Western Riding
Western Riding isn’t quite as new to our shores as you may think, a quick visit to the Armoury at the Tower of London is all that is required to confirm this. Back in the days when knights were bold and all that, it was essential that saddles were constructed high at the front and back to ensure that the rider was not easily unseated in battle. The horse itself was used as a weapon, the movements we know as the capriole and levade today were originally devised to gain an advantage over ones opponent in battle. The mounted soldier also needed to wield a weapon of some sort, which meant that the war-horse was ridden one-handed and I believe, in a curb bit.
When Cortez landed in the “New World” he took his horses and his style of riding with him, he also reintroduced the horse to America, but that’s another story. As the West was well and truly won, the style of riding and equipment used remained almost unchanged; what did change however was the work that the horse was expected to do. The need for cattle to be driven over vast distances required the horse to travel in such a manner that it covered the ground without expending too much in the way of excess energy. The movements which had helped the soldier in battle were also adapted slightly to enable the cowboy to round up or selectively “cut” the cattle.
Back here in “Blighty”, everyone was quite taken with the new sport of horse racing and of course it didn’t take too long for people to realise that a horse could run much faster and jump higher with a lighter saddle. This of course is the origin of the saddle that we know today as the classic “English” saddle. So you see, the English saddle is in fact the “new kid on the block”.
Western Riding has fascinated me for over twenty years now, it never ceases to amaze me just how little it takes to control a horse’s every move, forwards backwards and sideways. Subtle weight shifts not only change pace and direction but also stop a horse dead.
Most horses adapt very easily to Western Riding, I am a qualified Western Instructor and Judge and I’ve seen just about every shape, size and breed, quite literally from Shetland to Shire, performing at all levels. There is far more to Western Riding than a big hat and fancy saddle, the discipline is much more demanding on both horse and rider than you would perhaps imagine, but the end result is immensely rewarding, horse and rider working in perfect harmony.
For more information go to www.wes-uk.com
See also Sycamores Ranch - Western centre in Pembrokeshire, Wales UK
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