Western or English??

[Wayward Wind~]

What do you trail ride in? Western or English saddle? or either.... Also do you english and western riders wear a helmeton the trail?
I ride western as so does the rest of my family. And my son and I wear helmets from the time we start with the horses til the time they are back in the pasture. But my hubby does not. I have gotten a many a strange looks from other "westerns" about the helmet but I make my son wear it and how can I say " do as I say not as I do." It is ALWAYS better to be safe than sorry. If something happens to me because I didn't have a helmet on who will embarass him when he gets to be a teenager? :D

WW~

[spookhorse]

I ride in an Australian Stock Saddle :) It's much better for my bad back and hip.

[siseley]

:winkgrin: :winkgrin:
Yep Helmet every horse, every time... Saddle is what is most comfortable for horse and rider. I ride in a western/endurance saddle, and most of the trail people ride in western or endurance in our club. we most all wear helmets. Where we ride is very rough, and lots of loose sand and rock. Most folks also use breast collars cause of the amount of hills and ditches we cross.

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h84/siseley/stevefennercyn1.jpg

[hosspuller]

English ... Trees across the trail are for jumping ! But .. there are very few places to carry gear and stuff.

Helmet, of course.

[colleent]

English.

Helmet most of the time, but to be honest, not ALL of the time. one lady lets us cross her property but only WITH a helmet on. so i imagine i'll be wearing it more often, and probably thanking her for saving my life someday.

[Jewels]

western or bareback. If I'm riding bareback I will ride with a helmet. For some reason if I'm riding western I wont!

[Huntertwo]

Ride with a Western Treeless and always wear my English Troxel helmet.

[Bayou Roux]

English saddle, with oversize trail saddlepad that has pockets in it for the extras.

Helmet everytime. There a motorcyclists' expression that goes something like, "Any brain not smart enough to protect itself in every way might not be worth protecting." ;) I'm not taking any chances!:)

[saddleup]

Western.

[Little Red Dun]

I always wear a helmet.

I learned English so I always feel a little awkward in a Western saddle. I've only ridden in an Australian saddle a few times, but I liked it a lot.

[promlightshine]

English. I like the close contact. Have wintecs and they are fabulous for comfort AND grip. However, my youngest horse needed a different saddle. So I have a crosby for him.

Helmet every time. I love the saying above and I'm an NP who when I started in nursing YEARS ago saw way too many head injuries.

I think about the years I rode as a kid, bareback, often barefoot, no helmet... well that gal still lives in me but I need to protect what's left of her :)

Looks are looks... sometimes it's the helmet, sometimes it's the child on a horse and sometimes..people are just jealous of how wonderful it is to ride as family . Ignore them...

My son uses a helmet skiing too. He's now 17 /250 lb lineman. Wearing a helmet is a must in his sports. I started him young and he doesn't question it.

[bisous]

I prefer English but it's cause I like the closest contact. When I want to only walk and be comfy I'll go western but not often. Either way there is alway a helmet. That's just pure common sense.

[mrs.smith]

western with a helmet. I find the longer stirrups to be easier on my knees over the long rides. And I do get funny looks with my helmet on, but I feel naked riding without one.

[Robyn]

English and always with a helmet. I'm always shocked when I see people without one. I don't just don't even understand the debate.
Robin

[Mtn trails]

Western with a helmet. It's getting pretty common out here so no one gives me funny looks but I did take a little ribbing at first but now, no one notices.

[carp]

Currently using a Western saddle.

Always with a helmet. It protects my head from branches even if I don't come off the horse. Nothing bleeds like a head wound!

[fatmare]

I use an English or Western saddle, depending on what fits the horse. An old Ammerman barrel saddle on my brick house fat mare, and an English-style Paragon saddle on my racking gelding. And a helmet EVERY time. Every now and then I'm tempted to hop on without it, but then I read something about someone who was killed riding a dead broke horse at a slow walk in a freak accident, and that helmet goes on.

