Similar to music, dancing, and cuisine, the equestrian world is not practiced in the same manner around the world, and this has a lot to do with the great diversity of regional customs. If you take riding lessons in Canada, you should not expect to see the exact same tack, disciplines, or riding methods commonly practiced in Argentina, for example. There will be many similarities, but you would be bound to find quite a few differences as well. The United States Equestrian Federation recognizes 11 specific horse breeds along with 18 disciplines. Some of the breeds are closely associated with certain disciplines. At the same time, disciplines are split between English and Western styles of riding. It is important to note that these two riding styles are predominant not only in North America but also in other parts of the world; in fact, these styles form the basis for other types of regional equestrianism. English riding is inspired by cavalry tactics, horse racing, and hunting culture in the British Isles and other European regions. Western riding is influenced by American cowboy culture, which in turn comes from the masterful Andalusian equestrian tradition. Each style has its own rules, traditions, and fully developed culture with regard to tack, caring for horses, and even riding attire. There can also be different rules for each discipline within the same style. The differences between the English and Western styles of horseback riding are not meant to make one superior to the other; there is significant overlap between the two, and both offer the extra challenge of competitive disciplines for those who wish to take their riding to a higher level. Let's take a look at a few of the disciplines in each style: English Style Riding DressageJumpingEventingRoadster Western Style Riding DressageReigningRopingBarrel racing Each of the disciplines above comes with various challenges, and none of them can be described as being more difficult or technical than the other. You may have noticed that equestrian events at the Olympic Games are based on the English riding style; at the same time, the Western-style disciplines are more likely to be seen at rodeo competitions. This is just a matter of tradition. The Olympic Committee has been evaluating the incorporation of Western-style disciplines into its equestrian competitions, and we may get to see this in the near future. English and Western Tack The difference between the two styles is more pronounced in terms of riding equipment, particularly with regard to the saddle. To boil the differences down to their very basics, we can safely say that Western saddles are bigger and heavier than their English counterparts. Western saddles are inspired by Andalusian horse culture; the idea is to make them more comfortable to both animals and riders because they are expected to be out on the range for many hours. Western saddles are also inspired by utility. Andalusian vaqueros carried more equipment than cavalry officers, which explains why Western saddle horns are larger and sturdier. Western seats are also deeper and wider in order to allow riders to distribute their weight in ways that are as ergonomically upright as possible. This upright position, along with the saddle’s extra padding, helps keep the rider from sliding off the horse’s back, and it also makes it easier for the rider to stay in the saddle with the cowboy boots on the stirrups. The front of the Western saddle is often adorned with decorative designs, often in the form of zig-zag or straight lines, to make the saddle more attractive to buyers. English saddles tend to be smaller, lighter, and lightly decorative unless they are crafted for show or parade purposes. These saddles usually come with a high-back seat and one or more pommels. The height of the seat on an English saddle is designed so that the rider does not need to raise their legs, which in turn means that their thighs are fully supported. The rider's seat is just below the horse's withers so that the horse's back may freely move through its arc. The rider is in a much higher sitting position and is more vertical. The seat and pommels of a Western-style saddle are designed to be positioned directly over the horse's spine. The rider's legs are not supported by the seat, but rather sit in front of it. When the horse is moving, the rider is able to feel some degree of control of the horse's movement by pulling and pushing on the horse's pommel or by shifting their weight. Western-style saddles usually have more prominent pommels and higher pommel heights compared to English-style saddles. Because the seat is generally positioned closer to the horse's spine, Western-style saddles generally require a lower seat height than English saddles. Saddles with a higher seat are sometimes known as “show saddles," but not all of them are made specifically for parades. Western Saddle Fit As previously mentioned, Western saddles are made with rider comfort in mind, but this is mostly the case with those that are designed for trail riding. A barrel racing saddle will look more like an English saddle because these events do not last so long. The proper fit of a Western saddle comes down to how comfortable the horse feels once he or she is cinched up and padded down. It is easier for riders to make themselves comfortable once they know that the horse agrees with the saddle. With this in mind, the fitting point to watch for are: Balance: Western saddles need to sit parallel to the ground when looking at them from the back.Gullet clearance: When the saddle sits on the horse without padding, there needs to be a clearance between the withers and the gullets of at least three fingers.Cinch: Western saddles need to be cinched in the front about as tight as the belt you wear with your jeans. The flank cinch should not be as tight; you should be able to insert your index and middle fingers.Bars: A good fit will feature bars fully touching the back of the horse. English Saddle Fit A good rule of thumb when fitting English saddles is to look for them to sit flatly on the horse. If you notice that the saddle tilts in any direction, this will indicate an inadequate fit that you may not immediately feel upon mounting, but certainly once you get to a trot. Billet: You will know an English saddle fits correctly when the billets lie down in a straight line.Whither: The space between the pommel and the wither should always be more than two fingers even when you are seated and leaning forward.Channel: Saddle panels should never touch the ribs of the horse, and the spine should not be subject to any pressure points. The ideal English saddle fit puts the saddle right on the muscles and never close to the spine or its numerous ligaments.Length: The panels of English saddles are supposed to be in full contact with the back, but they should not extend beyond the final rib of the horse. Which Horse Riding Style is Better For You? Neither horseback riding style is better than the other. In the U.S. it is generally easier to find riding academies that teach the Western style, although quite a few will offer English riding classes as well. Some people say that it is easier to transition into Western style if you already familiar with English riding, but this does not make sense. If you are new to horseback riding, you will want to practice both styles until you find your preference. In a Western riding academy, it is normal to go on an English trail ride as soon as possible. Another misconception about English riding is that it supposedly teaches more horsemanship than Western riding, but this is not true. Some equestrian athletes in the Olympics started off as Western riders. What we can tell you about Western riding is that it feels more natural to many people because of the longer gait, but this also depends on the breed. As long as you choose a saddle that properly fits your horse, it will not matter whether you prefer English over Western because you are the one who is supposed to adjust to the saddle.
