Article: "Western" refers to the tack or saddle you use, which has a bridle, horn, and curved bit in western style. With this discipline, you typically hold the reins in one hand, and primarily guide the horse with your weight and legs, along with some pressure on the neck from the reins. However, you don't guide the horse much by contact with its mouth. This style of riding developed on ranches, where cowboys needed at least 1 hand free to rope cattle. It's used in rodeo events like barrel racing and calf roping. The hunt seat or discipline is a style of riding where you take horses over fences in a prearranged course. It's divided into 2 main categories, hunters and jumpers, which refers to the type of horse you ride. You can compete in this style of riding. The hunt discipline falls under the English style of riding. In English style, you have more direct control with the horse's mouth and you hold a rein in each hand to guide the horse. Dressage is a style of riding where you put the horse through a series of basic tricks to show off what it can do. For instance, you may make the horse do different types of trots, as well as show off how the horse can walk, canter, and use extended gaits. Dressage also falls under the English style of riding. However, there is a western form of dressage called "reining." With this discipline, the focus is on the horse being expressive as it shows off different styles of riding. You display different gaits as you ride back and forth across the ring. This disciple falls under the English style of riding.

What is a summary?
Pick western if you're interested in ranch-style riding. Try hunt seat if you want the exhilaration of jumping horses. Choose dressage if you want to work closely with a horse to train it. Opt for saddle seat if you want a showy style of riding.