Western Riding for sale

Western Riding Horses: The Best Breeds for this Discipline

Unsurprisingly, American breeds excel in Western events, which include pleasure, trail and equitation classes. American Quarter Horses dominate the most demanding Western activities, such as cutting and roping. Horses with unusual colouring and a flair for performance, such as Appaloosas, Paints, Palominos and Cremellos, are popular choices for pleasure, showing and equitation classes. Many of them are fine performers in practical events too. Rocky Mountain Horses are a good choice for trail and Ranch Riding classes, which focus on the skills of horse and rider to negotiate obstacles and hazards they would encounter in everyday life. Morabs, Welaras and Morgans combine good looks in the show ring with endurance and performance. Compact Iberian breeds perform well, too. American pony breeds, such as the Pony of the Americas and the Quarter Pony, have been developed to give young people the best possible start in Western disciplines.

Western Riding Horses in Equestrianism

Advanced Western riding requires a calm and focussed horse that can still respond like lightning when required. It’s as much about attitude of mind as it is about breed or conformation. However, while a good Western Riding horse or pony is never a bad colour or breed, to paraphrase an old saying, it’s true that a certain type of conformation is often seen at the top levels of Western sport. Successful horses are frequently compact and agile, with broad chests for good cardio-vascular performance. They have powerful quarters that act like the horse’s engine, propelling it forward at speed or bringing it to a sliding halt when required. Western Horses stand four-square and are noticeably more square-outlined than rectangular when compared with warmbloods. Their responsiveness is key to success in many Western classes, whether working on a loose rein in equitation classes or with greater contact on the bit during Ranch Riding events. When participating in Ranch Riding, trail and some pleasure events, the rider will be expected to work to set patterns to show off the skill and strength of their partnership. This also requires a sensitive horse with fast responses that can make frequent smooth transitions, back up straight and turn on a dime. There is even an activity inspired by English dress and riding style, which is still classified as a Western event; Western Hunter classes. Here, many American breeds of horse have the opportunity to show their skills at performing in an English saddle, including jumping a course of fences. Lots of horses are dual performers, and practising both English and Western riding style is an exceptionally good way of keeping training fresh and interesting for both horse and rider. With so many skilful and pleasurable activities to choose from, practising the Western disciplines mean that there’s never any reason to be bored.