How to Western horse ride

Have you ever seen someone on television or someone you know riding a horse, whether it be trail riding or at a rodeo? Have you thought to yourself that maybe you would want to get into riding a horse someday? Read this article to find out tips, tricks, and events you can get into if you want to learn. 

What is Western horse riding?

Western horse riding came to the Americas by the Spanish Conquistadors which evolved from ranching and warfare traditions. It is believed that the first saddle for a horse was made in 365 AD. Western riding was used mainly by men to keep control of their cattle, and to get farther distance in a shorter amount of time. We call this form of riding "trail riding" but it is a form of western riding. In the early 1800's the western part of the United States and some of Mexico started testing their abilities on horseback. This brought up what we now know as "rodeos". All events in a rodeo that involves a horse is a form of western horseback riding. 

What are important things we need to know before stepping foot on a horse?

Most people that did not grow up around horses are usually scared of them. It's a 1200 pound animal that can crush you with one step, why wouldn't we be scared. Horses are very smart animals, they can sense a person's feelings. If you are nervous when you walk up to a horse they can tell, and most of the time it causes the horse to become anxious as well. You need to learn that when walking up to a horse, you need to have confidence. You and the horse are two different beings, you both have a mind of your own, but you have to trust that horse that it will do everything that you ask of it. You need to be confident when getting on, show the horse that you are in control of it and that you will not give up no matter what it throws your way. Growing up, I was always taught that every horse will do three things kick, bite, and buck it's just if we give them the chance to do it or not. 

Proper attire for western riding

In western horse riding, you always want to wear blue jeans. This protects your inner legs from becoming chapped. In rodeos you are required to wear jeans, boots, a button up long sleeved shirt, and a cowboy hat. If you fail to wear this you will be unable to ride or you will not get a time for the event that you are participating in. If you are not comfortable with wearing a cowboy hat, you are allowed to wear a helmet. Spurs are optional for the rider, they are worn on the back of the boots and it allows the rider to make the horse go faster than usual.

What the horse needs and how to mount

To get the horse ready you will need a blanket, saddle, tie down, reins, a breast collar. Before you saddle the horse you are going to want to brush your horse. There is no particular reason to brush, only to make your horse look good. Here are the steps that you want to put everything on the horse and what they do for the horse/rider: 

1. Blanket- the blanket is to protect the horse from the saddle, so it does not rub against the horse's bare skin
2. Saddle- The saddle will be placed on top of the blanket. This is what the rider sits in, it gives the rider stability to highly reduce the chance of falling off. The saddle includes the breast strap which goes on the chest of the horse, and provides for stability to the saddle so it does not move around.
3. Tie Down- The tie down goes on the head of the horse, and clips to the bottom part of the saddle. The tie down is used so the horse is unable to throw its head upwards, which is usually caused by bucking.
4. Halter- The halter is the last thing you need to add on the horse. The halter includes reins which gives the rider control of the horse and guides it where you want it to go.

Mounting

After you saddle the horse up, you are now ready to get on. No matter what you dominant hand is you always want to get on a horse on its left side. You want to place your left foot in the stirrup while grabbing a hold of the saddle horn and the saddle back. When in this stance you want to push off of the ground with your right foot and kick it over the rump of the horse. While you kick your leg over the horse you want to pull yourself up on to the saddle. Once you're on the saddle you want to sit comfortably with both feet in the stirrups. 

Different rodeo events

In the rodeo world there are many different events that riders can compete in. These events include things from barrel racing to roping. In this part of the article we are going to go through a few of the different events and how to ride in them. 

Cloverleaf

The cloverleaf is  a barrel racing event and it most popular for girls and in rodeos only girls are allowed to compete in this event. In horse clubs or 4-h guys can participate. In the cloverleaf you have three barrels that are set up in the for of a cloverleaf, hence the name. When you first enter the arena there is a barrel to the left and the right and one barrel straight ahead towards the back of the arena. The goal is to not knock any barrels down, this will result in a disqualification or plus five seconds or each barrel that is knocked over. You want to start by going to either left or right barrel first, this depends on which foot is the lead on your horse. For example, mine leads off on her left foot, so we go to the left barrel first. You then circle the outside of the barrel and head towards the next barrel, in my case the right one. You want to stay to the outside of that one as well and circle it and then head to the middle barrel and stay outside circling around as well and then head for the opening of the arena. 

Team Roping

Team roping is a two person event. This event requires two riders on horseback and a steer, which is a small cow that has horns. In team roping the goal is to get the fastest time, just like barrel racing. At the entrance of the arena there is this thing called a roping chute. There is a holding area that one steer will enter into that measures 6'4" long, 5' tall and around 30" wide. On each side of the chute are two roping boxes that each horse and rider is in. The horse and rider has to back up into the corner of the box. Looking at the chute and boxes you will see on the right side the header The headers goal is to rope the horns of the steer, and on the left side is the healer. The healers goal is to rope both back legs of the steer. If the healer only ropes one back leg and not two it results in a five second penalty and if neither legs are roped you receive a no time. 

Breakaway Roping

Breakaway roping is a girls event in the rodeo. The cowgirl will get into a roping box just like team ropers, but instead of there being a steer in the chute there is a calf, a calf is a young cow. The breakaway roper has a lasso but instead of the whole rope being free and able to move around the end of the rope is connected to the saddle horn. The goal is to rope the calf's head in the fastest time. When the calf is released the cowgirl chases the calf towards the end of the arena while swinging her rope. She has to throw her rope before they reach the back of the arena if she fails to do so she will get a no time. You can also receive a no type if you throw the rope and you do not get the calf. If you do rope the calf you want to stop your horse immediately and as soon as your rope "breaks away" from your saddle horn your time stops. 

What to remember after riding

After you ride in whatever event you compete in it is very important that you do not run your horse for a little bit. It is always good to walk your horse around for a minute and then tie her back to the horse trailer. Horses are living animals also and they can overheat just as easy as a person. You want to also make sure that your horse can access water after a run. If you do not get a good time, or if you don't receive a time at all never give up. Horses just like people have their bad days as well. It's not good to give up easy, it takes a lot of practice to become very good as something you love to do.