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Is there a way to learn English horseback riding without lessons?

Amanda - 2009-09-26 10:27:21 - Horses

I have always wanted to learn English. But neither me, nor my parents have enough money to be able to afford professional lessons. I don't have any friends or relatives that have English horses either. I know an option to work off lessons would be nice, but with school and my schedule... That just wouldn't work. Are there any books that I could buy or order that could help at all? Thanks! Also, would I be able to learn English on my Western horse? Or would that just confuse him?

Best Answer:

No, you can't. If you tried to teach yourself, you'll develop bad habits that will be hard to break. It's best to get lessons from a professional. Also, your horse will need training so it'll know the English commands and stuff.

Answers:

unfortunately, you really can't learn english riding from books or videos or anything. you need lessons. for your horse... i don't know. sorry.

Most horses can go either way especially Quarterhorses. The main difference would be the tack, the seat, your posture, your hands and practice. I would get a DVD rather than a book and go to Amazon which would be the best choice. Watch the DVD, do the exercises that they recommend, get the horse used to the change in tack by lungeing him with them on before riding him straightaway, then try to get someone in your family to video you so you can see how you are riding. I learned English but now ride Western. English is just much more formal and rigid

Well, you could in theory, but there is like a 0% chance you would do things properly. In order to learn things correctly and make things understandable for your horse, you should get some lessons. Why not ask for a lesson package for a birthday or xmas present? Most lesson barns offer packages of about 10 lessons.

Learning english will be hard without an instructor. It will also confuse your western horse. English is a very precise way of riding, and you really need an instructor if you want to ride correctly. I have been riding english for 5 years, and currently jump 3'. You are honestly better off with an instructor. Maybe you can see if you can find someone who rides english and wants to learn western, and you two can trade off teaching each other.

Unfortunately, you're going to need to be taught this. You can read as many books as you like, but english riding needs teaching - without it you're very likely not to get it right. Also, if your horse has only ever been taught wastern he's going to need to be taught otherwise - english and western are two very different disciples, you can't just decide one day to ride english if he doesn't know how.

Yes, join a group that hunts foxes. They are all into English riding.

you can only go so far with out lessons. . . my friend is learning this the hard way of coarse. . . i knew that sooner or later she would come to me and say "i'm all out of ideas, what do i do?" my reply to her last week *when she finally broke down and asked me*, was to get a trainer. you can learn the basics on your own and from books. But it gets to a point where yes you do have to have someone show you what to do. my friend is flat broke as far as money goes, and i said go take a lesson once a month and then go work with that concept that you learn for that month. save money and help you move to the next level of learning. But like i said/think. . . you can do a bit on your own, but that runs out very fast.

No, you can't. If you tried to teach yourself, you'll develop bad habits that will be hard to break. It's best to get lessons from a professional. Also, your horse will need training so it'll know the English commands and stuff.

You will need lessons....it is a little cheaper to do group lessons and maybe 1 or 2 private lessons a mth. As far as your horse.......he/she will need someone to teach the english commands or you will confuse them, but the nice thing is once he/she has been taught you have the freedom to ride either way. I have an Apdx Qtr and she loves barrels and over fences...........Good luck!