Sycamores Ranch Western Riding Centre
Sycamores Ranch Western Riding Centre is in the historic village of Llawhaden in the heart of the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside in West Wales.
What is Western riding?
What is Western Riding? Well, most people who have never experienced Western Riding or Western Equitation, as the serious riders like to call it, think that the main attributes to riding Western are throwing on a Western saddle and bridle, vaulting onto your horse, screaming Yeeeee Haaaa! and galloping off into the sunset!! They couldn’t be more wrong.
Of course we have all seen the ‘Wild West’ movies where cowboys do as I have just described, but at the end of the day the cowboy films are only films and the people in them are, in the main, actors who really don’t ride well. Although some of the early actors were riders, and of course cowboys, before they went into film.
However, without these cowboys and their need for working horses that were agile and responsive to their every request, we wouldn’t have Western riding today and it is indeed one of the oldest forms of equitation to survive to the present day.
Around the early 1500’s the Spanish conquistadors entered the New World and introduced the horses, riding style, tack and stock-raising knowledge. The cowboy came into the New World with the conquistadors and he’s still there. From here came this particular style of riding that lends itself to a great many everyday riders – although taken further into Western competition, for example, it can become one of the most technically interesting, rewarding and practical disciplines in the riding world.
A Western trained horse is one that moves under weight transference, away from leg pressure, and is supple through its head, neck, shoulder, rib cage and hip. One that ultimately would be so light and responsive that it could be ridden one-handed, stopped in an instant from any pace without pulling on the reins, and yet perform correctly enough that a man’s life could depend on that horse working with his rider as a harmonious team.
Sycamores Ranch
There are about 30 horses on the premises, including DIY, part and full liveries, horses in for backing and schooling, “The Trail Team” and our beautiful Quarter Horse Stallion, Usk Valley Buckaroo.
We
offer one-hour to whole-day Western Trail rides for those who have longed
to experience the American-style trail rides without having to travel hundreds
of miles! Obviously, Wales is not as vast as America, doesn’t have
the Rocky Mountains or the Grand Canyon but we personally think its landscape,
history and all-round beauty is second to none!
At the end of the day, people come here to enjoy the comfortable western saddles, admire the scenic routes along ancient bridleways, woodland, rivers and streams, as well as finding a new friend, albeit the four-legged kind.
As well as the trail side, which in the main is a bit of fun and a chance for people to relax, we teach Western riding for those who want to take it a bit more seriously. Horses are also taken into the Ranch for backing and schooling in Western.
The Ranch has about 80 acres of excellent pastureland, a 60ft diameter, sand Round Pen and...
New for 2004 - Wales' Largest Outdoor All-Weather Arena 50m x 100m
(Available for Hire for Shows and Private use etc)
The Ranch also has its very own Western Tack Shop which has possibly the largest selection of Western Tack in Wales; from saddles to Stetsons!
And at stud, - our American Quarter Horse, Usk Valley Buckaroo who will be standing throughout 2004.
Sycamores Ranch Western Riding Centre
See also Thea Lloyd Western Instructor & Judge UK-based
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