Am I a novice rider?

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Annagain

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Sorry this ended up being longer than I planned!

Interesting discussion with some friends last night about youngsters as I may well be looking for a new horse in the next few years. I consider myself a competent novice rider and as such I wouldn't dream of taking on a youngster for fear of ruining him. They say I'd do it fine and just need to believe in myself a bit more. I think if I think I can't do it I shouldn't even try. Just wondered your thoughts?

Have ridden since I was 9 - nearly 30 years and had horses / shares since I was 12. First pony was a share but only I rode him. He was 5 and had only been broken in 3 weeks. Ignorance and the confidence of youth meant I just got on with it and rode him like I'd ridden any other (riding school) horse. Not ideal, he bucked me off as soon as look at me but I'd get straight back on and get on with it. We muddled through and did ok and he went on to be a lovely pony - and even ended up a riding school pony for complete beginners.

After a year outgrew him and moved on to his owner's Sec D when we were both 13 . Ended up buying him and having him 14 years. Trusted him like no other and did a lot of jumping with him up to about 1m in competition and 1.10m at home. Dressage a complete waste of time and as a teenager I wasn't interested anyway. Had 4 years of doing very little when he was semi-retired.

He died and I bought a 9 year old 16.3 IDx. Heart's in the right place, not a nasty bone in his body and I adore him but he's very strong and we had a phase of him putting in a lot of stops which really hit my confidence. It turned out he has foot problems, hence the stopping. He no longer jumps other than the odd log out hacking or a few on a fun ride and while he does a nice prelim he can get his pants in a tangle if he doesn't understand what's being asked of him (it took us 6 months to get him to lengthen for a few strides and come back without having a complete meltdown!) so it's not always easy and that's as far as he'll go. He's fab to hack and I really enjoy hacking him. He's now 19

I have also shared a 17hh saint - also 19 - for about 5 years. Have done a lot of riding club (novice level) with him - a bit of everything and been quite successful. Qualified for two BRC dressage champs (one at prelim, the following year at novice) but far from competitive once there. We jump up to 1m (since my confidence took a knock I've decided that's my limit as I get very defensive and backwards thinking if they get any bigger and don't want to ruin a very good horse) at home and compete at 90cm max. He did BS with owner up to Newcomers but hadn't done much dressage so while he's very easy to train, most of that has been me - with a lot of support from instructors. We did 2 BE 80 and an unaffiliated 90 (but over a BE course) two years ago - the 80s clear, the 90 with one silly stop as I was panicking about a ditch (he's never stopped at a ditch:rolleyes:) and just didn't ride him. It was the last but 2 fence of a looong course. He was tired and needed me to help him and I didn't. On all three we were slow that's his natuaral pace anyway and speed terrifies me! Last year we had a big building project at home so I had very little time over the summer so didn't do any.

I am very confident out hacking. Traffic doesn't bother me, no situation bothers me, I have hacked 'naughty' horses out for people and dealt with their behaviour. I have to be careful where and when I let my ID go due to his strength but I'm not worried about it, just know when I have to be sensible. I'm confident on the flat but aware I'm still learning. We were starting to do some elementary stuff at home maybe with a plan to having a go later in the year but he's off work at the moment with a suspected spavin - not sure yet how long for as it's fairly new. Jumping, I'm comfortable on my share horse but know my limits, have the occasional wobble and the thought of doing it on another horse literally makes me feel sick. I haven't done XC for over a year other than a couple of fun rides (on my horse so just popping a few small fences) and the thought of it makes me very nervous.

I think this make me a competent novice. Friends say intermediate. I think it's a case of differing views of what novice is rather than me undersetimating my ability. Thoughts?
 
It's far better to think you're a novice when you're not than the opposite..........And there is a large difference between being a rider (even a competent one) and being a trainer. Someone who is capable of influencing and changing the way a horse carries itself, who can make a horse do something that challenges it, or doesn't want to do; that is a trainer. Everyone else is basically a passenger.
 
