Oh wow! So much has changed on the boards. I have not been on in ages.

Anywho, I recently made a move across the country from North Dakota to Oregon. Well I left my barrel racing/cow chasing/trail riding/everything horse at home with my parents as I will be attending graduate school and won't have the time nor the money to take him with me.

But as my luck would have it, I have found two ladies who have around 6-7 horses. One of which that doesn't get ridden very much. Long story short, I am welcome to go ride Mac whenever I have the time. At this point, I am hoping I can go ride him once a week on the weekend as a study break/stress reliever.

The cool part that I am super excited about is that they ride Enlish! At this point, I have literally "sat" in an English saddle once and I now have actually ridden Mac once, so my behind has been in an English saddle twice. I have ridden Western for all of my life although I have always wanted to learn English too.

I have aquired a pair of breeches from a 3rd year student and I just put an order in for some paddock boots and half-chaps so I can at least be properly dressed when I ride.

So I guess I was just looking for any general information that would help me out or help me get started. I definitely don't plan on riding alone for a while just because I don't know which saddle is his, which bridle is his, or even how to correctly put everything on! I also am hoping I can have one of the ladies give me some instruction (I'm sure they wouldn't mind) or eventually taking some formal lessons when summer rolls around and I have the spare time.

Anything I NEED to know, coming from a Western background?

One thing I noticed right off the bat is that Mac is not trained the way I train and ride my horses! It's like he moves INTO pressure. If I want to turn to the left, I am to put my left leg on him and he wraps around it. I am used to (for a left turn), to take your left leg off them and position your right leg on them either forward or backward, depending on if you want a rollback or a forehand turn.

And of course, I am NOT used to keeping contact on the reins at all times! Neither is Mac. I guess he likes to try to pull your hands all the time and they said eventually you are basiclaly holding the weight of his head up with your hands and you don't even realize it. Well, I rode him around the arena with no contact and it was so funny because he kept trying to get contact with me (so he could do his little "habit") but I kept him on a loose rein!

Mac also know how to jump so I am really hoping (at some point, not right away) that can do that as well.

Okay, but I will stop rambling now (gee, can't you tell I'm excited about learning English?) So any must-knows for English?

In case you haven't added this to your shopping list: an ASTM/SEI approved helmet please. No need to spend a fortune either.

Do whatever you can get get your hands on the "Bible" of English Riding Hunter Seat Equitation by George Morris. Do what the man says.

Heels down.

Sit Up -- Straight line from behind your head, through your shoulder, to the hip, to the heel of your feet. Toes forward. Sit on your crotch, not your butt.

Eyes up and looking forward to where you want to go. Every time you allow your eyes to drop, your head and shoulders will follow, thereby losing that night vertical body position.

Hands/fingers closed around the reins. Top of your thumb should be facing up. Straight line from your elbow through the wrists to the horse's mouth. You should just feel contact but not be hauling on his mouth. Don't let the horse pull you forward out of the vertical.

Yes, english horses are into pressure. For left circle: left rein, left heel in at the girth, right heel just behind the girth. Left heel is the "pivot point" for the ribs and the right heel is the "push the butt/ask him to bend" Opposite, of course, for right turns.

On the rail: a breath's more contact on outside rein, a hair of inside heel. Keeps the horse on the rail in a straight frame/box.

Halt more with your seat/weight than your hands. No voice.

Do whatever you can to take some lessons with a good trainer...one who will explain the whats, whys and wherefors of english riding.

HAVE FUN

Hey thanks Chocomare!

I have owned a helmet for the past 15 years (not the same one, of course!! lol ) I'm one of very few people I know who are a western rider that wears a helmet. So that's covered!

Heels down, body straight, and eye position are things I have always done and always worked on, but reminders are always good; especially since everything feels different in an English saddle.

I've never used a "pivot point" for turns before so that is probably going to be my biggest challenge to remember to do! I'm so automatic with body, hand, and legs with how I did turns with my own horse -- habits are hard to break! I know I'm going to have to stay conscious of that one for awhile.

Now when you say "no voice' for a halt, is that more of a personal preferance thing for you or more of an English showing rule? I've always been VERY verbal with all of my horses but I only speak loud enough for the horse to hear me (b/c they are the only one that needs to hear it, of course). Of course, my voice commands are always used in conjunction with leg, seat, and hands. I just see it as another aid.

Now I guess one big question I have is that for posting at the trot, I have always heard the phrase: Ride and fall with the leg on the wall. However, I never found out if the "leg on the wall" is the front or hind leg. I have posted lots while riding western (b/c not all horses have a sitting trot!) but I've never paid attention to which leg I was corresponding to.

So any clarification or tips on that would be great!

Yes, the "leg on the wall" is the front leg. So if you're tracking left, you post up as the right leg goes forward.

Think "Quiet" when riding... Quiet Upper Body. VERY Quiet hands. Quiet lower leg.

Re: Voice. Yes, it is an aid but should always be your last. Granted, you said you won't be showing, but should you ever have a hankering to do so, you do not say "whoa" to your horsie in the ring. I allow my beginners to say "whoa" when they're first learning only because my Clyde-X mare will STOP on a dime at the word but once they have the "feel" down on asking for a halt with weight (closing the hip angle) and hands, they are no longer permitted to use their voice.

Ashame you're alllllll the way across the country. My tiny lesson program is geared to folks like you (changing disciplines), as well as PURE beginners and re-riders. I love to teach!!!!!!

I would also highly recommend the book "Centered Riding" by Sally Swift, or any of her DVDs. Very very good information and even just the basics of her program will help.

Good for you for branching out and trying something new.

i dont normally post on this board, but i will anyway!

I switched over from western to english and it is SO fun! (although i am still have to be a cowgirl sometimes, lol!)

A few things- you can have great western equitation, get in an english saddle, and sort of fall apart lol. My one thing was my leg getting in front of me. You have to be a little more conscious of sitting balanced on your pelvic bones and crotch and making sure your lower leg is underneath yourself- it will help for posting and 2 pt. One little check i was taught was to look down at your knees- if you can see your toes, your lower leg is too far fwd.

Also, you will probably need to shorten your stirrups more than you are used to. I unfortunately went straight from western to jumping (honestly first day in an english saddle was over fences- dont ask, LONG story, but a mistake regardless lol). So i went from long stirrups to cranked up for jumping. But if you have them a whole or 2 shorter than normal and then work your way up. Eventually for flat work they should be hitting you close to the ankles when your feet are out and legs relaxed.

HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!