I ride both English and Western and enjoy each for their style and history.
 
Growing up in New England, I was lucky enough to live in a spectacular area of New York which was true "horse country", spent summers in Maine riding and helping with the haying, attended college in New Hampshire, lived and worked for a couple of years in Boston. 

I started riding when I was 7 and studied and rode formal English - Equitation, Hunting, Jumping and Hack (Trail).  I wouldn't trade those years of establishing my balance, form and horsemanship for anything!  I was afforded some of the most thrilling rides on hunters, the most indepth and valuable knowledge and insight from the old New England barn-keepers and what a beautiful part of the world the ride in.

Moved straight across the country landing first in Southern California for about 15 years and have now lived in the gorgeous San Francisco Bay Area for the past 15 or so as well.  I love the ability to ride year round without having to risk frostbite nor heat exhaustion - perfect riding climate.  I also quickly learned to love the "alternative" riding forms - Western Reining, Cutting, Working Cow Horse.  I had the spectacular privilege of meeting and becoming good friends with the Eatons Family out of northern Wyoming during this time as well and spent 6 summers in a row riding their working cow horses in the magnificent Big Horn Mountains.  Spent many a warm Wyoming evening watching the wranglers practice their roping and sorting skills. Wow, what an eye opener. Unbelievable and fascinating for someone so accustomed to rite and ritual in riding. 

I've been so lucky to have ridden so many horses of all breeds, disciplines, ages and levels.  So lucky to have been thrilled, thrown, windswept and bewildered - sometimes all on the same occasion!.  My respect for horses is unending and my curiosity just continues to grow.