About Western Horseback Riding
Western riding refers to a style of riding that originated during pioneer days in which cowboys needed a more comfortable saddle for roping cows. The western saddle was designed and thus introduced a new style of riding by holding the reins in one hand so that the other was free to rope cattle.
History
Western riding style dates back to the cowboy days. Since cowboys spent a great deal of time riding on rugged land, the western saddle was developed in order to even weight distribution. The riding style has since evolved and today deals more with the manner in which a horse is controlled by the rider.
Horse
The horse that is best built for western riding is the quarter horse. This horse has a muscular build, is very fast and very easy to train. Quarter horses also have the stamina to ride for lengthy periods of time, making them great for riding shows.
Movements
The trot of a horse is fairly fluid and relaxed in western style riding. Riders will hold the reins in one hand and post during the trot in western riding. This means that the rider will follow the up and down movement of the shoulders of the horse while trotting. This allows the rider to follow the rhythmic movement of the horse at all times. If a horse is competing in a western horse show, the rider must sit the trot instead of post.
Clothing
The attire for western style riding consists of wearing a western hat, a long-sleeved loose-fitting shirt and a pair of boots.