Tell them to shove it and do what you want. Ride in a western saddle proudly. You're paying to keep your horse there.

When my BO bought a new barn and I moved Abby there, I was one of the only people who rode western. Abby is 15.2hh and over 1200lbs. Not a tiny girl. She was one of the shortest horses because they all had giant warmbloods.

They carried around their little saddles in their clean and crisp breeches while I had my, in comparison, giant barrel saddle with dirty jeans and boots. But I walked around and rode with my head held high and it was never a problem.

 

Tell them to shove it and do what you want. Ride in a western saddle proudly. You're paying to keep your horse there.

This!

It's not like you're going to back your trailer up and set a dozen cows loose in the arena and then proceed to practice your roping skills.

Most of the English riders I know, trail ride in a Western saddle. They're comfy and they don't want to risk marring the ones they show in.

 

Guess it depends on the 'barn'. A prudent person would try talking to the owner of the barn first. It is HER property.

Her business model may include attracting folks for English riding. If so, that is her right. If you had the luxury of riding on your own property, you could do anything you darn well please. But if you don't...talk. Ask.

If the owner doesn't mind, THEN you can ignore the looks from other folks there.

I'm 53. Hard experience has taught me lots of folks will egg you on, then watch you take lumps without lifting a finger. Don't start a fight needlessly, and try to avoid fights you cannot win. If possible, use your mouth to avoid fights rather than start them.

And if the owner REALLY doesn't want you to ride western, and you do - part company amiably. Smile, say thanks for a lot of great memories, and move on.

 

I grew up in a barn like this, and I know the feeling. I grew up riding western and English, but always preferred bareback and western, (I used to be a pretty good little bareback rider :lol and pretty much everyone else rode English.

While you normally shouldn't have to talk to a barn manager about it, as it is your horse and your money, (unless of course there is some code of conduct / rule that bans western riding at your barn,) it is still her property and it would be a good idea to talk to her. Discuss with her your intentions, and the situation. While she may not be keen on it, talking to her would give you the opportunity to open her up to your ideas.

I also agree with Bsms - if she really doesn't want you to, but you really do, I think it's time to move on. If I were put in a situation where they would actually tell me to ride somewhere else, I would do so - and take my business elsewhere. Luckily for me, the worst I ever got for riding western or gaited horses were some mean words and glares, but hey, I knew I'd done nothing wrong and it was their problem.

Remember that there's always multiple sides to a situation and often several ways to handle things. I think you should choose the way that will sit best with your barn manager if you're afraid of disrupting the peace. I hope I've helped some, and good luck!

 

I ride english at a western barn. I don't 100% fit in lol but my BO could care less what I ride. I would talk to the BO but if she's that restrictive on what saddle you ride in, I would personally not want to be at that barn at all.
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I think if you explain to her that your not planning on switching over completely, just wanna do it for fun then she should be allright with it.

Honestly, the barn owner really shouldnt care IMO. As long as your paying your board and being safe and responsible then why should it matter?
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Id read your board agreement, if nothing is there I'd think Id tell people to mind their own business, honestly it would even occur to me to even wonder or care what anyone else is gonna say.

 

Do talk to the barn owner. I'd rather ask first and know before stirring up any ill feelings from the BO.

And definitely mention you're not looking at a complete change, but just for fun on occasion. If it's casual, I can't imagine they'd object.

 

I agree - it's best to talk to the owner. BOs can be very territorial about what goes on at their place. Best just to get it straight from the "horse's mouth."

 

I have noticed in several different areas how one disipline looks down on the other. I have always ridden western and probably will always ride western-not because I have anything against english riding, I am just comfortable with hat I do and know. The barn where I keep my horses at--they are all english riders (which they credit to their roots in pony club and being from parents that came from over-seas), we respect each other and admire eachothers skills, and even ask eachother for advice--we even lend "tools" back and forth). I go to watch western events and listen to many people talk down about the unnatural and prudish english riders who pamper their horses and make it so they are soft and sickly, all shaved and in their blankets, every fadget used and the unnatural way a horse must carry themselves. I go and watch my cousin who competes in dressage and jumping, and often visit her barn with her to see her horse; when many find out that I ride western, I feel that I am treated as an inferior-my cousin talks about haw the people at her barn the the "western people" are haywire, untalented, undiciplined, unsophisticated western people who dont care for their horses-leve them in the pasture year-round and only feed *gasp* hay. I feel that people should be brought together by their love of horses and not segregated by the style in which they choose to ride or events they choose to compete. We can learn form eachother! I think it is rediculous that a barn would not allow you to ride whichever style you wished, that would be enough for me to pack my bags in a hurry-how can you enjoy your horse and riding if you are told how you must ride? I have horses, I pay good money to have them in a certian place, I will abide by the rules that keep everyone safe and respectful-but do not tell me how to ride!

