Western riding developed from the work of cowboys in the "wild west". The cowboys had to sit in the saddle for many hours a day driving cattle and therefore needed horses that had flat and comfortable gaits and responded to the slightest thigh aids and weight shifts, largely without rein aids. The horses had to be able to "think for themselves", i.e. independently drive a cow selected by the rider out of the herd, or find the safest way around/over stones, trees and other obstacles on long rides.
Among the various riding styles, western riding has become increasingly important in recent years and is becoming more and more popular. Western riding has emerged as the sensible and practicable riding style for many horse enthusiasts who ride for relaxation, recreation and leisure as well as competing.
Modern western riding has retained the basic features of its origins, i.e. the finished western horse moves forward with much less impulsion (compared to the classical riding style), but still with a clean rhythm and good impulsion from the hindquarters, relaxed in a natural position and well balanced. It gets by with a minimum of aids from the rider, but is still under his absolute control when necessary.
Western riding is easy to learn. In basic training, the differences to the classical riding style are not so great, as there are some basic principles in riding and training horses that should not be ignored in any riding style. For the rider, a well-balanced, relaxed, rein-independent seat is an important basic objective in basic training, while for the horse it is suppleness and rhythm.