English

English riding is divided into two broad categories: Hunt Seat and Saddle Seat. Hunt Seat refers to a forward seat riding. Saddle Seat shows the beautiful gaits performed by high stepping horses. The English style of riding uses different tack than Western, such as the saddle. The saddle does not have a saddle horn, nor the deep seat. These designs allow horses to move freely. For example, horse racing uses a saddle that is very simple, but resembles an English saddle. Because of this, the saddle allows the racehorses to run freely, and at extremely high speeds. The bridle varies in style, depending on what type of riding. The English bridle is a lot more complicated. In contrast to the Western bridle, English bridles consist of the noseband, cheekpieces, browband, throatlatch, headpiece, bit, and reins. In English riding, the rider uses both hands on the reins, instead of using only one hand in Western riding. In English riding, riders wear: a shirt with a tie, a helmet, jacket, breeches or jodhpurs, and boots. It all depends on what type of riding the rider is doing. It could be horse racing, dressage, show jumping, and more.

Western

Western Riding evolved from ranching and cowboys. These cowboys traveled long distances, and worked long hours. So, the Western saddle developed a deep seat. A saddle horn was also added, because riders sometimes held onto it to keep them in the saddle, or to keep the lasso on after roping an animal. The stirrups were covered, because it would protect the rider's foot to prevent brush from catching. Cowboys wanted communication with the horse easy, with only a light touch of the rein. This developed the Western bridle, which are simple and not as complicated as English bridles. Hackamores are sometimes used, too. Hackamores are bridles without bits (the metal piece of iron that goes into the horses' mouth). These should only be used by experienced riders. Western Riding also uses different clothing. A rider would wear a long sleeve shirt, denim jeans, and boots, and a cowboy hat. Most of the time, riders wear "chaps" over their jeans. Chaps help the protect the rider's legs when riding through brush.

Western Riding

There are many types of Western Riding. Here are a few examples.

Barrel Racing: Barrel Racing is a sport where horse and rider gallop around the barrels at top speed without knocking them over. You'd have to make pretty sharp turns!






Reining: Reining is where horse and rider go through a pattern of stops, circles, and spins. The horse has to be very responsive to the rider, and the aids should not be easily seen when doing the movements.








Western Pleasure: Western Pleasure evaluates horse and rider on the movements they perform. The horse has to be calm, well-mannered, and has to be able to transition from gait to gait smoothly. The aids given by the rider should not be seen, or barely.

Trail Class: Trail Class is an event where horse and rider ride through a course filled with obstacles, such as poles, bridges, cones, logs, etc. These events are designed to resemble trails that you may encounter in the real world.

Different Breeds of Ponies and Horses

There are many breeds of horses and ponies that originated from all around the world. These breeds range from big to small, but each breed has their own unique characteristics. Here are some famous breeds that have different purposes.

Breeds of Ponies

Breed: Connemara Pony
Origin: Ireland
Features: good bone, short back, long and sloped shoulder, powerful hindquarters, hard feet, small ears, fine head on an arched neck
Description: Connemara Ponies are very athletic and are very good show ponies. They are strong, sturdy, intelligent, and have a great jumping ability.
Uses: show pony, show jumper, dressage, family horse, eventing, endurance riding

Breed: Welsh Pony
Origin: Wales
Features: short back, deep chest, strong hindquarters, dense bone, short cannons (part of the leg), large eyes,
Description: Welsh Ponies are very hardy and intelligent, due to the place that they lived in before being domesticated. They are friendly and trustworthy, and are easily trained. Welsh Ponies are divided into 4 groups: the Welsh Mountain Pony (Section A), the Welsh Pony (Section B), the Welsh Pony of Cob Type (Section C), and the Welsh Cob (Section D).
Uses: children pony, driving pony, show jumper, dressage pony, pleasure riding

Breed: Chincoteague Pony
Origin: Assateague Island (near Maryland and Virginia)
Features: strong, muscular, furry coat in winter
Description: Chincoteague Ponies are very intelligent, sweet, and gentle. Most of them are spotted with patches of brown. They are separated into two groups, Maryland group and the Virginia group. Every year, the Virginia group of ponies will be rounded up and driven across the channel (swim) to Chincoteague Island. There, the foals will be sold to people, and then the mares and the stallions will swim across the channel to Assateague Island. Once again, the horses will breed again. This event happens annually.
Uses: childrens' pony/mount, show jumping, driving, halter classes, trail riding

Breed: Haflinger Pony
Origin: Tyrol mountains, Austria
Features: strong, sure-footed, large eyes, broad and deep chest, short cannon bones
Description: Haflinger Ponies are always chestnut with a flaxen (yellow) or white mane and tail. These ponies are friendly, and are willing to please their owners. Haflingers are hardy, though they have a loving temperament.
Uses: pulling heavy loads, dressage, show jumping, vaulting, riding, harness

These are a few breeds of ponies. As you can tell, many ponies are used for riding and children's mounts. Ponies also look different, and originate from different places.

Breeds of Horses

Breed: Arabian Horse

Origin: Developed in the Middle East, most notably Arabian Peninsula
Features: a slightly dished face, arched neck, high-carried tail
Description: These horses are known for intelligence, beauty, and stamina
Uses: Saddle Seat, Western Pleasure, Hunt Seat, Dressage, Cutting, Reining, Endurance Riding, Eventing, Show Jumping, Trail Riding, Ranch horses

Breed: Thoroughbred Horse
Origin: England
Features: tall, slim, well muscled, well-chiseled head on a long neck, a deep chest, a short back, high withers, good depth of hindquarters, a lean body, and long legs
Description: Thoroughbred Horses are best known for their speed, agility, and spirit.
Uses: Horse racing, show jumping, fox hunting, polo, dressage, steeplechasers, barrel racing

Breed: American Quarter Horse
Origin: Southwestern part of the United States
Features: short, refined head, strong, well-muscled body, broad chest and powerful, rounded hindquarters
Description: American Quarter Horses are best known for outdistancing other breeds of horses in races of a quarter mile or less. They are the most popular breed in the USA.
Uses: show horse, race horse,reining, cutting horse, ranch horse, family horse, barrel racing, calf roping, team roping, gymkhana

Breed: Lipizzaner Horse
Origin: Developed in Central Europe
Features: Compact, muscular, sturdy body, proud carriage, small alert ears, large eye, crested neck, powerful shoulders, muscular hind quarters, strong legs
Description: Lipizzaner Horses are very sturdy. They are also very beautiful and intelligent. These horses can perform very complex moves. These moves are called the Airs Above the Ground.
Uses: carriage horse, dressage horse, a performer for the Spanish Riding School, show jumping

These are a few breeds of horses that are very popular all around the world. As you can see, each breed has a different appearance or feature, and are very helpful to humankind.