Explaining what western riding is to English riding or non-horsey people. Everyone assumes you are a rodeo rider when you say you ride western -or when you say you do western showing there’s like this BLANK face staring at you.

At a point people have said, "so its like doing dressage with western gear on" and I just can't be bothered explaining because they still don't get it.

How do you explain our fantastic diverse sport?

It IS tricky - having tried both I find riders from each discipline have little understanding of what the other entails. Common from English is that some believe western horses have NO impulsion, and from some western on English riders that they 'pull on their horses mouths'! Neither being correct of course - western horses are still looking to engage quarters and English horses are ridden into a contact...

I've even heard one western person say they would never consider riding a thoroughbred because they are ALL so scatty - she was a tad surprised to find my extremely well behaved paint is a tax! Ha!

It is interesting. I do both with skeptics on both sides. But, the park hack I have is a typical thoroughbred and does my head in compared to my paint! Horses for courses all the same.
Just wondering when people go "what is that?" what people give as short answers. Anyone creative. I get to the point of saying, just come out and watch, you might just like it!!

The problem with that Sarah is that unless you are looking at one of the better western shows, it is about as inspiring as watching a bunch of Prelim dressage tests.... & Can give one the entirely wrong idea (You know, 4 time canters, disunited etc) Like everything, when you see it done well, it is like WOW, but at lower levels it can be hard to get an idea of the final objective. The other problem is that the good examples make it look much easier than it really is
One thing I would say, is that, on the whole, at the western shows (not that I have been to more than a few local ones but), the competitors seem to be having a lot more fun than the English ones.... & I think the difference is in "attitude" not that Western is any less competitive!

Yes I totally agree. There is a larger amount of younger horses and less finished models as a lot of people don't sell their good ones same with any horse sport.
But I am more about trying to explain what we do with the horses than what English people think of western or vice versa.

You know the english riders have the clicks, and westerns have theres. But one thing bring the conversation back around to the basics of the equine relationship between the rider and the animal.

And you will see a relaxation of topics.. you then can get back into expressing why your certian riding style, is fun for you. And its just a human trait I think.. the ME factor is one of those things that keep us interesting.

You can always tell someone with a Good Ear, doesn't really worry about competing with your comments. Just discusses them.

As any good conversation should..

CD

Neve seen Smilies like these.. Are they unique to our forum?

I don´t even try to explain the difference. I ride Western, but it isn´t worth the effort to try and get an English rider to realize that we aren´t unsophisticated hacks!