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I understand where you are coming from. I rode western since I was 4 years old. I rode english maybe twice or so at about 8 years old, just because my instructor thought I would look cute in the whole "English outfit"... I know, she was a weirdo LOL. When I was that old though, I despised english riders, I thought they seemed so snobby. Well I know better now though... but anyways I never REALLY rode english until about four or five years ago. So thats a good 10 or 11 years that I was solely a western rider.

The first time you sit in an english saddle, it will feel SO weird. To me, it felt like something was missing. Western saddles are naturally more 'secure' than an english saddle, with the horn and the pommel area, it just feels like it holds you in better. So for a while it felt funny, but I definitely never slipped around or anything because of it. As long as you have a good seat things shouldn’t change. It also felt weird because the stirrups move MUCH more easy (they are just a strip of leather, whereas in western there is a big wide fender). Again, it didn’t effect my riding, it just felt strange for a little while.

The difficulty I had though was that I never kept my reins tight enough. In western you keep more of a loose rein, while in english you keep contact with the bit. So I had a hard time keeping my reins drawn up as much as my instructor wanted me too.

Other than that, I think you will be fine. Try not to worry about it, just relax and it will be much easier. Don’t psych yourself out for this lesson; I’m sure they will understand that it is your first time!

Good luck, and remember to have fun.

I remember my first day in a english saddle. That was the day i fell off for the first time too lol. But that was because i was on a horse that liked to run a littel too much, not because of the saddle.

Um, just be prepared for it to feel very weird for the first few times. In western you're supposed to have a nice loose rein, and in english you have to have them tighter, so that was weird for me (still is lol). For some reason i had a hard time keeping my feet in the stirrups, which is weird because i have no problem in western.

You'll be sore. Especially if they make you 2-point for forever like they did with me.

But other than that, it's not too hard to get used to. Just the saddle feels different, you sit a little different, and manage the reins different. But after a couple rides, it'll be no big deal. And since it's so different it makes it more fun :)

The saddle is much smaller, as I'm sure you can tell! It requires you to sit up straighter and ride more actively. Your seat is often the key in English, making the difference between canter and gallop. (If you bounce too much on the horse I ride, she does take off at a gallop!) Hunter/jumpers is amazing. Jumping is a thrilling experience. The stirrups may be short, but there are long stirrup divisions, and your trainer will work you up to the short stirrups. Just ride confidently, listen to everything your trainer says, and you'll pick up on it soon enough. Best of luck!

OMG! I DID THAT TOO

I switched too! Its not weird i think the only thing that got me was the first canter in english saddle I was going crazy and i had ridden for a while, now I am alle english and have been I even have a jumping dressage horse and go too bunches of shows and I am actually sellling my western saddle, barrel saddle. When you first ride english its weird but, dont expect much just act like you know what you doing and it comes too you lol

The biggest this is deffentaly going to be your poster and you probably heard that in other answers too. Your use to a relaxed posture that isnt as stirct. Now you NEED your back strait, heels down and all that. You need t get use to your stirups. It looks shorter then it feels. Dont worry about that. You need tighter reins in english and thats going to take like 1-2 lessons to start remembering that as soon as you hop into your english saddle. Good Luck and feel free to ask me if you have any questions.

well, since western is considered more comfortable by most, not me tho, i love english saddles. anyway, prepare for a sore butt. it might be a little strange switching to english because the western saddles are so secure, i fell off when i first tried english, but i was also just a beginner still when i switched. but i still ride western sometimes just for the fun of it.

honestly, i find english much easier, but that is most likely because i did an english to western transition. the stirrup length is hard & getting the hang of having to support your lower leg by using thigh muscles. also, remember that when you post, your hands shouldn't come up with you, they should stay in the same spot, move the arms.

good luck!

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