Kelly Marks Tries Western Riding! My Second Time Ever!

This video captures my (very!) early experiences with Western riding – I think it was only my second time ever in public! So, you get to see me learning the ropes, which is always fun. We start with a bit of instruction on how to mount a Western saddle properly. There’s a specific way to hold the reins and place your hands, using the saddle horn for support. Then, we move on to using leg cues to get the horse moving, and the all-important “Whoa” command to stop.

One of the really interesting things I learned is about the difference between Western and English riding when it comes to bridles. You’ll hear how Western horses are shown without nosebands, which is quite different from many English disciplines where the mouth can be tied shut. In Western riding, judges want to see that the horse could open its mouth if it wanted to, and they take away points if the horse gaps its mouth. This means you really need to have light and sensitive hands, because a heavy hand will cause the horse to open its mouth. It’s an extra challenge!

Key Takeaways:

• Western bridles are typically used without a noseband, and this significantly affects how horses are judged. Riders need to show they have light hands to avoid the horse opening its mouth.
• Mounting a Western saddle has its own technique, with specific hand positions on the reins and saddle horn, and a relaxed posture is encouraged.
• Western riding uses different aids and terms compared to English riding, such as using “jog” instead of trot and the verbal command “Whoa” alongside seat and leg cues. Topics: Western Riding, Ridden Work, Horsemanship around the world