English Riding – Riding Styles Explained

It is a choice all new horseman must make early on: Western riding or English riding? The difference is less in how one rides so much as what kind of riding one wants to do.

While Western style riding was developed primarily for cowboys and the work they needed to do, English style riding has developed as a progression of a style originating primarily for hunting. The hunting of different animals, particularly the fox, required slight modifications in saddle construction and it is this saddle that forms the basis of all English style saddles today.

The riding style itself is a fairly simple one that encourages simple control of the reins for optimal direction of the horse. At this point in time, English style riding has grown and and many different styles within the general title of English riding exist. Many different competition events require slightly different technique and often a slightly different saddle that has been designed with a specific event in mind.

Dressage is quite possibly the most common or popular discipline within the heading of English riding. This type of event is geared towards developing a horse’s natural athletic ability and showcasing that ability alongside the skill of the rider and the rider’s ability to accurately direct the horse.

Horse racing also falls within the boundaries of English riding. The saddle used for this style of English riding is typically much smaller, lighter and secured very simply under the horse so that the horse is hindered the least amount possible by the weight or size of the saddle.

Beyond these two very common styles a rider can also participate in show jumping events in which a horse and rider are judged on their ability to navigate a number of obstacles without knocking them over, eventing, which combines several different events, polo, which is more a sport than an event, and endurance riding in which a horse and rider must ride over a long distance.

English riding differs most substantially from Western riding in that the English style is more focused on form and developing a horse’s athleticism than its Western counterpart which focuses more on a horse’s ability to perform work.

When making the decision of which style of riding to pursue, a new rider must examine his or her interests in horsemanship. A rider interested in the work aspect of horsemanship might consider Western riding, but one interested in dressage type competition, or competition that does not involve more ranch oriented events might consider English riding.