Riding styles

Let's Talk about Riding styles...

There are 2 main riding styles; English and western. Today I'll talk about both.

This is the English Saddle

English riding is  a very popular way of riding. It consists on mainly 3 areas. Dressage, show jumping and Cross country. But there are many more, like Hunter classes and Pleasure classes. This saddle is designed to allow the freedom to move an successfully carry out the Task ahead, ranging from classical dressage to Horse racing. English bridles also vary in styles based on the Discipline but most feature a cavesson nose band and closed reins buckled together at the ends ( this prevents them from falling to the ground if the rider becomes unseated).  Riders are needed to have great balance and seat in order to control the horse properly without putting him or the horse in any kind of danger.


Western styles evolved from ranching in the U.S.A Brought by the spanish conquistadors. This riding style is equipped to meet the need's of a Cowboy in the american West. Cowboys needed to work long hours over rough terrain, sometimes needing to rope cows with a lasso. Because of the necessity of controlling the horse with one hand and roping the cow with the other, western horses are trained to neck rein ( meaning they will change direction from a slight touch on their neck from the outside rein). The horses were also trained to follow the movements of the cattle therefore producing a saddle that is deep and securely seated with a horn to tie the lasso. Though there are significant differences in equipment, there are fewer differences between English and Western riding than appear at first glance. Both styles require riders to have a solid seat as to avoid jerking the horse in the mouth and interfering with it's performance.

This is a Western style tack.