What is the difference between dressage and western horsemanship?

Answer by  Jessie124 (1885)

Dressage is an ancient discipline that is concerned with the horse carrying himself correctly. Western horsemanship is more workmanlike. Haute Ecole is the highest form of dressage.

Answer by  Jennifer26 (23)

Western horsemanship is for heavy work like ranching. The saddles have a large horn for tying ropes. The dressage saddle is lighter for more refined communication and balletic moves.

Answer by  nefacess (115)

Western is a display of skills that cowboys used in the west, such as roping and barrel racing, while dressage is used to show of a horse's conformation.

Answer by  JB45 (30)

Dressage is the equivalent of figure skating in the horse world, where certain maneuvers are performed before a panel of judges. Western is more practical horsmanship.

Answer by  Daisy (161)

In a show ring in Dressage the horse is being judged. This style of riding is called English. For Western Horsemanship the judges are scoring the rider.

Answer by  MrsShannonHarrell (768)

Dressage has always been considered "high school". It is based in military style movements, known for extreme body control between horse and rider. Western Horsemanship is a pattern class, in which horse and rider are required to perform controlled movements and execute a pattern cleanly.

Answer by  Darlene (194)

Dressage is english style of riding with a english saddle and western is using a western saddle. But both styles require lots of work and patience.

Answer by  Darlene (194)

There is not much it's all about the horse and displine. The saddles are different but the horse and rider communicates with hand and leg pressure. lots of work and patice with both horse and rider and timea and effort to have a successful horse and rider in these areas.