05/28/2026
We see this a lot when students come with a long English background. We want them to know it takes more time but it is not impossible to learn true feel through the seat.
Unpopular opinion: I think it’s easier to take a student with a strong western foundation and transition them to English than it is to take someone with a strong English foundation and make them truly solid western rider.
And yes… I know that’ll ruffle some feathers.
But after taking thousands of riders through this program over the years, and personally making both transitions more times than I can count… this is the hill I’ll stand on.
I still hear it all the time: “I want them to start English so they get a better seat.”
And I understand where that idea comes from. But in practice? I just haven’t found it to be true. A strong western foundation forces riders to develop independence early. You can’t rely on contact to hold everything together. You have to learn to sit your seat, early, in all gaits. A lot of riders coming from a heavy English-only background have developed good mechanics… but they’ve often also developed a dependence on their hands, on structure, on more constant contact for support. Even those with soft hands don't really understand self-carriage in a horse. Those with leg and seat control, struggle to use those once stirrups get longer and knees turn out.
Transitioning from English is hard for folks. They have to lengthen stirrups, turn toes and hips out, loose the knee grip they're used to having, lose the contact they've been dependent on, and sit gaits they didn't have to much before. Even the canter they used to "sit", is considered more of a hover in Western, and therefore they have to relearn it.
On the flip side, when a rider has a really strong western foundation, transitioning them to English is usually much simpler.
Why? Because once a rider truly understands balance, feel, timing, body awareness, and how to control the horse from their seat and legs… adding more contact and adjusting position is usually just that: an adjustment. Western riders can sit or hover any gait. They are used to short and long stirrups, or none at all. Contact or no contact.
A great English rider is absolutely a great rider. A great western rider is absolutely a great rider.
But from what I’ve seen over and over again… If you can truly ride western well, you can usually learn English pretty efficiently. The reverse? Not always. It's a struggle.
Just some Sunday scaries for ya. I'll enjoy the comments section debate.
