think she is really starting to trust me,
oh, and she has stopped windsucking xD

Allllssoooo her lead changes have been getting better, you can stop her better (you just have to gently pull the reins back a mm) and she is more responsive, and showing her true racing colours xD
Sean said he's never seen her so responsive and fast.

Buuuttt the greatest thing is, you would think polo would mess up your riding and position, but my sitting trot has gotten alot better, basically all my dressage skills have been getting better <3