I had a wonderful ride Monday on my guy. Actually I had two rides. I started out English (dressage saddle), and really got my heels down with my lower legs relaxed, which is really hard for me. Then I got off, and we hand grazed for awhile.
Then my friend came along, and I put my western saddle on my guy, and got back up on him.
We had a LOVELY ride. For once I started out on the buckle (I use his English bridle with both saddles), and while he walked around the arena I worked on my seat and legs and got him moving really well on the loose rein. Then I tried taking up the reins and getting him on the bit--every time I got the reins right I would forget my seat and legs and would start all over again. Then I tried just the loose rein, and very light contact neck reining, and he was great. It was so wonderful to have him keep going in a nice working walk on a loose rein, and then we trotted some, and then I got really relaxed and dropped my stirrups and we walked around like I did ages ago when I rode bareback.
I keep going back and forth from English to western and back again, but I keep finding that I am so much more relaxed in the western saddle (funnily enough, more relaxed in schooling tights and paddock boots than in jeans and western boots).
So I think maybe I might convert to all western, or at least mostly western. I just love being able to really relax and enjoy the ride, and I can't quite get the same feeling in the dressage saddle.
Partly it is because my back feels better when I can get my legs a little in front of where they "should" be for dressage. I might get the same effect in an all-purpose saddle with the more forward flaps, but the western saddle just feels so secure.
Then my friend came along, and I put my western saddle on my guy, and got back up on him.
We had a LOVELY ride. For once I started out on the buckle (I use his English bridle with both saddles), and while he walked around the arena I worked on my seat and legs and got him moving really well on the loose rein. Then I tried taking up the reins and getting him on the bit--every time I got the reins right I would forget my seat and legs and would start all over again. Then I tried just the loose rein, and very light contact neck reining, and he was great. It was so wonderful to have him keep going in a nice working walk on a loose rein, and then we trotted some, and then I got really relaxed and dropped my stirrups and we walked around like I did ages ago when I rode bareback.
I keep going back and forth from English to western and back again, but I keep finding that I am so much more relaxed in the western saddle (funnily enough, more relaxed in schooling tights and paddock boots than in jeans and western boots).
So I think maybe I might convert to all western, or at least mostly western. I just love being able to really relax and enjoy the ride, and I can't quite get the same feeling in the dressage saddle.
Partly it is because my back feels better when I can get my legs a little in front of where they "should" be for dressage. I might get the same effect in an all-purpose saddle with the more forward flaps, but the western saddle just feels so secure.