Western Horse & Riders Gone English (& Dakota) [pics]

After church this morning I stopped by my friends house and borrowed her surcingle and side-reins to work with Dakota for the next few days. My other friend came over after I got home and we caught both of my horses (that's the way it seems to happen these days, if I go out to get one, I end up getting them both out). Anyway, after about an hour, the friend I borrowed the surcingle from came over to borrow my hoof-file with another one of our friends. They stayed for a bit and we played with the horses for a bit.

My friend Hannah and our other friend Nathan rode my mare Gypsie (who is a western trail horse) in my English saddle... lol. I got quite a few good pictures, and had to share them. I also played around with ground-driving and lunging Dakota, though I only got pictures of him with the stuff on, not pictures of me ground-driving him and stuff. I didn't ride, I was taking pictures, lol.

Dakota has never had a surcingle or sidereins on... well, last time I played with them on him, they were too big... so technically, I guess you could say he's never had them 'used' on him. Gypsie has been ridden in the English saddle a few times, but not very often as I find western riding more comfortable and enjoyable. My friend Hannah has ridden English a few times, but not very often, and my other friend Nathan has never ridden English... this was his first time... He also hasn't been riding very long and doesn't ride often either.

Anyway, on with the pictures!

Hannah and Gypsie




Gypsie


Nathan and Gypsie





Dakota






^ Doesn't he look tired? Lol... We hadn't even begun working yet...

My horses are very flufferly...

OMG Amazing pics.. For Nathan's first time riding English he looked pretty good :) My Fiancee bought me an English Saddle for Christamas last year and I haven't even ridden in it yet lol And I'm a Western Rider so I'm sure that will be educational day when I try to ride in it hehe

Thanks. Lol. The first time I rode in that saddle was... interesting, to say the least. I, being my normal self, chose a windy day and my girl was nervous... I nearly fell off about a thousand times over measly little spooks... it was pretty fun, but until I can ride in that saddle better, I'm not going to ride her in it when she's spooky again.

When I looked at the pictures, I was amazed at how good Nathan looked riding English. He's like a natural born rider, the first time I ever put him on a horse (I taught him to ride) the mare he was on spooked and took off at a full tilt gallop... I didn't think he would be able to hang on, but he did and after that he tried to come over as often as he could (which wasn't all that often he could get away and come out) to ride.

I've only ridden in that saddle about seven times and I've had it for a good eight months now... I'm just more comfortable in a western saddle, but I'm definately going to get out and ride in the English saddle more... I hate being showed up by someone who I taught to ride... and I especially hate being showed up by someone on MY horse, lol.

LOL That's understandable. hehe My sister is 11 and she has ridden in my English Saddle (We are both Barrel Racer's hehe) and she looks great and me on the other hand..Won't look so great haha.. You have two very beautiful horses! What breed?

I know, I look good in a western saddle, but put me in an english saddle and I go to pieces... lol.

Thanks! Both of them are purebred Tennessee Walkers, though they're not registered and don't gait. Gypsie is 15 this year and Dakota will be 3 in March. They're mother and son, lol.