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HI Spy: What riding discipline would you most like to try?

There’s a lot more to the world of equestrian sport than simply English and western riding. When you break it down to each discipline, there are dozens to choose from.



If you’re like most equestrians, you probably tend to stick with one specialty. Sure, you may have dabbled in another discipline. Perhaps you occasionally trade in your dressage saddle for a western trail ride, or maybe you’ve taken a break from barrel racing to give jumping a try. Perhaps you started out in one sport but then fell in love with another and never looked back. Whatever the case, most riders pick their favorite and stick with it, but that doesn’t mean those other sports don’t sometimes sound appealing.



This month, we want you to share your thoughts on which discipline you’d most like to try. Has the reining craze gotten to you? Are you intrigued by gaited breeds? Do you day dream about 100-mile endurance rides? Think your horse would look dashing pulling a carriage? Click on “Submit a Comment” below to tell us about what new-to-you equestrian sport you’d like to try. Some of the responses may appear in a future issue of Horse Illustrated.

Read more HI Spy questions >>

Horse Illustrated

Horse Illustrated is the magazine for people who are passionate about horses. Each issue offers advice on horse health and care, plus user-friendly training tips for both English and western riders and engaging lifestyle features for horse lovers.

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  • I think cross country would be so fun! I am an english rider, and for the most part I focus on dressage. Sometimes I dream about eventing one day, but the cross country portion of the sport is the only discipline I haven't tried yet. I can imagine the adrenaline rush and the feeling of soaring over the fun jumps all over the course. I would absolutely love to try cross country sometime, and then maybe even do some eventing!

  • I've always dreamed of riding dressage. Right now my horse and I ride hunters at a lesson barn, which is great because boarding is cheap but the horses are still well taken care of. I like to jump, but I've never found the danger all too thrilling. I like the closeness between horse and rider in dressage, and I read about it all the time and I imagine my horse and I having that connection. But there aren't any dressage stables in my area, and moving barns would probably break my heart anyways. Maybe someday...

  • I would like to try dressage. i always see videos of dressage. The movement of the horse is beautiful. And how horse and rider are like one. It's so pretty to watch dressage at shows or horse clinics. Dressage is always one of my favorite events to watch, and i would to try it out on a fully trained dressage horse!

  • I have been riding western the past few years and now want to return to the riding i realize i love far more than western. English requires more skill and focus than western and most of the sports in eastern riding requires far more bond than western. at my stable i ride a incredible English mare .i would love love love to someday try eventing on her. if i ever went into anything with her it would be her and my first competition with would be great. we work really well together. but Stella is still a horse in training and we both have miles to go but someday i promised her we could compete together. i know that will happen to. i really want to ride eventing for these reasons 1dressage is so beautiful and requires much skill 2 jumping seems like it would be so amazing being able to fly like Beezie madden and Gina miles do they are my idols and i someday hope to be just like them 3 i wonder if any jumping sport could be the thrill of soaring over those huge cross country jumps and bursting out of water and doing all the great cross country things

  • I've ridden in both english and western. I ride primarily western, but would love to try my hand at contesting, or saddleseat.

  • I used to want to try western, but found that their was practically no contact between the rider seat and the horse and I thought the legs (that I had seen) were very loose and wobbly. I thought that riding in the saddle was too much like a sofa, and am not a fan of the western bits. It's back to snaffles, jumping, dressage, and x-country for me! But I do respect those who ride western, they just have a different taste than me

  • WoW, doesnt anyone who goes on horsechanel ride western adn enjoy it? good grief i could say that English is a lot of work but many people who go from English to western are pleased! maybe Ill stick to the western columns if western riding is going to be ridiculed. although i would like to ride english.

  • I'm very excited about starting to learn Classical Dressage, starting with a clinic with Dominique Barbier! I just bought my own horse, a Kirber Felver, and moved to a barn that strictly trains in classical dressage and driving. They have amazing Lusitano and Lippizaner stallions!! I would also love to try a type of dressage called Prix Caprilli, which is a dressage class that involves jumps as well.

  • I would love to try jumping! I ride Western and jump crossrails bareback sometimes, but it's so much fun! Even over small jumps, I feel like I'm like I'm free. I can't imagine the thrill of jumping high! My second choice would be reining. My favorite horse idol is Stacy Westfall and I would love to hear a crowd cheer after I did a sliding stop!

  • I ride hunter-jumpers and love it. But I have to say I would love to try x-country. Thr skill and trust that is required is what I believe true horsemanship. This spring my mare and I are going to try an extremly basic x-country course and see how we like it, I'm so excited!

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