HorseChannel.com Message Board / HorseChannel.com Forums / Western Riding

Back in June i fell off ............

saddleclubgirl123 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:59:34 GMT

Help i fell off a couple months back. A month later i had a camp i was scared to stay on after that camp i could not ride again! Since then i didn't ride what can i do? i really miss riding but i don't belive in myself!

Saddle Pads

honeygrl — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 15:32:33 GMT

I had a fleece bottomed saddle past in the past and it was worn out, so I got a felt saddle pad with a najo saddle blanket. Now I'm not sure if I like the felt or not. I was wondering what kinds of saddle pads everyone likes and what works the best for them?

Critique Me.

jubilee2010 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:35:57 GMT

critique me and allie-oop. The sand in these pics was HORRIBLY deep. So she was way bouncy. Plus she isn't a western horse. She's an english one who i trained for western in march for 4h and equestrian team.

She is a HORRIBLE pattern horses. We never perfected this work. Plus it was day two and she gets CRANKY on day two. (ignore her please)

Oh and her name is Allie.

Thanks,
Jubilee

Stacy Westfall new equine sensaition!

saddleclubgirl123 — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:19:48 GMT

she's awesome i would have loved to see her this summer!

did any of you did?

western saddle

Gracie53 — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 21:53:26 GMT

hi,
im going to start some team penning and steer daubing (sp?) with my dressage horse (who is very cow-y) in the coming months (high school equestrian team) i think it will be fun, and im excited, but being an english girl, i need some help on buying tack. i would like a synthetic saddle for sure, because i couldnt ever lift one of the leather ones up on my 16 hand horse. i want it to be good quality, but i dont want to spend alot, iv heard the abettas are good? also, what 'type' do i need for cow events? barrel, trail, i really dont know! lol
also with the sizes, my saddle size is 17 inch, so would that translate to 17 in western? my TB is a medium tree, so will most saddles fit her, or are most stock horse type, therefore leaving me fewer options as far as saddles that will fit her?
for girths, does anyone have girths they just really like? and if my horse is a 56 AP girth and 26 dressage, what would her cinch size be?
and then headstalls, any plain ones of any particular brand you guys like?
do western saddles need breastplates? iv always seen pics with those, but are they needed for the events i would be doing?
ill have help with the training and all that in the coming months, i just need some help so i can look at what to buy. thanks so much!

Goat Tying

QuarterHorsesForever — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:31:12 GMT

Hi, I just started riding last year. I went to a youth rodeo and saw goat tying, I thought it looked really cool. Do you need any special saddle and/or girth?

Thanks

Barrel Times?

rodeobaby15 — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:33:21 GMT

Whats your best and worse barrel times? I just started training my 6 year old QH Mare for barrel racing, and at a lope we are getting 19 seconds!

Slowing down and balancing

seirrateirra — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:54:00 GMT

Sierra is doing awsome at the trot, she is slow and balanced pretty much, she has a low head set on a loose rein, but at the lope, her head is up and she is really sloppy and going like a million miles per hour. She has tripped over herself at least three times per day I ride. Her feet are fine, she's not lame, and the saddle fits. I had someone come look at her, a friend of a friend and they said she isn't balanced at the lope. Any suggestions on either subject?

Arena Question

All-Round-Equestrian — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 15:58:14 GMT

We are currently planning to put in an outdoor arena. I run barrels and need to know basic dimentions for it. We can't put in the 100' x 200'. What is the minimum size that I could run barrels in without being too cramped? I think the longest side could be at 100'. Would that be enough?

ICELANDICS AND KENTUCKY MOUNTAIN SADDLE HORSES

debkcolbert — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:25:15 GMT

Shopping for my first horse. Will need to be mature and well trained for a novice western rider. Wondering if Icelandics and Kentucky Mountain are great all around breeds to learn on.

Good Pair of riding gloves?

APetPal — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:01:56 GMT

Hey! I have been looking at a pair of riding gloves, What kind of riding gloves to you like?

Injury

barrelracr12 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:01:50 GMT

My horse is recovering from a busted blood vessel in his leg, lymes disease and possibly authritis. sounds bad huh? well he is almost healed thank the lord:) we barrel race and i need some advice to know how to get him back in shape for the show season. thank you to whom ever leaves a message

Good Videos on Tacking up Western

APetPal — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:57:43 GMT

I have only ridden English, but now I must learn to ride western. I only need to know how to tack up. (I will have an instructor to help me, but only the first few times) Thank you so much.

