Anybody else into western?

I love trail riding. My first time riding was on a mucky trail in March many years ago. Now I'm trying to start a riding business. It's been a dream of mine for 10 years.

I learned to ride english when I was a child and I have always been more comfortable in an english saddle. I do ride western from time to time but the english saddle is where I am most comfortable. It's true there are some rich snobbing english riders out there but the same is true for the western competitive riders. I have seen this type of behavior on both ends. I think it has more to do with being rich and snobby than what type of riding you prefer. I think it's great that your trying out different disciplines. I think riding should be more about connection with horse and rider than what kind of saddle you are using. I love Pat and Linda Parelli. Have you ever heard of them? He is all cowboy and she is all english but they are married and teach people about riding from more of the horse perspective. I just love them. I have a couple of hors blogs that you might be interested in reading. http://www.tehachapihorse.com/horseblog - this is my personal horse blog. I talk about the Parelli's a lot on this one. http://www.horseapproved.com - this one I just started so it doesn't have a lot of posts yet.

I haven't ridden in a very long time and would probably seem like a novice if I ever got back on a horse again. But, when I did ride, I rode both English and Western. I liked English because it was a very simple saddle without a lot of bells and whistles that helped me get a correct seat. But, overall, I have to say that for regular riding, I would choose Western. It is much more comfortable. I mean, the stirrups on the English saddle were really short. I used to have them let down longer, but it looked really weird. The Western saddle seemed more natural.

I have rode western all my life (I'm 40 yrs old) for years I barrel raced and competed. I personally can not ride in an english saddle, it just isn't comfortable to me.

I have never ridden English, I have a few friends who do. I grew up riding western and participate in trail rides, pole bending, and barrel racing. I am actually new to the barrels and poles - but so far so good. My husband, daughter, son and I all ride and occasionally set up trail rides near our house, or sometimes in the National Forest. We also belong to a rescue organization that is designed to rescue neglected, abused, or slaughter bound horses. If you have a local horse rescue, they might be a good place to meet up with new "horsey friends" that won't be snobby. I have made several good riding buddies and friends that way.