Enjoy Horse Riding Either Western Or English Style

By Orlando Finlay


Horse Riding for pay includes being a jockey and performing in shows and exhibitions. When done for pleasure it takes the form of spending weekends on the trail on horseback. For any individual who is not planning to ride often, it is more economical to rent than own and maintain your steed.

The Western style uses a bulky leather saddle that has a saddle horn at the front. The single set of reins are held in the left hand. An English saddle is flat leather and there are two sets of reins the rider holds in both hands.

In a Western show, the events include barrel racing and pole bending. Three barrels are set up in a cloverleaf pattern. The rider gallops around all three without tipping one over. The rider who completes the course in the least amount of time is declared the winner.

The English jumping saddlery competitions are open to both men and women. Western barrel racing is performed most often by women. It is an integral part of any rodeo and the only event women compete in. The winner is traditionally named rodeo queen.

Owners can display their beautiful animals and their skills in a parade. The rider must be able to keep the animal under control in the event a loud noise or startling movement spooks it. The spectators are vulnerable to being hurt by a runaway thousand pound equine.

Joining a riding club can be a great deal of fun. Other members always have good advice to offer. Everyone can feel a camaraderie with others wearing the same uniform. Planned activities such as hayrides are enjoyable for all the club members in addition to taking group rides together.

Another competitive equestrian event takes countless hours and years of training and practicing to perfect. It originated in the old West when ranch hands had to cut each calf out of the herd to be branded on the open range. The cowboy performed this task as a routine part of his work.

The cowboy need not guide the animal with the reins, but, rather leans his weight from side to side to signal the horse which direction to move in. It takes years of repetition to perfect this kind of equine activity. Communication is an integral and necessary part of this riding.

An inexperienced rider may be interested only in how fast he can go. There are three gaits, the trot, the cantor and the gallop. The trot causes the rider to bounce up and down. The cantor is a slower, controlled gallop and the gallop is an all out run at the fastest speed. Horse Riding is not only about speed. It is equally important to know how to maintain enough control to stop.




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