She's Fast In The Show Ring!

ShowGirl15 — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:32:10 GMT

My 7 year old Quarter Horse mare is almost perfect at home. She is slow, and keeps her head down, and responds to the bit well. But when we get into the show ring, she gets fast (especially at the lope) and raises her head. She doesn't take off with me and gallop around the arena, but she's not like she is at home. I don't get very nervous when I go into the ring, so I don't think that she is fast because I act different. I try to make the same corrections that I do at home, but she doesn't listen to me. I think a stronger bit, or one with more leverage might help me, but she has a sensitive mouth, and doesn't like very harsh bits.

Any suggestions? Thanks!

What sort of bit should I use?

Triple My Gold — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 14:00:30 GMT

I have a 5 mare year old quarter horse mare that I have been riding and showing for several years. When I broke her, I used a dee-ring snaffle and we stayed in that until she was a 4 year old. I then started riding her in a Tom Thumb snaffle bit, which she has done well in. I sent her to the trainer for a tune-up, and she rode her in a shank snaffle as well. Now, I am trying to find a new bit for showing, and I am not sure what to use. Should I try a curb bit, or keep with the long shank snaffle like I have been? Should I have the same type of bit for show as well as training, or try different bits for those? Also, an experienced friend told me that I should use a shank snaffle for pleasure events and a ring/dee snaffle for speed events like barrel racing. Is this the correct thing to do?

ok.. so I hate to brag

3horses3 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 14:43:02 GMT

Ok, so the other day was our 4-H horse show. Usually my mare and I get like 5-6th place or even no ribbons at all at these shows.... but GUESS WHAT?!

We got 1st, I repeat FIRST in SPEED DASH! (run around barrel)

We got 4th in barrels... and got a 19.9 when our average in that arena is 24!!!!!!!!!!!! (The fastest run ever in this arena is a high 17. The major barrel racers who are like 18+ were getting 19's!! I can't believe April!! omg!)

We got 3rd in one-barrel pennant... never done this before!!!

We got 4th in keyrace... she wouldn't go through the poles since our accident!! she did at this show FINALLY!!

We got 2nd in Jumping Figure 8!! omg! that was AMAZING! haha... and I fell off when we were running home after the jump. she decided to go right, and was like WHAT?! and I flew off the left side and did a face plant, but only after sliding on my shoulder first. I'm ok, just sore!! but hey! we still got SECOND!!

And then we got 4th in pole weaving... which she was WAAY out of control on. eeeekkk! But GUESS WHAT?! We knocked a pole and STILL PLACED FOURTH!! lol!

She has never EVER ran that fast or hard for me.. so say good job to my baby April. She is such a good girl <3 I love her to pieces!!

How to train a western horse both disciplines!!

toxa_comi — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:56:10 GMT

My horse is still in the middle of training, but is right now in the process of being trained western and some reining skills. She's really good and all so far, but I'm mainly an english rider and have ridden mostly english, not western. I like western and I am trying to learn more and get better at it, but I would also like to get my horse to do some of my discipline... Any advice on western riding or how to train your horse both disciplines!!! Thank you

What type of barrel saddle do you ride in?

3horses3 — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:56:06 GMT

Just wondering what everyone prefers for barrel saddles around here!

I am looking at "the Proven" barrel saddle by Circle Y. It looks very nice for the price!

What do you think of Rocking R's? that is what I have now, and I love the way it's built, but the seat I don't like. First of all, it's too big for me, so it's throwing me forward. I love how the Proven by Circle Y has a "hip hugger" seat. It's comfy, makes me feel more secure, and really helps me sit deep in my saddle when running barrels!

What are your opinions on saddles? I preferably need something under $1300 if it's new, otherwise I will look for nice used ones :)

thanks!

KELLY KAMINSKI Barrel racing clinic

pep34us — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:10:31 GMT

Hi all, just wanted to let everyone know that the Kelly Kaminski Barrel racing clinic on October 30 Thru November 1 in Cabot PA has a few spots left for participants. Let me know if you're interested!

Kelly is a 2 time World champion, 2 time Reserve champion, and 5 time NFR qualifier. Along with NBHA texas champ!

