Hey guys westrern tips????

Hey guys well im going out on a limb here but im going to take a chance and hop in a western saddle for the first time. I don't really know anything about western riding other then the saddle has a horn unlike a jumper or dressage saddle. If any of you guys have any tips for me feel free to post!

Don't neglect posistion just because you are in a western saddle ;)
Contrary to popular belief for most western riding, you're not going to want your feet out in front of you.
Also, make sure to keep you stirrups a bit longer. I have a problem with this because of my shorter ones for barrels.

Otherwise smile and have fun :)

It's a very relaxed way of riding. It shouldn't be too hard to transition, but I've ridden both english and western for quite some time, so I may not be the best one to talk.

A western saddle should fit you very well, and it should be very comfortable. At first it might feel as if there's a lot between you and the horse, depending on what type of saddle you're riding with.

I find that my horse tends to prefer western, because he can just kind of do everything slowly (he's the slowest of pokes) and he doesn't have to have a higher head carriage like in english.

Your legs should hang so that if I were to draw a line from your ear to your hip to your heel, it would be perfectly straight. Heels down, toes pointed slightly outward. Your upper body should be straight up but relaxed and your lower body will go with the horses movement.

It might take a while to figure out a jog/trot, but you'll get it!

After you ride - if you have questions, come back and ask!

Spastic - thank you for mentioning that! Many people assume that when riding western, all position goes out the window. Not true! If I were to judge a western horsemanship or pleasure class, I would judge riding position as well as the horse's movement.

I tend to judge it even when barrel racing - and only speed counts in that class!

Hah. Barrel Racing is where position seems to go out the window.

Yeah I mean I have done western stuff in a english saddle :) and most of the horses that I have ridden are both english and western so that may make thing better. The only thing that I may have trouble gettin used to is the whole change in saddle idea.

When you do switch it might feel a little bit uncomfortable to have your stirrups being long, but everyone is different it took me forever to get used to my stirrups being long when I switched.

The biggest thing, Just relax and position as everyone else has said does not go out of the window.

I can ride both western and english but I favor western because you don't have to sit up straight, Actually sitting up straight hurts the horses back it is better to slouch when you can. But anyway, to me it is a more relaxing way though not to my horse. My horse LOVES to move fast and hates going slow. Though she is such a good horse I could fall asleep on her back. =]

How cool! I usually ride English, but I'm also experienced in a western saddle. Good luck!
Hm... advice... lets see...
No posting, for starters. Unless your horse has a VERY bumpy trot, you don't post in a western saddle. Make sure your heels are down, toes up, and that your looking where your going, just like in English. Also, I've seen English riders switch to Western, and they tend to lean forward in the saddle. Don't do this. Western is a very relaxed, laid-back style of riding. There's no need to sit up and forward - go ahead and slouch!

I'm afraid that that's far from true and a misnomer to many riders.

Slouching in the saddle is not good for your horse or for you. You don't need to remain in a stiff back position, typically, but you should always be sitting up and in balance with your horse. Slouching leads to poor balance and consequently is uncomfortable to your horse.