Hi

I am getting back into western riding after quite a long spell away. Well actually away from WES not western riding. I have been hacking my horse out for the past 6 years or so in western tack but not really schooling so she is a bit rusty to say the least. My partner has just aquired a lovely 3 y/o quarter horse and wants to bring her on and to learn western herself. I plan to do my best to assist but its a bit like the blind leading the blind. I have a few books from years ago but would prefer to use video /DVD as i feel it would get her and I up and running a bit quicker.

Can anyone recommend a good all round training DVD or video. Cant believe how much has changed over the past couple of years all the western retailers seem to have disappeared and google searches show next to nothing even in the USA. I probably need to change my search terms but a list of recommended titles would speed things up I am sure.

Any help would be much appreciated for the record I am in area 11 (Edinburgh/Midlothian) and will be re-joining WES asap.

Cheers

Sean

Hi, I started my 3 yo mare out with the help of Bob Mayhew book and dvd. I have just got got the David Gray dvd which is also very good. when you think that they cost about as much as one lesson they are not really expensive and they are more enteraining to watch than tv! Good luck.

hi
thanks for the reply, i have one of Bob Mayhew's Books and one vhs cant remember who did it. The problem i found in the past is too much time was spend explaining the tack etc (fluffing it out) and not enough spend actually showing how to train /ride correctly. With the severe lack of trainers it really would be useful to have more videos going into more detail.

If any good trainers out there want to make such a DVD/Video i would be delighted to work with them. I have a small video production company and could get things going pretty fast even have a young horse you can use. Just an idea

Hi Don Quixote

As Misty says, we have just brought out "Western Riding Part 1: The Basics" with David Gray on DVD.

Yes he explains a bit of tack, but there is an awful lot of training in there. The DVD runs for an hour an a half and there is certainly no "fluffing it". In fact there is enough for about 10 lessons in there and stuff that we should all be working on with our horses.

There is a clip on this site if you are interested.

Best Wishes

Cat Gray

I found the "Al Dunning Fundamental Guide to Reining" to be a really good video. I can't remember there being much "tack talk" in it apart from a section on bits - snaffle, curbs and mouth ports - and it was really well presented; easy to understand and well demonstrated without being boring and watching someone trot/jog/lope endless circles.

There wasn't a lot of "presenting" either, everything was said from horseback which I found easier to watch than some videos where the dude stands talking for half the video with a wee horse working away in the background. There is also an "Advanced Guide to Reining" video too. Even if it's not reining that you are interested in they are good videos for establishing the basics.

I have on western riding video listed on ebay just now and there is a section on it by Joe Hayes (Texas reining trainer) which is good.

Craig Johnston (sp?) also does a really good "guide to reining" video which I think can be purchased direct from his website - just google his name - it's cheaper to buy in from America even with the postage. I think I paid $15 including postage for the video when I first bought it then I was given a newer copy as a present and so I put the old copy on ebay and it sold for ?50!!! I was shocked, but I think there is more western stuff available on ebay now so the prices aren't so high.

There is also an american seller on ebay called "TackoftheTown", they were doing heaps of AQHA videos for all spheres - reining, halter, hunter, etc. The american ebay has more western things on it and if you email the sellers most of them will agree to post to the UK for around $9-15 for videos and that's priority mailing so you get it within 2wks (at least I have so far!)

Good luck with your new horse and i hope things go really well for you.

Many thanks for all the useful advice. I am watching an AQHA video on ebay so it might be one of you guys that has it listed. I am planning on converting any videos i do manage to find onto DVD so that it can be chapterised so no endless fast forwarding /rewinding and consequent reduction of quality over time.

A chap in my yard has a few videos that he will let me take a look at and I plan to keep looking on ebay.com. A few years ago there were quite a few titles floating around on there but things seem to have gone a bit quiet.

I am also planning to create a website to chart the progress of my horse and my partners new quarter horse. If for no other reason than to keep Western riding in the public eye .

Just a quick thanks to Lee Rutter , he was there when i picked up Tally and made me feel very welcome and was very understanding. As expected I looked like a numpty when i had a quick (too quick really) ride on Tally , she was playing him up too! I only wish i Had had more time to take advantage of the Free advice!

Tally is settling in well up here in Scotland and is listening to me much more already. Having a youngster again has really rekindled my interest in western riding so my mare Tia is back in work with hopes we might attend a show or two next year (the horse is good the rider needs some work!)

I am also hoping to assit the local WES rep (Kayreen) get a website up and running and if i can help promote western riding in my local area.