My mother is strictly Western, and she wears her helmet, too. She's the reason I originally started wearing mine, to set the example. She used to try to sneak off without it, but I'd roll her over the coals every time I caught her. Of course, every time I hear one of those horror stories, I pass it on to her, and I think the habit is pretty trained in now. Now, if I could just get her to wear her damned seat belt... :rolleyes:

[Donkaloosa]

When I was riding primarily English, I always trail rode with an English saddle. When I went back to riding western (due to knee problems --- it was the best way to insure that I didn't do anything like jumping!), I went back to trail riding western like I'd done years before. And ALWAYS with a helmet. I'd feel naked without my helmet when I ride, like going out without my watch on in the morning. I've even gone on big trail rides (Golden Hills, for example) where I was the only person wearing a helmet. Guess I value my brain more than some people do!

Donk

[northern child]

Bob Marshall Treeless Western saddle. Your horse will love it and so will your seat and knees! Helmet - without a doubt. Who gives a damn what you look like. Furthermore, if you are going with other trail riders, the smart ones will also be wearing a helmet, so you really won't be looking out of place. Happy trails!!

[county]

Western, never wear a helmet. I have a cousin that preaches the helmet thing, usually with a pop in one hand, a smoke in the other, and is 40 lbs over weight. No one takes her serious.

[ChocoMare]

English (love my Duetts) and always a helmet. Besides the fall factor, being on top of a 17.3 Percheron, I get whacked by every branch. :winkgrin:

[Wayward Wind~]

Yes I too have discovered that helmets ar excellent protection from branches.
When riding yesterday if I had not had it on I would have had multiple whacks!! Just one more reason to protect the ol' noodle.

I would love to try english but..... I am chicken :D. I have been looking at saddles on ebay and on the tack classifieds here. I really want to try!! But I am so secure in my Circle Y trail saddle.

WW~

[Courage]

I finally found a western saddle that fits my warmblood, so that's what I use on trails. It's a nice change for both of us.

I ALWAYS wear a helmet. My parents had the horrific experience of viewing a runaway horse slip on the pavement and fall with his rider, who wasn't wearing a helmet. She had severe head injuries and was in a coma for days. When she came out of it, she had lost her long term memory. She couldn't remember her children or her husband and NEVER regained the ability to do so. :no:

Even worse was that this poor woman had never ridden before - this was at a local riding stable who gave her a known runaway and no helmet even after she told them that she wanted the safest horse in the place because she didn't want to get hurt. This horse used to dump it's rider and run home past my parent's house at least 3 times per week. My Mom testified in court for this woman and the stable lost the lawsuit. But all the money in the world won't bring back the woman's memory :mad:

[Sentry Chick]

I've ridden western all my life and I have done english over 20 yrs ago. I'm just starting to do more english this year. I do not use a helmet. It's my choice. I've never given anyone a hard time if they choose to wear a helmet. That just doesn't make sence to me to give someone a hard time that is choosing to ride safe. We all make our own choices and should not be shunned or critisied for doing so. If I were show jumping or was doing something that required to wear a helmet, I would do so without complaining. I have no problem wearing a helmet, I just choose not to.

[MuleLady]

I ride English in a close contact saddle...I have this cool pack that sits at the back of the saddle and connects to the billet straps. It holds two big water bottles and had TONS of room for food, maps, etc. They also make a similar pad for in front of the pommel that I want to get as well. If you're clever, it's amazing how much stuff you can tie onto an english saddle...and yup, then you can still jump when ya want to! I never get on without a helmet. Wouldn't consider it. The ground is a long way down in my case (I ride a huge mule) and gets harder with each passing year.

[Risk-Averse Rider]

Always a helmet.

If I'm just going to be walking and trotting, my dressage saddle. If I think there will be cantering involved, my jumping saddle. I feel much more secure in my jumping saddle for some reason.

But really, I don't do much serious trail riding. I don't go out for hours at a time and clamber up rocky cliff faces or down into the Grand Canyon ;-) An hour, hour and a half is about my limit. We're out longer than that (2 hours - maybe 2 1/2) when we hunt, but a lot of that is standing at checks. That's in my jumping saddle, even though we don't jump.

