I'd be interested to hear what anyone else posting on the forum thinks about the popularity of Western riding amongst English Riders - you can poll vote here: http://apps.facebook.com/easyvote/sh...?poll_id=11137

If you fancy riding the trails out West Ranch Rider has just launched five new experiences including a ride with the Real Bird tribe out in Montana. You can catch up with them here http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ranch-...4189:thumbup1:

I ride western every two months as the stables charge extra for the saddle,but all my friends who own horses prefer the english way.

I used to compete my mare in the very very select few competitions that were available for 'non pros' up here.

Since then, it seems to have really taken off, however along with the increased interest, there is also plenty of people selling the cheap makes of saddles for people to put on their own horses. It's much easier to cause damage to a horses back with a western saddle as you cant adjust the tree, they are much bigger and their sizes arent different by just millimeters like a lot of english tree's these days.

If I was to go back to riding again, I'd learn western riding because I think you'd feel more secure than you do in english saddles, and its a more relaxed way of riding.

__________________

I OWN A CHOCOLATE ROAN COCKER SPANIEL
RIP David xx Run free at the bridge. Love you always xx 19th February 2011
RIP Jack and Mickey xx Run free at the bridge. Love you forever xx 20th June 2011