I am starting horse back riding in about a week. I don't know if I want to do English or Western riding though. What are the main differences between the two? Which one is more fun. and for Western do you have to wear the boots?

Equestrian

I highly suggest english!!!!it is much more work but in the long run u have so much farther to go ratehr tehn in western u just kidna get to the end quicker...especailly if u jump....u can keep going for ever trying to jump bigger fences....i personaly hate western....i think its boring.....english is sooo much more fun....i love jumping...anbd in english u go faster.....well thats my opinion~!!=!!!
~*~courtney

lilfyre

Jumper13

I'll tell u that English is hard but it's fun.I ride both so I there both fun.So try them both before u make a decison and see which one u and the horse are most comfortable in. I've rode for a while. So do what u like don't be pressured into it otherwise u won't like it. Always have fun.

tenis4kr

Well I tried both of them and chose dressage! I went from western pleasure, to eventing and now to dressage. You can see my transgression at Sheridan Creek Equestrian Center

horse101

Try both. What do you want to do in horseback riding? If you want to do dressage, jumping or cross country, go with english. If you want to do reining, calf roping or barrel racing, go with western. I ride english in the arena and western out on the trails. They are both fun. English requires more balance than western and in wetern riding you controll the horse with one hand instead of two. You need riding boots for both. In english you would generally wear breeches and tall boots but jeans and shorst boots are fine for now. In western all you wear are jeans and short boots. In an english show you would need a fitted shirt, fitted jacked, breeches, gloves, and tall boots. In a western show you would need a fancy shirt/ jacket, jeans/chaps, and short boots. Good luck!

Kerrison

It really depends on what it is that you want to do long term. Are you in it for competitions? If so, what kind of competitions? Jumping? Barrels? You might not even know what you want to do until you try them both!!

If you just want to go on trail rides with friends, it doesn't matter which discipline you pick; you can trail ride no matter what style you ride!!

I would suggest going to some horse shows. Go to one English show- a 3day event or combined trainign event will give you a good look at most aspects of english. You'll see Dressage (my favorite and what I ride) and show jumping (which some hunters/jumpers do) and then cross country which is its own unique sport. Other than Hunter Equitation (which is just the art of looking pretty in the english saddle) you would see all english disciplines at one of those shows.
Then go to a western Gymkhana- they'll have barrel racing, and roping, and penning, they'll do some western-pleasure classes (like hunter equitation but for a western rider) and maybe some silly stuff like an Egg&spoon, etc.

If you go to these shows, you'll see the various disciplines/styles and be able to watch the things you can grow into doing.

romy

english is more competitive & a lot better !!!

Shakespear

Some people believe that western is safer because there is more of a saddle in western and the paces are slower and you cant jump in western. I ride english and personally like it alot better. Ive tried western and found it ALOT harder because ive been riding english my whole life so its easier for me. It does have a faster pace and jumping.

RissG

I'm gonna have to go with everyone else here, try both. Hell, while you're at it, try Aussie, Sidesaddle, and Dressage as well. There's so many options out there...but it really depends on what you want out of riding. If you're the disciplined, like-to-dress-up type (like me, when I'm riding), you might really love Dressage. If you're the disciplined, strong, little-more-rough-and-ready type, hunter/jumper might be up your alley. If you're the rowdy, fun-loving type, then the opportunities that await you in Western might be better suited for you. But it would certainly be better to become knowledgable in both disciplines, as much of the knowledge crosses over.