Progress(and question... as always)

seirrateirra — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 19:51:23 GMT

I took Sierra to a schooling show and just let her hang out and I think it helped alot. I cheated and entered showmanship and she did great and came out with 3rd out of 11 horses.

My question is about a saddle. I've been saving up (got a job) and been looking at getting a cheap show saddle and found this. Anyone think it would be an okay starter saddle for open/fair/buckle shows?

http://www.horse.com/Silverado-Show-Saddle-WKS72.html

Headset

seirrateirra — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:01:09 GMT

I've been gone for a while and the western forums looks pretty dead so here it goes.

I feel like I'm baby sitting Sierra into her headset. I'll ask her to lower her head and she does fairly well, but as soon as I release, which I do right after she gives, she bobs her head back up, sometimes slowly, but she will not go on a loose rein.

I've tried letting her go on a loose rein around like for 20 mins and she is speed trotting most of the time, I've tried holding her until she completely gives (sometimes she puts it down for a second and pops it back up) and I've tried stopping and backing her when she starts to speed up.

She has a really nice and slow trot with her neck level with her withers, but as soon as she hold it up she speeds up. It doesn't seem to be her energy level, she is doing this after a good workout even. Her tack fits fine also

Is she worth it?

3horses3 — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 18:37:29 GMT

Well, I tried out this mare the other day, and I was really impressed!

Her name is Thirsty Four Gin. 2002 AQHA/FQHA (btw, what is FQHA again?) sorrel mare, with 2 socks and a star. she is approx. 15-1 to 15-2 hands. Out of Figure Four 116 and by Four Six Hancock. Her breeding is straight off of Haythorn Land & Cattle Company and 6666 Ranch.

At about age 3 she was trained for western pleasure and trail (show.) Now they are training her for games, like barrel racing.

They had recently gotten 4th at an open show in trail, and did very well in western pleasure. She also did games, getting just right out of the placings.

She has an awesome pivot, sidepass, slow trot, lope, EVERYTHING a trail (show) horse and WP horse can do. and even though her owner doesn't do english, when you post to her trot, she EXTENDS! then sit back down, and she slows down... WOW.

"gina" is loping all game patterns correctly right now, and has started to be hauled. She is not spooky, and will go across water, tarp, anything. She doesn't get hot in the gate, and drops her head and walks out of the gate after a run. stops on command, and can be ridden bareback, even with just a string around her neck. She ties, bathes, and is current on all vaccinations. Has had no injuries, lameness issues, or anything.

Now, this is the amazing thing. They only want $2900 for her, and it's negotiable. I board one horse already, and my parents really don't want to pay for another one. I just want to see your opinon: Would she be worth it?! (my board is $150 a month, fyi)

Thanks for reading! (picture included in attachment!!)

Critique My Riding

jubilee2010 — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 20:37:11 GMT

Ok. So i know i look down a lot =/ I'm working on it. But any critiques would be greatly appreciated.

The bay is this year and the Palomino is last year.

Thanks in Advance.

Have you ever had...

3horses3 — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:07:26 GMT

Just wondering if any of you have ever had, or have, the "Velocity" barrel saddle or "The Proven" barrel saddle by Circle Y, and what you thought/think of it!!

Also... have you ever had/have a Rocking R barrel saddle? Did/does it make you sit forward too much? I have the model #340 and really think it's throwing me forward!!

Old WP pics (critique)

Swing_Away111 — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:19:18 GMT

Hey all,
Here are some pics of Merrill's first time in a curb bit. These were from last February. Critique away!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swing_away/3923620029/ (my leg slipped waay forward in this pic!)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swing_away/3923619453/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/swing_away/3923619175 (I think Merrill looks the most balanced in this pic)

Merrill loved the curb, and did very well in it. He looks on the forehand in a few of these pics, but I think it was mostly him getting used to how the curb worked.
Oh and also, my reins were different lengths (they were hand-me-downs, and one rein was prob. 6 in. longer than the other), so sometimes I had to twist my body to neck rein. So I got new reins.
Thanks in advance!

Lucchese boot help

bling_mustang — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:15:03 GMT

I'm going to order a pair of Lucchese boots. I've been dying to get a pair but they're so expensive and now i've finally found the ones I like and can afford! so if anyone has a pair of them how do they fit compared to ariat boots? Smaller, bigger, wider? Thanks!

