Choose a Riding Discipline
Step 1: Distinguish between Western riding and English riding styles. Western riding uses "cowboy" style tack, such as a saddle with a saddle horn. There are numerous western disciplines with their own tack sub-styles, types of horses and competitive events, including western pleasure, barrel racing, reining and others.
Step 2: Recognize the different English disciplines. Hunt-seat riding is the style born of fox hunting. It is also the style of hunter-jumper show competition. Dressage is a non-jumping discipline that emphasizes strength and coordination of the horse and a highly-refined communication between horse and rider. Eventing combines training in dressage and jumping, and includes galloping and jumping on a cross-country course.
Step 3: Decide what type of English riding you want to learn. Factors to consider are whether or not you intend to own a horse of your own, how many days a week you will be willing and able to train, your age and physical condition, whether you want to compete in an equestrian sport and what generally appeals to you about horses and riding.
