Not at all... not sure why it would? I ride both, and would be riding western on Zeus as well as dressage and jumping if my western saddle fit him. I don't get why people dislike western. If you're riding properly you'll ride pretty much the same no matter what kind of saddle.
I only ride english, but it doesn't bother me at all if someone is riding western around me. However, it would bother me if western people are annoyed when I am riding english, that would just show intolerance on their part.
I ride both , somedays I feel like riding in my English saddle , somedays I feel like riding Western. It depends on what I am working on that day or what my mood is. I ride with others who ride either english or western.
Now that being said are my horses "trained" Western? Not exactly, they neck rein ( sort of) but we are still working on that. Do they have a slow western jog , well not exactly ...I can get my Dun to jog very nicely but my Paint is a work in progress (although getting better and slowing down more)
But to answer the original question it doesnt bother me at all if someone else rides Western or English .There is a lot that can be learned by both. I at one point had an instructor who taught me a little about dressage while I rode in my western saddle.
I've never thought about it. I have ridden western all my life, but I have alwasy wanted to ride ome english. I plan on taking english lessons this coming year if at all possile
I won't ride western.
It doesn't bug me to see people riding western...
But embarrassingly enough.. I do feel kinda superior to those who choose to ride western. I know that's bad, but I can't help it *blush*
I don't mind seeing people ride western. I do it myself a lot. But I'm more of an english person, however in my county I'm about the only one in english. So when I go to an open show, I get funny looks, but I don't mind anymore. Although, someone came up to me and said I didn't belong at the open show and that I should leave. I'll admit I was upset, but its ok, because I beat them in their best class. Sorry off topic.
...In "my" world we ride in a western saddle for training purposes no matter the discipline, even to warm up at shows... I only use my english saddle for show days...
It's kind of funny because when I was a hunt rider I never rode western and hated the feel of the western saddle... now I prefer it...
So... when I see people riding side saddle I just want to yank them off the horse! ... (So I can give it a try! I think it would be SO cool!!!)
I ride English and someone riding Western wouldn't bother me one bit. I don't see why someone who rides Western would be bothered by someone riding English though.
I ride English and have since I was 3. Western riders don't bother me at all. I share the arena with a few western riders frequently. I rode western a couple times at a horse camp and just for fun to try it but after a bad car accident, the seat and overall position it gives badly effects the pinched nerves at the base of my spine so I can't walk afterwards. I looooove watching the rodeos on TV though and when I take Caleigh to the fair I take some time to stop by and watch a few before western pleasure shows before going home.
I think it's more the attitude I associate with some english riders that gets on my nerves. The poster who said they feel superior, that's exactly how a lot of english people I have been around act. I CAN ride english, not well though. I have been in a western saddle since I was three, and it's where I am most comfortable SOME Dressage and english riders I have encountered have a "I'm awesome cause I have a tiny saddle" attitude and it's really sad. My abilities may not make sense to you, because I ride a different style, but I ride REALLY well and I know that, so I don't appreciate guff off people. So just don't criticize what you can't understand, as bob dylan says
I agree 100% to this, ever since I have been in California I encounter ALOT of english riders and to this day I have not met one that has not bugged me, not because of their riding style but because of their "superior" attitude they have towards me because I ride western. I am a very relaxed person in the saddle and it really irks me when I ride around english riders and they turn and look at me with their nose up in the air like they are a better species or something. I would love to ride English someday, I am sure it would be so much fun, but the only reason I haven't is because I have yet to meet an english instructor without that "superior" attitude.
I ride english (dressage, h/j, english pleasure, trail), a few things bother me but it can be applied to either displine. I hate when people ride peanut rollers, who are on the forehand or behind the verticle. Your might think you look good, but its not how anyone should be riding. I am not a fan of leverage bits, I see more of that in western. Unless you have soft forgiving hands you can mess up a horses mouth. I dont like those western "cowboys/cowgirls" who think they can break and ride anything.
i really like to watch wps classes at the shows. those horses are gorgeous and look so comfy to ride. and ive always wanted to try to ride a bull. I like how in western shows you try to look as flashy as possible, where in english you have to pretty much blend in and look discrete. i want bling on my saddle!
I think both take equal ability... so people should just enjoy watching a good rider in whatever saddle they happen to be working in. They are too different for people to judge one in comparison to another, it's apples and oranges!
For whoever said they feel "superior" to Western riders..It's a mindset about status isn't it?
Some see English as more "refined" and "high class" and Western as the sloppy, cowboy, "cheap" style of riding, but Western isn't just hop on and go. Both English and Western require finely tuned horsemanship and attention to detail. Whether it's dressage or reining, it all requires skill. Both disciplines could learn a thing or two from the other.
Don't get caught up in the "who is better than who" debate. It's ignorant, it won't take you anywhere but down, and it's a senseless waste of time.
^Thank You^ I don't think either is better than the other, but being a western rider, it bothers me to be looked down upon like I am sloppy and "cheap" as some may view it. From being on this forum, I know there are friendly english riders out there, lol, just not around here that I have met. But trust me, I would definitely love to learn english, like some have said, they are 2 VERY different skills and it would be neat to know both.
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