New places=faster horse

seirrateirra — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:42:29 GMT

Hey guys, school has been catching up with me, I kind of wish I was a freshman again!

Anyways, I've been riding 3-4 times a week and Sierra has been doing great, I've been doing alot of roundpen work, which she is really relaxed it, and I've taken her out in our back fields where there is no horses and she seems fine.
Well because I have literally no one to ride with at our barn (there is two other horses that are pasture pets pretty much) she has been freaking out around other horses. Anywhere new is a horror film for her pretty much

At our place, she is totally relaxed and that is totally understandable because she's comfortable there, but arena wise, she'll take off

My friend told me to dope her which I wasn't very happy with, and told me that I should get a new horse, because mine has "no potential"

She's a great horse, she just doesn't like being watch or whatever is going on in her head. I am at a loss, my parents won't get a trailer, pay for lessons, ect (I got a summer job to save up)

I think it might be that I ride different at places where people are watching so I know somewhere along this, I'm doing something wrong

Suggestions???

Should I use Spurs?

horselvr — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:50:38 GMT

Hi everyone, right now I'm training my 9 year old mare as an in between western english horse. Right now i am working on getting he head down. I'm using a lot of leg to do this and sometimes it can be hard to repeatedly tickle or nudge her with my leg. (She is slightly sensitive) I was wondering if I should try short (1/4 inch or so long) spurs just to help give lighter aids ( I do have a sound lower leg so I wouldn't be accidently bumping her at all. Thank you in advance!
(p.s.- when she does have her head down, should her head be in a direct vertical line?)

Loping Problems

Manda Panda — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:34:51 GMT

Hi!!!! I can't seem to get my 9 year old Appy, Zoe, to do her right lead. She does absolutely perfect on the left lead. The only way I've been able to do her right lead is to do a roll back which is very inconvienent. If I try to get her to do her right lead by asking her with my left leg she picks up her left lead. She seems to be stuck in one lead anytime I ride her. When I longe her she switches leads on her own and does perfectly fine without me on her. I want to be where I can use my left leg and she will pick up her right lead. Any suggestions as to how i can do that?

Thanks for any help!!

Manda Panda

Leads

lil-bit-a-mischief — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:19:21 GMT

My horse started this about 2 weeks ago. I start to get my horse in a loap on the left lead and he picks up the wrong lead. I use my canter aid and he still doesn't listen. I try about 6 times and then he finally gets the correct lead. Any tips on how I can fix this?

When to start loping barrels/poles?

jen_23 — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 16:18:56 GMT

I've been working on Shine's shoulder up and downs alot. I'm trying to get him ready for barrels/poles. My problem was when I started loping the barrels we would do the first barrel perfect to the right then the 3rd barrel he wouldnt drop his shoulder down to the barrel and wasnt listenin to me at all. So i went back to the basics and worked on shoulder up and shoulder downs at a walk, trot and lope. So i was wondering how Do i know if he's ready for loping barrels again? The other problem I was having was picking up his leads. He'd start int he correct lead on the first barrel but he'd end up on his right lead on the 2nd and 3rd barrel. My trainer told me to go back to the bascis for awhlie, but Idk maybe im rushing it to much. I just think it might be time to start him loping again. Any advice from training your own barrel/pole bending horse?

Thanks

sorry i type too much

Western pleasure (venting mostly)

seirrateirra — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 17:17:22 GMT

I'm riding a friend's horse because she broke her leg (Considince?) and this is the 1st time i've been on her gelding since our little mishap at a reining show a while back. She's slowed him down alot for western pleasure, but his gaits are so bouncy, uncomfortable, and very unsmooth, but to her, this is how all the western pleasure horses at APHA and AQHA world are trained.

She also said her horse hated me because he wouldn't set his head the first time I got on him although it was obvious he was just testing me.

I am wrong or is she?

2 tracking

savvy-up — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:53:03 GMT

What is 2 tracking? Is it like the english half pass?

Critique?

jacks-christian-girl — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 18:31:57 GMT

I was wondering if you could critique these few pics. Thanks a head of time. I know they aren't very good, but please do your best.

Spurs and bits

ride*to*live — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:51:25 GMT

For everybody on here that does gymkanah or speed events I have a question. Are spurs allowed in gymkanah? And are simple curb bits allowed? thanks to eveeryone who responds.

Having problems riding... rider training...