[GE]

Western/endurance saddle. I always wear a helmet when I ride - trail, ring, quick trip through the woods. I insist that my 10-year old daughter rides with a helmet and I don't want to give her a reason to argue ;)

I ride with a very experienced trail rider that does some endurance. She rides in a flex tree endurance saddle or Bob Marshall Sports Saddle and always wears a helmet. I feel like I need a helmet just to keep up with her.

[appybeads]

I always wear a helmet, got bucked off a horse in 1991 and broke my back, was riding in an indoor and got tossed into a wall. I did have a helmet on and it saved my head the doctor said.

I have a dressage and a western barrel saddle that I just got. I rode in it about 3 times, but I really feel more comfy in my dressage saddle ;)

[SonatyOne]

Always wear my helmet.

I ride in a Crosby Softride which fits my Morgan perfectly, but not my Gypsy who is much broader than my big boned mare. Still looking for a saddle that will fit he and I.

[rainechyldes]

I like my aussie saddle, it's..cosy. Always with a helmet. Though I do have to get a new one as of yet, I cracked the bejesus out of my troxel,.yep yep. Two seperate bucking off incidents, and it's got owwies:(

[MidlifeCrisis]

English (Duett trail). And helmet. Always! My teenage daughter just got back from snowboarding in Tahoe and told me that everyone (skiers, boarders, kids and adults) are now wearing helmets. Glad to hear that it's becoming more accepted so kids won't bend to peer pressure or ridicule and not protect their noggins.

[sunridge1]

Tucker Endurance Trail saddle. Never wear a helmut although I do actually own one. I also run with scissors.:lol:
Mary

[TripleRipple]

English, and have recently started wearing a helmet on days when I lack confidence or simply know my mount is going to tear me a new one. That isn't the proper way to do it; however, I have never worn one at all before, so we'll see how it goes.

I do own a western saddle, and wish I liked it better than I do.

[Christa P]

English ... Trees across the trail are for jumping ! But .. there are very few places to carry gear and stuff.

Helmet, of course.

I ride english with an OLD (35+ yrs) Stubben dressage saddle that is very comfy. To carry stuff I bought some western horn bags. I put the flat part under the back of the saddle and I attach it to the billets with some cheap
($1) dog collars. When the bags are attached they sit like saddle bags. I works great and I can use it with any saddle this way. I have used this over all kinds of terrain, at all gaits and jumping and it stays in place.
I keep mine packed with a few safety items (knife, hoof pick, wire cutters, minimal first aid kit, etc.) and carry it on every trail ride.


As for the helmet - I wear on for Every ride - I need my brain too much for anything else.


Christa P

Who also carries a spares kit for everyday carriage driving - you never know when it may be needed.

[matryoshka]

Abetta saddle (Western tree) with home-made stirrup turners. Always wear a helmet. My horse is a bit nutty, so it is prudent. I'd wear a helmet anyway, but I'd pack up and go home if I forgot my helmet rather than ride Butch without one. I tend to ride heavy in the stirrups.

Someday, when I can save up the money, I'm going to try one of the treeless saddles recommended on here. Next on my list of expenditures is to buy a set of shoeing stocks for MayS's rescue (www.equihab.com (http://www.equihab.com)). Some of those Amish horses can be difficult to trim!

p.s. I get strange looks from Western riders all the time. My friend thinks it is because of my mismatched tack, but I think she's just being nice. We must look pretty weird out there, judging by all the looks I get! :lol:

[GeorgianGrande]

Or as in the military, commonly referred to as a brain bucket. Gross, I know though when you think about all you are protecting, it really makes sense, if you would like to look beautiful on your horse, for always, you will protect your noodle as much as possible. Riding is dangerous enough without a helmet and people do die from falls even WITH one, so just like buckling up in a car, buckle up on that horse. If you want visions of you looking georgeous on your horse, helmetless, seriously---schedule a photo session with a friend, family member or pro, and you will have those photos to look at, though when you are really out there riding, trail or not, buckle up.

