How do you switch from riding horses English to Western?

Step 1: Change Your Equipment

- Replace the English saddle with a Western saddle.

- Choose longer and rounder stirrups.

- Replace a snaffle bit with an O-ring or D-shaped bit.

- Attach a breast collar when needed.

- Use shorter reins and a neck rope or mecate if desired.

Step 2: Alter Your Posting and Rising Style

- When posting, use your core and legs to push down, instead of your arms.

- Allow the horse to move the saddle forward and back with each step.

- Do not rise out of saddle while trotting.

- Sit your trot.

- Your knees will be more relaxed and slightly forward.

- Your feet will need to point more forward, as with Western stirrups.

Step 3: Change Your Rein and Body Positioning

- Keep the reins loose in your hand.

- Move your hand away from the horse’s neck and closer to the pommel.

- Hold your reins with one hand, leaving the other hand free, if desired.

- Relax and let your arms go loose; your arms will move with your horse's neck when it turns or moves.

- Keep your shoulders more square with your horse and not as square with the ground.

Step 4: Hold Your Horse Differently

- If reining with one hand, hold the reins near the horn.

- Keep both reins in your right hand if you are reining with two hands.

- If you hold your reins like an English rider, you may use a curb strap.

Step 5: Communicate Differently with Your Horse

- Use neck cues to guide your horse.

- Pull one rein to tell the horse to turn that direction.

- To slow down and stop, shift your weight back, use a neck rein, and lightly pull the reins.

Step 6: Prepare for a New Experience

- You will feel less upright in the saddle.

- Your hands will be relaxed and farther away from horse’s neck.

- Your balance will depend on your heels, calves and core.

- You will use neck reining instead of guiding your horse with your hands alone.

- Your stirrups will be longer.

- You may decide to sit the trot without posting if riding a gaited horse or if your trainer asks you to.

- Ask for help from a Western trainer until you feel comfortable with the new riding style.