Allo — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 17:06:38 GMT

I rode my mare the other day after riding my gelding for ages... Normally, my mare and I are on great terms... We’ve got a great bond and I can usually ride her extremely wel, because I know all of her quirks and how she acts... but the other day when we rode, it was like... I felt like I was a beginner and she was an untrained filly. She’s 15 and has been my mare for about 6 or 7 years now and she’s been my main and virtually only riding horse for quite a few years up until last year when I started training my gelding.

Anyway, my girl is very headstrong and stubborn. She’s a very fast paced horse... if we trot, she immediately wants to canter, and from a canter, she wants to run... She’s got very fast gaits. She doesn’t ride in a bit, but a hackamore. She has a slight bucking habit, but it’s never anything more than a few kicks or crowhops each ride... she doesn’t do it to get me off, she does it because she’s in high spirits or is having fun. Normally, she and I have lots of fun on our rides and we seem to know each other so well that a lot of the time, it’s like she’s responding to what I think rather than what command I give her and vice versa. However, our last ride was... not fun. Half of the ride she was bucking and I felt horribly off-balance. It seemed as though she was angry with me, and for the life of me I could not keep my balance on her... I either kept riding ahead of her or she kept leaving me behind to hurry and catch up, and when I ‘caught up’, she would slam on the brakes and lock her neck and jig, swerve, and zig-zag all over the place. I felt really frustrated, because I was trying my best to do right, and it wasn’t working... and because I was frustrated, she was frustrated. We did canter some, and a little bit, right before we got home, we ‘clicked’ and got back onto our normal track... but this was after a two hour ride of nothing but frustrations. My girl is also a bit slimmer than my Dakota.

I got to thinking about it and realized that I may be too used to my gelding... I’ve ridden him a lot more than I’ve ridden my mare recently. My gelding is the complete opposite of my mare, even though they’re mother and son. Where my girl is headstrong and stubborn, Dakota is not... unless he really doesn’t want to do something, and even then, he’ll end up and do it anyway. Where Gypsie is a fast paced horse, Dakota is not. Dakota would rather walk than anything else... He trots fine, but never gets fast and he would rather slow down than speed up. He also responds to neck reining and leg cues, where my girl only responds halfway to neck reining and is more used to direct reining and doesn’t know anything about leg cues. Where my mare is very... heavy on the forehand (I think that’s the right term...) my Dakota is the lightest horse I’ve ever ridden. Riding my boy, it feels like there’s almost no contact, and with my mare, she tends to lean against the hackamore a bit.

I know that my issues with my horses isn’t due to the tack... they both use the same saddle (I can’t afford one for Dakota right now), and only their bridles is different. Dakota wears a straight snaffle with a port and Gypsie wears a hackamore.

I jumped on my boy bareback for a few minutes earlier, then jumped on my mare... and with Dakota, I felt so natural and comfortable... and with my mare, I felt kinda... awkward... which I never feel when I ride her...

Is there a way to keep myself used to both of my horses without feeling off balance on one and more comfortable on the other? Do I just need to ride them both about the same...? Truth be told, I love riding my 3 year old... and my mare, but my girl already knows how to ride pretty well and I’m still working on some things with Dakota. What can I do?

neck reining

Brandy&me4ever — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:23:52 GMT

My horse isn't the best neck reiner and me not knowing how to neck rein doesn't help either..................

Can somone teach me how to neck rein?

Thanks!

First Show

CrazyHorseGirl1773 — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 17:00:43 GMT

In a few weeks (about three) I will be showing my 4-H horse Chip in Showmanship. He's never done it before and neither have I. We've been working really hard, but I can't help but feel panicky and stressed. This we'll be our first time showing for both of us. I can tell that my stress has been wearing on both of us. We've still got a lot to learn, I know we can do it, but tips and suggestions for getting rid of pre-show stress and for Showmanship training would be great!

ropes

cowgirlextreme — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 08:22:34 GMT

im going to start ropin soon but im not sure which brand is best to use and i need to buy one? any suggestions???

Ariat Showbaby Boot

Ruby'scowgirl — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 18:39:30 GMT

http://zapp.me/7517533

I really like the way this boot looks and I need a pair of show boots. I was wondering if anyone could tell me if this was a good boot or not. I really like Ariat's boots so if anyone has any other suggestions I would be glad to look.