How Western Riding Principles Can Transform Your Everyday Horsemanship (Even in an English Saddle)
Fresh from the Horsemanship Showcase, Kate Wensley shares snippets from her talk about how regardless of discipline, western riding can help you develop your horsemanship
Western horsemanship is more than a style—it’s a mindset rooted in clarity, purpose, and partnership. Drawing on both my experience and the teachings of legendary horsemen like Buck Brannaman and Ray Hunt, as well as peer-reviewed research, this article explores how these principles can benefit any rider, regardless of discipline.
Purposeful Horsemanship for All
Many UK riders see Western riding as niche or even irrelevant. But at its heart, Western horsemanship is about developing a thoughtful, communicative partnership—something every rider values. As Buck Brannaman puts it, “Horses and life, it’s all the same to me.” Purpose, clarity, and empathy underpin everything, regardless of tack (Brannaman, 2001).
What Western Riding Really Means
Western riding originated from the practical needs of working horses—requiring calm, self-sufficient, and responsive partners (Birke, 2007). The focus is on giving horses jobs that make sense to them, not just drilling movements.
Ray Hunt famously said, “I’m here for the horse, to help him get a better deal.”
This philosophy is supported by research emphasizing the welfare benefits of task-oriented, clear training (Waran et al., 2008).
Key Western Principles: Evidence and Practice
Get the Feet, Get the Mind
Directing the horse’s feet is fundamental to influencing their mind—a concept central to both Buck Brannaman and Ray Hunt’s teachings. Studies in equine learning support this: movement-based exercises reduce anxiety and foster engagement (McGreevy & McLean, 2010). When we give a horse a job—moving with purpose, not just motion—we help them relax and focus.
Purposeful Patterns Instead of Aimless Circles
Western riders use patterns that have meaning: start, middle, end. This gives horses clarity and closure, building confidence (Brannaman, 2001). Research shows that horses learn best with structured, goal-oriented tasks (Waran et al., 2008). In practice, this means swapping endless circles for exercises with a clear purpose.
Rewarding Effort, Not Perfection
Both Hunt and Brannaman stress rewarding the “try”—not waiting for perfection. This approach is echoed in behavioral science: timely, consistent release and praise reinforce learning and reduce stress (McGreevy & McLean, 2010). Even a small effort deserves acknowledgment; over time, this builds trust and willingness.
Building Self-Carriage and Lightness
Self-carriage—where the horse maintains balance and rhythm without constant correction—is a hallmark of good Western horsemanship.
Brannaman describes it as “letting the horse find the answer, not forcing it” (Brannaman, 2001).
Scholarly research links this to improved welfare and performance (Waran et al., 2008).
Practical UK Schooling Examples
- Purposeful Schooling: Instead of endless circles, try a pattern with markers or cones, giving the horse a clear job with a start and finish.
- Helping Anxious or Nappy Horses: Redirect energy into a purposeful exercise, to help the horse settle and focus.
- Encouraging Self-Carriage: Ask for transitions within gaits and reward those moments when your horse carries themselves lightly.
Navigating Common Points of Friction
Many riders feel pressured by the need to “get it right.” Western principles offer an alternative: clarity, purposeful tasks, and rewarding effort.
As Ray Hunt said, “The horse is never wrong.”
When we focus on communication and partnership, frustration gives way to progress (Birke, 2007).
Bringing It Home
Western riding principles—purposeful work, clarity, and partnership—are available to every rider. Next time you ride, set a clear purpose, use a simple pattern, and reward even the smallest try. These methods, rooted in both tradition and research, can transform your horsemanship—no Western saddle required.