Yesterday I got to meet a new student of mine- She lives in Flower Mound, and while she grew up barrel racing, she helped her daughter through many years of showing English Style riding, and she herself now shows English Horses.
I have done a bit of English riding but mine hasn’t been for anything serious other than exercising polo ponies back when I was younger. I love to watch show jumping. But I’m not sure I’m brave enough to jump too much higher than about 3 feet. Those horses can tackle 6 foot tall jumps. Insanity, I know. I love to watch the horsemen that are brave enough to tackle a cross country course and the all out craziness of those- not only do they have jumps to make, but it’s a race, so you’re timed! If you’ve never watched a Three-Day Event, I recommend you follow next time the Summer Olympics are on. I enjoy watching a Grand Prix level dressage horse, but I don’t know if I have the patience to actually learn to train and ride dressage.
I say all of this to tell you, that I’ve had countless people, including my parent’s neighbor tell me that my pretty Sonora would make a gorgeous English Style horse. She specifically said Dressage horse, but no matter, it’s still English Riding.
Yesterday I had the chance to try it out!
My student came and brought her pretty, enormous, hunter horse, Angel, and when we were done with our lesson we got out the dirty dragon, Nora, who if it were not for being gray, would be clean all the time. We put an English Saddle and blanket on her and rode her around. I got a refresher course on diagonals (which is essentially posting at the correct time, so that your horse has the ability to pick up their inside hind leg higher and plant it further forward if my understanding is correct). Can I just tell y’all I had so much fun? I haven’t had that much fun in a lesson or giving a lesson in quite some time. I can’t wait to do it again; I think my new student might have me convinced to see if this mare can jump. How much fun does that sound like?
My student offered to snap a photo of us for proof- and because we thought it would be fun to show Zach that his cowgirl had learned something new.
I loved learning more about this style riding, and can’t wait to have another day like yesterday!
In the meantime, I’m going to go enjoy the sunshine!
Ta, ta for now!
I too love to throw the English saddle on from time to time! My Mom showed a lot when she was younger so we have a couple kicking around! I thought my barrel saddle was flexible but I love the freedom that the English saddle gives you!
Hey girl! I haven’t been on in a whole and wanted to make sure you were okay after the storms yesterday. Not sure where you are but I know they were 30 miles East of Dallas. Well, that’s where the tornado was anyway.
Glad you made it safely! How long will you be there, and will you back in SD in April, or whenever it is you guys do the cattle thing? I still want to come there, unless you’d rather I not, cause you know, it is YOUR house!!! LOL
Anyway, will be catching up later.
Have fun and ride hard! And yea, I can see how the horses would be hot. I’m sure they have their winter coat and going from below freezing to 65 is hard!!!!
The tornado was way east of us, but thanks so much for checking in on me! I’d rather have a blizzard and be w/out power than have a tornado!
Glad you had fun. I too love to try all different styles of riding and I loved english for the fact it really pushed me to perfect my riding and to really feel my horse. It is a great way to be in tune with your horse and really I think it helps with their flexibility and such when you got to do barrels and such. Glad you are having a great time down there. I have to say I am jealous:)
I teach that flexibility without doing dressage just by how I start my horses on the barrels. I don’t use tie downs, and I don’t own a combination bit. I can see how some of the dressage moves would help your horses but it’s so different- since they’re held in frame. With a well trained bridle horse they hold themselves in frame on a loose rein. I am going to learn so much from this student!
My kids all learned riding for dressage, tho my son is the only one that went as far as jumping (never over about 4 ft). When everyone’s gone, riding lessons are on my list, finally!
And hey, my uncle, aunt and cousins live in Flower Mound, for the last 20 years!
Stopping over from Maureen’s. Loved this post, made me rmember my teen days when I rode horses.
I think every style of riding has something good you can take from it to help you and your horse:) I think you are right though that it all starts in the early training and there is so much that can be taught on the ground even. I love training horses and everyone is different so you have to go about it in different ways sometimes:) I miss it dearly and loved getting to work with horses and see them progress and in the end I would see my self progress as well. have fun with it:) I truly believe if you train a horse and put the time into it you don’t have to trick them or tie them into it all.:)
Hello or Hau!
My name is Lynn Hart a member of the Yankton Sioux tribe in SD, Living in Flandreau. Creator of “Indian Cowgirl Buffalo Tuff!” products. If you get a chance come visit my store.
Thanks Just
Lynn Hart