I always wondered this. As a poor girl I wasn't able to grow up with either. In my 20s I did manage to go on frequent guided trail rides which were Western. The lady who owned the horses and took us out swore she wasn't giving lessons but taught us before each ride anyway, mostly for the sake of the horses. She taught us to rely heavily on our legs and to be very light on the reins to spare her horses' mouths with so many newbes on them. Because of this I still have dreams of riding free and the feeling of guiding with my legs. I wasn't at all good with balance, though. Lol. I did hold onto the saddle horn and always felt like I wanted my stirrups higher.

Funny enough, I was pretty brave anyway and preferred more uneven terrain, especially deep snow, just for the challenge and fun of it. I enjoyed feeling the horse moving around beneath me more. I liked moving with the horse. And I kept asking the owner/guide to let me try riding bareback which she finally did. I fell off. Lol. But the experience was great fun anyway.

I always wished I could have ridden a lot more and taken lessons for real. But that was a long time ago. I turn 51 this month and walk with crutches and/or my service dog in training now. Who knows, maybe I would do better on horseback than on my own 2 feet now. Lol. (Can't you just see me going through Walmart on a service horse instead of next to a service dog? 😂 It sounds like a lot more fun to me.)

Ooo, could you do a follow-up on which is easier for a horse to learn?  PS - love the shirt

I started out learning western training mustangs as a kid, and then as an adult the only opportunity I had was to learn english.  It was a really hard switch basically learning to ride again in a completely different discipline as an adult!  There’s a lot of things I love about both of them.  

Unfortunately I was unable to continue after I got thrown off and broke my foot:( Too expensive and not enough time, but someday I’ll get back to it!!!  

Now my problem is to decide what discipline I want to do when I finally get my own horse again 🤔

My only riding interest was trail riding. I feel stuck and bored going around in a ring.

You've helped me so much with your videos tysm!!❤❤

I started doing western riding lessons and I love it!! I love doing laid back trail rides, but I also love cantering through beautiful nature!!

And I’m the weirdo who started horseback riding with an Endurance barn. I started in neither English nor Western saddle, but endurance saddles. Lol

I eventually cross-trained into barrel racing and western riding, and now I’m looking at doing Western Dressage or Reining. I eventually plan to try out an English discipline, too.

Great video! I'm a re-rider after decades away. Now I primarily trail ride. I've been lucky to have a mix of English and Western instructors.  I ride in an English endurance saddle (best of both worlds). It's challenging on the trail, but it's so awesome! I have learned so much from both disciplines and I wouldn't have it any other way!

I was just thinking about this! Jumping was my dream, I started english riding lessons and it was so Hard!!! so I sadly gave up on my self.😞 and started Western and now I'm an "experienced" rider thats what my trainer said. then advised us to quit lessons so we did. but everyday i still dream of jumping! but now i don't know how hard it really is going to be to switch back to English.
Love your vids!!  💖

As a Texan living in the uk, i decided to take up riding. English riding is so much more complex and i missed my horn to grab onto!! 😅

Thank you for this x I have only ever ridden English but would love to try western x ❤

Love the new shirt

I prefer English as it’s just so much more versatile and known,  and I’m the type of person who just wants the horse to gallop and with western it’s just way harder.

Thank you soooooo much for sharing this, Carmella!! I have been riding horses since 1 year and it has been amazing! I have never ridden western, but I've always loved western disciplines. I love your etsy store! It is amazing!! You are the best, you are soooooo organized and your horses are awesome! I have used all your tips in my real life to ride horses!! All the best, be safe, good luck! And God Bless You ❤❤💙💙🐴🐎!!!!!

BTW, do you go to do trail riding by western or english?

I like your video Nanette

Thanks for your great info! I’ve always rode western as a kid. I didn’t ride for years. Then I started training horses and riding again. I was still western but never felt real confident again. I tried an English saddle once and my horse was so polite as he looked at me on the ground. So after a few years of being away from horses I’m going to go English like a beginner. Plus I’m more interested in the English sports. From a Wyoming cowboy! lol.

I prefer English, I am scared of dismounting from a western saddle because it’s so huge. Also I saw the Olympics on TV and loved the horse sports

For me, I ride English, and my coach is always telling me to sit down, or outside leg or other aids. So for me English definitely teaches you leg

I'm taking western riding lessons since 10 months now and have not yet used the reigns for anything but learning to hold them still 😅 It's taking ages for me to progress, but I feel when I finally have a good seat, nothing will stop me 😂

I ride side saddle and I sometimes ride astride( English saddle). I remember I was SO SCARED the first time I rode astride. SOOOO HARD to balance😂 and so hard to clamp on the horse. My body dead when I got off the horse😂