 

I go and watch my cousin who competes in dressage and jumping, and often visit her barn with her to see her horse; when many find out that I ride western, I feel that I am treated as an inferior-my cousin talks about haw the people at her barn the the "western people" are haywire, untalented, undiciplined, unsophisticated western people who dont care for their horses-leve them in the pasture year-round and only feed *gasp* hay.

I think you need to talk with your cousin.

Sorry to say but this kind of talk goes on at any barn with mixed styles of riders. I ride dressage with one other person out of about 30 horses. The rest are western. We are treated as if we are snobbish or trying to ride better than others. We hear it and feel it too. I think the key is to keep an open mind on both sides. There are many ways to ride and train horses.

I think whatever style you wish to ride, if it is an english barn, and the owner is selling it as an english barn, that is the preferred style. If it is a western barn, then that is the preferred style. Some barns allow for any style. Can you ride the other style - yes. But if the owner is promoting their barn as a certain discipline, you have to respect that. You are always free to move on.

 

Wow, please dismiss all my typos! LOL it as late at night and I was half asleep My cousin doesnt talk like this but the others at her barn do and she tells me about it

 

Man, I can't believe a barn owner or anyone else for that matter, would care which saddle you ride in. If you are doing something crazy or reckless, sure, but riding in a different style saddle? How could that negatively impact anyone? If that's the way it is, then the barn owner is a snob, IMO.

I couldn't imagine a barn owner telling me what I can or can't do with my horse, unless it is reckless or hinders the other boarders. But switching saddles? How could that bother anyone? That boggles my mind.

I used to catch some flack for owning Arabians (that I trail rode EVERYWHERE, by myself, they are not crazy thank you very much) but I was a teenager boarding among other teenagers, so you always get that kind of teasing. But I can't imagine someone coming down on someone for what tack they use, especially among adults. Yup, that still boggles my mind!

 

Declare to all and sundry you are considering taking up endurance riding.

Go buy a plastic treeless saddle.
Go buy a jockeys skull cap together with a jockey cap cover & a cowboy hat which is a couple of sizes too large,
Buy your self a set of big broad stainless steel stirrup irons and fit a pair of rubber inserts.

Tack the horse up with the new saddle and adjust the stirrup leathers so that your legs hang down straight but leave enough room to be able to stand in the sitrrups with an inch between your butt and the seat.

Use a simple snaffle. Buy a Texan one eared bridle. Use regular reins - but see if you can get some long ones with a buckle in the middle.

Enter the schooling arena for all to see.
When the barn owner is about - shorten the stirrup leathers, bring the knees up, and ride collected - in a rounded outline -if you know how - Use both hands on the reins and keep a gentle contact with the horse's mouth. Always rise to the trot and practise slow canters.
Carry a short crop.

When the silly old biddy is out of sight:
Lengthen the stirrup leathers. Straighten the legs. Exert gentle pressure on both stirrup irons,
Let the reins drop and ride 'long and low' holding the reins in one hand.
To turn left, lay the reins on the horse's right neck.and exert a very subtle
pressure. Push the left heel into the horse's flank.
Always sit to the trot - no rising.
Slow the horse down to a jog with light pressure on the bit and sit in and sit up.

When riding English - call 'Walk On', when riding Western say 'Giddy up'

Then see if anyone says anything - especially the Old Barn Biddy.

Remember when in Texas: 'do as the cowboys do'. They won't care if you ride English in a Western saddle.
They won't care either if you have a skull cap under that oversized cowboy hat.
Just remember to step out of the stirrups when you dismount.

As for the horse - well he will just follow his mistress's instructions - no problem

 

I have experienced this in the past. I would also suggest talking to the BO, and if they are really that close minded-I would be gone. I have my horses to enjoy them. One is English, one western, and I will ride whichever I please whenever, without looking back. I would prefer not to be around judgemental people. Just me. And yes-it has been my experience that the people who ride "english" (which includes several disciplines) have their panties a bit too tight for me. Relax, enjoy and open your mind. You just might learn something!

 

Man, the more I read, the more and more and more I love my barn.

It is such a variety. It is primarily English--mostly hunters/eventers--but there are also lots of gamers, trail riders, natural horsemanship...
The arena is filled with jumps, but there are always the barrels and poles along the rails, just as there are those wooden platforms used by NH sitting in the round pen.

I have not met a single judgmental soul in the whole place.

Sorry, I just love the place so much!
If I had only included the name it would be a marketing advertisement! :lol:
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I'm a BO & the only time I've asked a person's discipline is out of curiosity. I've got Western, HS & Saddleseat riders, some show. At the end of the day my chores don't change regardless of how the horse is ridden. No one here is catty.

 

I'm so happy to be my OWN Barn Owner and, like "Barf" (1/2 man 1/2 dog), I am my own best friend.

