Why not give Western Riding a go

most classes. Split reins are the most popular but other types can be used such as romal and mecate.
Romal reins are made from braided leatherrawhide and consist of two reins joined together which continue into a single long braided tail. Used only with a curb bit they are held with one hand on the reins with the other hand holding the tail and they allow for a very subtle connection and light rein cues.
Mecate reins are in fact one single long rope usually made of braided horsehair but can just be fashioned from strong sailing rope. They are used with either a bosal or combined with slobber straps on a snaffle. They must be tied in a specific way that produces reins and a leading rope. Slobber straps are pieces of leather with a hole through which the reins are tied.
There is a vast array of western bits all young horses are started in either a snaffle or bosal western hackamore and ridden with two hands on the reins. It is only when they reach the required training level that they are they transitioned into a curb bit and ridden one handed.
Western horses
Any breed of horse can be trained and ridden western style and English ridden horses can also be successfully retrained however certain American breeds like the American Quarter Horse are the most popular choice.
Quarter Horses were named after the distance they raced they were the original quarter mile drag racers! They needed this short burst of speed to run down a cow stop instantly and stand patiently while the cow was tended to. Quarter Horses are renowned for their laidback attitude good temperaments and wellmuscled bottoms!
Getting started
Why ride western? The appeal to most people when asked this question is that everything is far more relaxed and they feel