What is the difference between English and western?

The main difference is the tack and to a certain extent the clothing of the rider. Western riders tend to sit a little deeper in the saddle and maintain a very loose drapey rein and rely mainly on their seat and legs to direct the horse. Western horses typically are asked to carry their heads lower and move in artificial show gaits of jog and lope. English Riders sit in a more forward balanced position with a soft contact on the reins where they can feel the horses mouth and encourage it. They also use their seat and legs to direct the horse through complicated maneuver's. English riders ask the horse to move in their natural gaits of trot and canter with collection and extension of all gaits.