 

WOW!!!!! i am glad here in bunbury wa i don't have that problem!
i'm a member of an agistment property (barn) that lets you do what ever disciplin that you want.
everyone is open minded and learn from each other. i bought a horse off one of the other agistees there and she used a different training method on barney for lunging that i have never seen before, the property owner poped into my lunge session and explained the method that was used on him and how it is done. i tried it, decided that it works for him and he responses better.
i'm also going to try camp drafting on my ex eventer and no one gives two hoots, she has rules for safety and respect and that's it. mostly everyone events, but there's a few that don't and *gasp* ride in stock saddles LOL

i would talk to you BO and fine out if it's ok to do this if not leave. find an open minded barn and have fun!

 

Wow. I had no idea that barns could be so departmentalized. I board at a barn where the majority of the people ride in a Western saddle. Most are recreational riders and a Western saddle just suits their needs better. When I started boarding, the barn owner asked me what style I rode. When I replied "English", do you know what he said?

"I knew it. You look like the type to enjoy English more, just because you're so small and it can't be easy for you to hoist a Western saddle around. If you ever want to borrow a Western saddle, just give me a holler."

That was it. Personally, I think that if you pay board, you should be able to ride in the style that you enjoy. Provided it's not a strict dressage facility or something like that (they'd advertise as such, I'm sure), I don't see what the big deal is. Talk to the barn owner, explain why you want to try Western once in a while and I don't think she'd have an issue. I mean, it's not like you'll be stomping around in cowboy boots, spurs and swinging a lasso.

 

I know there are a lot of posts on this but I am going to say that if your BO has a problem with a person riding western at her barn than you need to find a new place to board that is open to all types of riding.
I personally prefer english but I also like to hope on and ride a bit of western...to me it's a lot easier,lol.

 

OP, is your barn a lesson/show barn? If so, I can understand a little about your BO not wanting other disciplines in the barn. Especially if You're activily involved in the lesson/showing program.
However, since you just want to play around with it and you're not intending to switch disciplines,.. or drag other boarders to the "darkside," I really don't see the problem!!

My barn is full of casual riders. Trails mostly, but we also have some jumpers who actively show, and myself, I drive. We all get along just fine.

 

WESTERN PRIDE MAN!!! get the gaudiest flashy saddle you can afford march right in a nd put that sucker on your horse and ride proud!!!!! haha okay maybe not flashy and gaudy but seriously don't let people's snobby opinion ruin your fun!! me and my instructor turned a completely WP barn into a jumping and english pleasure barn haha gotta love it. i rode western exclusively for 7 years before riding english. get a hat and a lasso and show them. if they give you crap then well smile and take 'em down a notch.

have a good time with this !! :lol:

 

I would agree that some english riders can be snobbish and even cliquish. I ride english too, not so much to be like them but I like it, my horse likes it and the saddle is much lighter and easier to put on. BUT, the people who are snobbish and cliquish at the barn are also snobbish and cliquish outside the barn as well. Personality doesn't change once you leave. You may just have one big uptight group at a certain barn and it would be difficult for anyone to break into the circle.

Because people tend to look at english riders as snobs, I go out of my way to be nice to people at the barn. So does my friend. We try to change the stereotype.

 

Hang on think I missed a memo here I'm supposed to be CLEAN to ride English?! Oops Im clean when I'm teaching and even that depends who the student is. Have taught more than once with bareback bum!

On topic I'd talk to your BO id understand if she was avoiding confusing lesson kids etc but surely you guys could work around each other.
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Valid point, MLS.

I assumed (sigh) that she was talking about WP not team penning or barrels.




Things like this is why there are all kinds of barns.

If you want to putter with many different styles of riding you do not board at a big time show barn that specializes in one style of showing.

 

You pay the same board as anyone else. Do what you want with YOUR horse. Riding should be about enjoying the time you have with your horse, whether that's english, dressage, western, etc. If your horse enjoys it, and you enjoy it, who cares what anyone else thinks. You aren't trying to "convert" anyone at the barn, and if they have a problem with what kind of saddle is on your horse, that's their issue, NOT yours.

 

You pay the same board as anyone else. Do what you want with YOUR horse. Riding should be about enjoying the time you have with your horse, whether that's english, dressage, western, etc. If your horse enjoys it, and you enjoy it, who cares what anyone else thinks. You aren't trying to "convert" anyone at the barn, and if they have a problem with what kind of saddle is on your horse, that's their issue, NOT yours.

Again - it goes back to the barn. As Always said - if it's a training or lesson barn and they specifically draw a clientel from a sector of the horse world - they do not want me loping circles and doing roll backs while they are showing a dressage client the arena.

Again - communication is key. No - there should not be an issue but rules are rules. Some folks don't see the big deal in leaving their manure pile the horse made while being groomed to clean up after they are done riding. To me it's a huge deal to expect everyone to walk around it in the alley.

If there is no rule or policy - it's as simply as asking a question.