Bird_Lover_17

Chillin' with the herd
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Hello! If you click on this link, you will get to see my thread (on BYC) when I was thinking about horses. I have been watching a lot of youtube videos on Enlgish and Western riding. As a child, I remember enjoying western more (when I went horseback riding). Anyways, back to the youtube part. I think (for my personality and general lifestyle) I would like western!

keep in mind: I'm not jumping the gun, I just want info since I'm doing research.

Other things:
-I tried posting this on BYH but it claimed that I didn't have permission to make a thread- ok....
-I know that western traditionally has no helmet, but trust me, I WILL WEAR A HELMET NO MATTER WHAT

Main Questions:
Outfits for show riding
general showing
tips for trail riding
finding a good trainer
finding good tack
anything else!
 

KayL

Ridin' The Range
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You can tell from the myriad of answers received on BYC that horsemanship and it’s many disciplines is incredibly diverse, and can be quite subjective.

I don’t show horses and am not a great resource for those type questions. Sorry I can’t help you there.

Trail riding is as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. If you just want to have a nice time, you can find many groomed trails across the US open to the public for horseback riding. I would suggest (of course) wearing your helmet, and ride with someone you trust to help you in case anything unexpected happens.

For someone just getting into riding, there are probably a good many resources out there for you. Finding a reputable commercial barn that’ll help you establish ground and riding basics would be a good start. You can always decide to hone into a particular discipline later on.

Finding good tack isn’t necessarily difficult, but it is expensive. If you’re just getting into riding you may want to consider reliable yet inexpensive tack. I believe the best way to do this is to have your trainer make recommendations for what will work best for you and your horse.

As a farrier, I get to see all sorts of riders and horses every day. One big mistake I see people make often, is taking on a horse that is far beyond their skill level. Having a skilled and experienced horseman help you purchase a horse will eliminate a lot of issues.
 

Baymule

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I’m 65 years old, I ride western. Never had lessons, as a kid I usually rode bareback, took a lot of tumbles, sprang back up and got back on. Now it hurts when I hit the ground, gave up rough horses. LOL

I call my style of riding Western Schlump. I just schlump around for my own enjoyment. I never rode rodeo or showed, I just enjoyed being outside, riding and spending time with my horse.

It’s a life long passion of mine, I need horses like I need breathing. The love of a good horse will take you down many roads and adventures.

Western or English? That’s your choice. Are you going to show? That will take a trailer and truck to pull it. Horses require care, farrier, vet, Feed, hay, time, attention and I can think of no better way to spend my time or money.
 
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