your equestrian sport

[Jillian]

I wanted to know how people got into the specific style of riding that they do. I got into jumping when my old riding instructor told me to canter towards a fallen barrel in my half seat and hold on. I've been hooked ever since. That instructor also took me to my first event. So why do you do what you do?

[Kaitlin]

I ride Western because we bought our first horse for my mom, but he turned out to be really amazing at Western Pleasure. I had only ridden hunt seat before him, but the difference in the styles intrigued me to try it out. Riding Western is a lot easier on my lower back than riding hunt seat was and I have a very calm attitude when I ride. Actually, I almost have a lax attitude. Western is slower than English and it suits my mentality a little better. Some days I love to hop on my friend's horse and ride around, reliving the good old days, but when it comes down to it I do really love the relaxing ride in a western saddle. (Plus when I show, I get to deck out in gorgeous, sparkling outfits. And let's not forget the silver accents on the saddles. ;) )

[Jillian]

very true about all the western bling, i was always jealous that you guys had way more fun choices for outfits

[Kaitlin]

Haha yeah, if only it weren't so expensive! Couldn't find the right color/size off of ebay so I had to bite the bullet and dole out some major cash for my gear.

[Caroline Nauert]

Note: This is my personal opinion, it may or may not be true, but its my opinion. I'm not trying to offend you, or insult any discipline, I'm sorry if it sounds that way.

Well I rode english for a short while when I was younger, but my dad rode western (he kept a horse on our ranch to work cows/pleasure ride), my mom grew up riding western (backyard kind of riding), my grandmother and great-grandmother both had ponys and horses they rode western, etc. So I didn't know much about english, but knew a little about western. I kinda just figured I'd ride western, I even bought western boots.

Then I went out to the stables where I was going to ride, and I saw all sorts of jumps set up. I was amazed. The idea of being able to jump over them, to follow the horse, and work with it, and be a part of something so crazy, and amazing looking totally hooked me. I rode western for a few lessons, so I could make a more informed decision, but for me, it was no contest, I wanted to jump. As I rode more and more, I came to like english more and more. I tried western a few more times after that but I was hooked on english riding. I like the smaller stirr-ups, the smaller seat, the lack of a saddle horn, etc. to me it felt like a challenge, like I had to stay on with my legs and seat and not rely on anything else. I loved it, even when I fell off, even though I ride terribly, I love it! And after I began jumping there was just no turning back. For me its like nothing else.

For a while I rode at a cross country barn. I liked cross country alright (though I didn't do much jumping over solid obsticles so I might have chickened out later on lol). But then I started riding at a Hunter Jumper barn that had a covered arena (b/c of the rainy season and my old barns lack of covered arena). I liked the trainer there so much, that I changed disciplines for good. I like Hunters, Jumpers, and Equitation (well eq. not so much lol), but mainly it was my trainer Erin. I love her teaching style (we even try bits of other disciplines for fun sometimes) and the way she teaches really helps me focus on being solid on the basics, and having fun. I really love the way she teaches and she's a hunter jumper trainer, and thankfully I ended up liking hunters and jumpers so it all worked out (=

[Jillian]

that's pretty cool actually, since you see so many kids just ride whatever style their parents ride (if their parents ride that is) I understand about loving the hunter stuff, I compete my morgan in some hunter classes when we go to morgan shows and I love it, but the thrill of jumping, especially cross country is my true love.
What type of horse do you ride?

[♥Meghan♥]

well the equestrian sport that i pretty much "feel in love with" is hunter jumpers and equitation! i love the style and grace of hunter jumpers! my horse is really flowing a consistent so he helps out at shows ALOT! lol! its the first riding style that i started out doing and have had no other interest in any other equestrian sport! its my passion and i havent felt that way about any other discipline and if im going to work my ass off...i want to do it for something i love to actually do! hunter jumper fits the best with my horse too because i dont think he would be that good at western pleasure or any of the gaited horse type stuff! now tho im getting into the arabian circuit showing so...that will be quit the experience for sure but ohhh sooo exciting!!! :D

[Emily]

Showing Jumper is all Ive ever known. I didnt really have an option as to what I wanted to do. But I love it none the less.