Saddles...we have a dressage, jumping and two westerns as well as an endurance saddle, it all comes down to what fits you both bests & go with that.

[Willow42]

Crest Ridge synthetic western trail saddle...ALMOST as comfy as my couch!

I always wear a helmet on the trails. Judging from the amount of scratches & dings on it, it's a good thing I've got it on! I've also come home several times with pine needles sticking out of the vents!

Thankfully, I had had it on the day my TWH decided to body surf across the arena. Sloppy footing in one corner of the ring...he stumbled...I knew he wasn't going to regain his footing, so I ditched. He slid about 10' on his side. We both lost a little skin and learned a BIG lesson.

No matter how good a rider you think you are, there are always things that can happen that are out of your control. Better safe than sorry. :yes:

[TBPNW]

I trail ride in a Wintec dressage, always wear a helmet. So does my husband. On group trail rides or in general, we do stick out. I'd say 99% of the people I see are riding western and don't wear a helmet. I recently added a blaze orange cover to mine. I might as well really stick out.

[Eventer13]

English, because that's all I own, and always a helmet. I really can't understand why people who dont wear one would give you a odd look. That's like giving someone a look b/c they aren't smoking, eating 1000 calorie burgers, or drinking beer till their wasted. Doesn't make sense.

I'm not going to preach the helmet thing, because I think people shouldn't be "protected" (with laws or otherwise) to prevent them from doing something harmful. If you dont want to wear a seatbelt or a helmet, or whatever, that's your choice.

But I can never understand WHY people wouldnt. For looks? Really, we're horse people, half the time we're covered with horse crap and dirt so we usually don't look all that great anyway :)

[KCFoxy]

English and helmet...oh yeah...all the time

[MissBri]

Western endurance saddle most of the time (and yes we jump in it!).
Kieffer all purpose dressage occassionally.
Helmet - yes

[CrouchingCheese]

Old western saddle of my dad's, don't know the brand. Sometimes if I'm feeling pretty good I'll ride in my english saddle, but I'm more comfy and secure in the western.

Helmet - I never used to wear one, but after reading about all of the accidents and things, and seeing as how I'm never riding a completely reliable horse (no horse of my own, catch rides on horses that need work) I thought it'd be a heck of a good idea to get one. I got a helmet for Christmas, and already I'm so happy I did it.

[kenbiki]

Western and English,depending on his mood...Helmet?? Always!!

[morganfilly]

Tucker western, helmet, and most of the time I forget I'm wearing it, have to remind myself to take it off after the ride! If people are ribbing, they're fibbing, they're just feeling a bit like they should be wearing one and they compensate by joking. No one likes to feel "wrong"..I'd rather be wrong than dead wrong. I had a bad cycle wreck 14 years ago, no helmet, almost no head. Learned my lesson, a horse is a lot taller than a bike. and the ground gets harder the older you get. My left shoulder wishes it had had a helmet on-two years and it hurts worse now than then! But I won't complain for 2 more years, then I'll be 50 and I can complain all I want!

[Simbalism]

Currently ride in my Pessoa jumping saddle. I am looking to get an endurance type saddle for longer, rougher terrain rides. Always with a helmet.

[SweetLatte]

I primarilly ride Western on the trail, but when I hack out with the local master of the hounds, I ride in my jumping saddle. I rarely wear a helmet anymore. I used to, but no longer own one in decent repair and have simply gotten out of the habit. (Shame on me, I know.)

[cheryl ann]

I ride english, western and bareback. Don't have my own english saddle right now, but I do have a Marshall treeless, a C-Y Flex, an American (solid tree), and a couple bareback pads which I have modified significantly from either english or western saddlepads and a Natural Ride.

I switch back and forth with all these, but mostly use the C-Y and one of the modified pads. I have two helmets that both fit me well, a Tipperary Sportage and an International Lexington(?). I wear them not only for the protection, but because they are both very comfortable and nice and cool in the summer.

I have gotten in my truck many times having forgotten to remove my helmet.