New to western!

Thanks everyone! You all have no idea how much that means to me and how happy it makes me to hear all of the nice comments!

smrobs:
Very well written! I will make sure and say something to my western trainer about what you said and have her keep an eye out for the things you mentioned.
I was just riding in the position the saddle was putting me in, so im guessing that I will need to be a bit more forcused on how I am riding(?).
Im super proud of him for being able to pick up western so quickly. For being a hunter his whole life and him being 13, I think he is doing pretty good. (:

Mrs B:
Thank you! And yeah, I had a few people say that I was crazy for buying him. Even my mom questioned me, but I just set my mind on him. And now I have a prefect horse (in my eyes). So thank you so much!

lacyloo:
Thank you, I agree ;]

Yeah, I understand completely. LOL. I personally find it impossible to sit with the straight line from shoulders to hips to heels in a western saddle or I feel incredibly off balance. I always have to have my feet a little bit forward. This is my normal riding position (though I am fighting to break the habit of having too much weight on my feet).







My biggest problems are looking down and having my heels up (habits I picked up riding colts LOL). A bit of no-stirrup work might help a bit. Try not to keep a death grip with your knees either. You have a great start going, just keep it up.

What a beautiful horse! I think he will pick up Western in no time =]

Of course, I no nothing about, or have never done English, just rode in the saddle once. haha.

Did you get picture happy smrobs? ;] How the saddle was making me sit was making my legs cramp (and Bear was being super lazy, as I am trying to not wear my spurs as much). I think the whole chair seat thing is considered confortable for a lot of people, so maybe now western saddles are being made so you have one. I find them very unconfortable.

Thank you Chevy!!

Yeah, I get a little pic crazy sometimes, sorry :).

I guess you do learn something new every day. I had always heard of a "chair seat" but never really looked into what it was and didn't realize that I had one. LOL. Yeah, a lot of western saddles are made with the leathers set farther forward to encourage it (or at least make a straight seat difficult). I am not sure why, maybe because they were designed to be ridden all day long?

I've never done any WP but I've always heard that your body should be in a position that if the horse was slipped out from under you, you would be standing upright. I try to ride this way, not sure if its correct or not. I do pay attention to "heel to ear" position even though I'm just trail-riding.
I found this description on stirrup position for WP. Thought you might find it useful.

Legs and Feet: Stirrup length is important. When standing up in the stirrups with your heels lower than your toes and your knees slightly bent, there should be a space about 2 1/2 to 3 inches (a hand’s width) between the buttocks and the saddle. The knees and thighs are rolled in so that the flat part of the knee is against the saddle. There is light contact with the horse on the inside of the calves. Ankles are flexed so the heels are lower than the toes. Only the balls of the feet are in the stirrups.

Here is the entire article if your interested- Western Seat Basics – America’s Horse Daily

ETA- I did get butt craps when I first started trying to ride like this so be prepared

Thanks for the replies guys!

I agree with ya smrobs! I think the western saddles are out to get us! ;] I think it also helps spread the weight out over the horses back more, but I may be wrong.

What a good article Vidaloco! And I was getting really bad thigh cramps because of me having to use my legs differently and me being in the chair seat. So I am hoping my butt will go numb and that way I will be set! ;]

OMG!!!!!!!! he is so handsome I love him!!! ugly? no way. I want him!!!
Anyways I would try trail or maybe WP but he would look great in a trail!!!
I am not a fan of games no offense but he would look so neat roping.

I want to try the exact same thing with my TB!

He is a pretty pretty boy and i think he could go western with some minor tweaks he has a a great headset and they do have snaffle bit classes