l ride english now, but l am gettin a new western saddle. im not sure what l have to do to gethim accustomed to the saddle. l have never ridden western before so what do l do? we dont have enough money for western lessons.so how do l ride western?im not sure if romeos ever been ridden in a western saddle. mum keeps saying thatall l have to do is lean back, hold the reins with one handand use my seat. but romeos beenridden english most of the time so as far as l know he'san english horse. so how can l teach him to be a western horse?

If you've been riding him English he has all the basic training he needs for Western. The stirrups will need to be longer than u r used to using. The cues r basically the same. If you're using one hand, u will need to teach him to ''neck rein'' but most horses pick this up pretty quickly. Just practice laying the outside rein against the neck with direct pull on the inside rein. So not forget to use ur legs. Lots of figure eights & circles, & turns, will help him learn. Are u showing? If so, u will need to use a curb bit, l prefer the three piece with a copper roller for a horse new to the western gear. It is an easier transition. Some hunt seat horses have been taught to tip the nose to the outside to pick up the correct lead. You may need to practice tipping to the inside. It is pretty easy to change seats, u just need to practice, the basics r still the same.

when you put the saddle on walk him around before you get on.

all yu have to do is maybe lunge him around with the saddle on, to get him accustomed to the heavier saddle. With ur hands- hold with one hand, the rest of the reins should be laying on the same side as the hand ur using (if u hold with ur right hand, the slack goes on the right).
you do not lean back, u sit straight.but if u r not going to show western, it does not really matter, u can post if u feel like it.
heels down, toes forward, straight back, head up!

The most important thing u can do to make sure the transition goes smoothly is to make sure that the saddle fits properly. Western saddles (unfortunately) do not come in as many tree width options as English saddles do. The two most common tree widths r Semi-Quarter Horse bars (tree that most ''medium'' width horses will fit), & Full Quarter Horse bars - saddles with these trees r wider & flatter backed. Arabian Tree saddles r wider & shorter than the Quarter & Semi-Quarter bared saddles. Then there r also western saddles with ''flex trees''. There is a lot of debate over how useful/beneficial the flex trees are, & some experts contend that they can actually create pressure points & may wear out a lot sooner than traditional wood or rawhide trees.

Once you've figured out what tree size & type u need, then u also have to consider gullet size. The gullet is the front of the saddle underneath the pommel. The gullet size is affected not only by the bars of the saddle tree, but also the type of fork (the part of the pommel that forms the swells & the front of the tree).

Another important fit consideration is the length, thickness & shape of the saddle skirt. Western saddle skirts come in close contact (there is no skirt directly beneath ur leg), Full (square) skirts, & round skirts. Round skirts r great for short-backed, short-coupled horses, & r most commonly found on Arabian, Endurance, & Barrel racing saddles. Full skirts r most common, & Close Contact skirts r most commonly seen on modern pleasure saddles.

Finally u need to make sure that u get the correct seat size & type for you. A general rule of thumb is that u should buy a western saddle that is 2'' smaller than ur English seat size. So if u ride in a 17'' seat, you'd need a 15'' western saddle. Western seat sizes r measured straight across the saddle, from the horn to the center of the cantle, not diagonally like an English saddle. Then there is seat style. Most pleasure style saddles & trail saddles r built up in front, with the part of the seat under ur crotch being padded & raised, & then the part where ur butt goes (next to the cantle) is lower. This has the effect of setting u into the saddle, creating a secure feeling. However - it also limits ur maneuverability in the saddle, so that if u need to take a forward seat for a moment or two, it may be difficult or uncomfortable. It can also set u too far back (behind the horse is motion), which can be dangerous if ur horse spooks or trips. l prefer to ride in a flatter ''ranch'' style seat or a cutter/roper seat. These saddles r fairly flat between the pommel & cantle - which is truly secure & still allowing for freedom of movement.

Never try to buy a saddle on price. l understand that cost is always a factor, but do not be tempted to just buy the cheapest saddle u can, or to buy one on looks or name brand alone. If possible, always take a saddle on trial before u buy.

Lastly, u will want to make sure that u have the correct padding. Cheap fleece pads break down & r often hot & uncomfortable for the horse. l highly suggest in investing in a real wool pad. They wick moisture away from the horse & breath better than just about any other material. They also last for years. If u buy a synthetic material pad, even a very nice one, u will need to check it regularly to be sure that it is not packing down in spots, as that can cause harmful pressure points.

Hope that helps!

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