Anyone ride Western on this forum? Trail rider? Team sorter?

If you ride western style, give me a shout. I am feeling a little lonely. LOL!! Lots of dressage and jumper people, though. I like to trail ride, and have tried team sorting and l want to see how my mare likes it. She is a Quarter horse, bay and real pretty.

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Permalink Reply by Lynn on July 29, 2009 at 10:12pm

I ride western not a dressager or jumper. Unless a tree branch is on the trail and then we step over gently. Just hack the farm trails and check out the scenery. How about you??

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Permalink Reply by Jan Jollymour on July 29, 2009 at 10:32pm

Hi, Marti:

I used to ride western performance, and grew up in a stock saddle moving cattle. I discovered dressage at 16, and by 22 had pretty much given up everything else, although I did put a Western Pleasure championship on my first FEI horse just to prove it could be done.

I sold my stock saddle (finally) about 5 years ago, after recognizing that I wasn't going to use it again and there was no point letting it collect dust. I'm now more comfortable in a good dressage saddle, but I wouldn't say no to a really good trail ride!

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Permalink Reply by Marti Langley on July 31, 2009 at 4:11pm

Hi, Jan, I have toyed with idea of taking dressage lessons, and I do love to watch good dressage, but decided it was not for me. But I do agree, a good horse, with no physical problems, can probably do lots more than people sometimes think. I remember the old days (lol, 25 years ago or so) when the same horse could do halter, western, english, gymkhana, and trail rides. We had a little Arab mare who would do anything for anybody. She was 14.1 h on a tall day, lol. She was my first Arab and my first mare!

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Permalink Reply by Marti Langley on July 31, 2009 at 4:03pm

Lynn, my favorite place to ride is 12 minutes from my house, it is called Meadowbrook Ranch, it is in De Sabla, California, United States. They have a website. There is hills, forests, meadows, a lake, ponds, streams, otter, bear, deer, rabbits,great blue heron, coyote, ducks, bald eagles, hawks, golden eagles and a herd of horses running free. Awesome is not the word. There are many riding places around here, some are bigger area, but none with as many critters and beauty. I also enjoy riding on the trails around Lake Oroville.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Lamm on July 30, 2009 at 5:40pm

Hi Girl. I am so western I ride a mustang. I'm off from riding though cuz I have to work to feed my horses, but when I ride I trail ride and I wear a western saddle... I am breaking in myself on my mustang who is four and I ride bareback right now, when my trainer is present.... but here's a pic of me and my elder horse Toby. :) We ride in Los Angeles. :) I just realized it's you Marti that started the thread. :) I love trailriding.

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Permalink Reply by Marti Langley on July 31, 2009 at 4:14pm

Hi, Jen, you are so funny! The pic must have fooled ya, lol. I am going to try and get one of Maggie on here. Love that one of you and Toby!

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Permalink Reply by Barnmice Admin on July 30, 2009 at 5:57pm

Hey Marti,
Check out our various groups and you should find quite a few members who ride western! :)
We hope to get the word out and add lots more!!

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Permalink Reply by Marti Langley on July 31, 2009 at 4:22pm

I did join one western riding group. It wasn't active last time I checked. I will keep lookin'. Hey, is there a group for owners of unregistered horses? My mare is a quarter horse, but no papers. I wouldn't sell her for the world. In fact, I have a friend who wants to buy her if I were ever to sell her. I traded a registered 7 yr old, broke to ride POA mare, and a broke to ride registered black 5 yr old kids pony for her. It turned out she was in foal and she had a chocolate Palomino (after shed out) that will be registered. His new owners are nutz about him. Sorry, too much information, huh?

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Permalink Reply by Eileen on August 1, 2009 at 11:17am

Trail rider here...rode western for years and years on the trail, now sitting in a trooper style saddle but still western riding. Got the extra wide stirrups for long hours out there. I love those stirrups and the Haggis saddle, soooo comfy. HOpe to see some of you on the trail.

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Permalink Reply by Jennifer Samuel on September 10, 2009 at 5:17pm

I started out riding Western since I'm from Texas and my Dad was a cowboy. When we moved to VA. I started taking English lessons and have shown in dressage, hunters, western pleasure, and barrel racing. I also love trail riding and trail classes. My horses learn to do a little bit of everything, so they don't get stale. I just got into roping recently and want to try team penning. I bought a 3.5 year old Q.H. a few days ago and I hope he will be a good all-round type horse. He seems to be pretty level headed and well started under saddle.