Let's see......trail riding is my favorite because I love to take in the scenery and relax. Western Pleasure because the gaits are smooth and a pleasure to ride. Sport Horse/Dressage because of the connection with the horse. Loved the barrels and poles, but too old to do those anymore (at least that is what my body tells me). Arabian Mounted Native Costume because who doesn't like to dress themselves and their horses up in sparkly costumes and strut your stuff!!!

 

Dressage- I second that feeling of lightness. Butt magic is what it is.

 

Cowhorse - you get technical riding in the reining pattern and a total adrenaline rush working a cow. Neither you or your horse have to be perfectly put together/groomed (no bling requirement either for you or your horse). Plus, the people are awesome.

Obstacle racing & Natural/ranch Trail classes - SOOO much fun!

 

I'm still hoping to test the waters of disciplines but so far I'm just an all around English rider, though the barns I'm at have an emphasis of hunters and show jumping. I do jump but not sure if I can have that 'hunter' title yet. BUT:

Hunters: I do like the complexity of jumps
Trails: When I get to do them, I enjoy being able to get out of the arena and into nature on horseback.


I would like to try dressage and a little bit of cross country in the future!

 

I absolutely cannot pick one. There are many I've never done but just watching them gives me a thrill or feeling of awe. Reined cow horse is one of those. I am amazed at the skill and athleticism in that event. Dressage is beautiful, like horse dancing. I think every discipline has its splendor.

 

I never really had a discipline I stuck to apart from Fox Hunting.

What I loved about that is a combination of factors. Firstly horses and hounds.

Watching Hounds search out a fox, the way individual Hounds work. Admiring the Fox for its ability to out smart Hounds. Then the thrill of riding a horse that is excited by the sounds, taking on fences that you do not know, excited with the thrill of the chase and relieved when you have cleared a big hedge safely.

Every Hunt is very different, some totally boring, others so exciting, you remember them years later.

 

Showjumping: how objective it is (for the most part; there are some horse welfare rules that are open to interpretation/left to stewards' discretion such as the blood rule below a certain threshold & excessive force with the whip). I also love the adrenaline rush of course but ultimately, the rail falls or it doesn't, the horse stops/runs out or it doesn't, you get the fastest time or you don't. Very little of the actual sport itself is open to interpretation. You don't ever see horse and rider combinations winning because of the rider's name or how flashy the horse is, it's pure performance plain and simple.

Nearly every other judged horse sport is subjective in some degree and with subjective judging comes bias. We all have them. I'm fond of chestnuts and blacks, and not as fond of greys or anything with a white tail. I would place a chestnut or black above a grey or pinto if all else was equal. I would like to hope that's as far as that bias extends, but it definitely exists and no I'm not ashamed of it.

 

Fun thread @AndalusianRobyn.

I ride many different saddles (kind of like wearing many hats, I suppose), but have found polo to be the funnest things one can do on a horse.

The horses are as light and handy as western bridle horses. There is speed if you want or play low goal like me which is not nearly as fast. The people are good riders, and most are really good horsemen. Men and women play on the same teams and in the same tournaments, so for women, there are always opportunities to play. You don't have to travel or wait for a chance.

And we have barbecues at least once a week during the season. Or if you choose to travel and play year round, every week of the year!

Other than that, I like the ranch work. That's 90% of what I do. It's very much like trail riding without trails and having some responsibilities to tend to while out.

 

western (for now) because it's chill, you don't have to keep contact on the reins and so you can learn to ride without annoying a horse in the mouth (and focus on your seat and leg cues) I also like the look of it and I love appaloosa horses!