I don't think you're a novice. To me a competent novice is someone who can walk, trot, canter and pop a little jump confidently and relatively stylishly. I wouldn't expect a novice to be able to sit a buck, have the confidence/ability to deal with a napper, etc. etc.

You sound like an intermediate to me. Just because you're still learning stuff that doesn't make you a novice!
 
I would say you are not a novice, you sound very comitant. But defiantly don't take you a youngster if you are confident about doing it. No point doing it if you won't find it fun.
 
I don't think that the size of a jump or the level of a test determines what category you fall into (although it is a very good indicator!). There are also many variables!

To me, someone with experience and who has moved on from being a novice is someone who can influence and get the best tune out of the horse as it is able to give. They will ride in balance, tactfully and sensibly, and know their limits (which many, many novice and even experienced riders lack!). In my view, someone that may choose not to ride the biggest course or hardest test, but does whatever they choose to by understanding their horse and knowing how to tackle things in a calm, tactful, and happy manner, as to create a harmony with the horse/rider relationship, is by far the more competent and diplomatic rider, compared to someone who chooses to tear around a 1.10m course with little balance, little skill, and little consideration as to the horse (and yup- these people include both very 'experienced' people, and those who also are novices, which probably know no different)!

If you are able to help your horse learn new things, to improve its way of going (rather than just ride it at the level it knows already), to teach it manners etc, then I would definitely put you above a novice- although I don't bother with labels, just do the best for yourself and your horse as possible, and work with what you've got, which any good (regardless of level of skill) will do!
 
I wouldnt say you are a novice. Sound similar to me. The first two horses I bought have been good 7 yos (got to BRC Nationals 3yrs running with one at prelim/novice). My current one is a green 5yo - great paces, great to hack but needs a lot of work in the school and canter is all over the place just now. I just have some days where I miss riding a horse with more experience.

If you dont think you are up to bringing on a youngster then dont even try would be my advice. Get something older with some experience that you can go straight out and have fun with. It would be a shame to get a youngster and regret the purchase.
 
I don't think you're a novice... But whether I agree with your conclusion depends on what you mean by "youngster". If you mean unbroken, don't do it... If you mean a horse that's been worked with a little but is still green, I think you'd be just fine.
 
gembear said:
This. People worry too much about labels in every walk of life these days.
All that matters is you enjoy it and know your limits.
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Agree. You ride horses. You have your own so you don't need a riding school label. A label won't change how you ride. If you don't feel you are able for a youngster don't get one.
 
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I wouldn't worry about a label but if you don't want a youngster don't buy 1 :)

I think you either love youngsters or not. I will never buy a broken horses again for me breaking & producing is the most satisfying & proud thing, there aren't the right words!!

You do seem to me to like to get to know a horse & build up that trust before attempting anything "serious" whereas some people will get on a horse & be able to school & jump it to a decent level but at the end of the day it doesn't matter so long as you find a horse you are happy with :)
 
Agree with the above, my friend is a better rider than me,she competes regularly and wins she doesn't want a youngster she wants an established horse she can get on and ride,could she ride my youngster, absolutely , it's just not want she wants. Doesn't mean you're a novice just that bringing on a youngster may not be your thing
 
misskk88 said:
I don't think that the size of a jump or the level of a test determines what category you fall into (although it is a very good indicator!). There are also many variables!

To me, someone with experience and who has moved on from being a novice is someone who can influence and get the best tune out of the horse as it is able to give. They will ride in balance, tactfully and sensibly, and know their limits (which many, many novice and even experienced riders lack!). In my view, someone that may choose not to ride the biggest course or hardest test, but does whatever they choose to by understanding their horse and knowing how to tackle things in a calm, tactful, and happy manner, as to create a harmony with the horse/rider relationship, is by far the more competent and diplomatic rider, compared to someone who chooses to tear around a 1.10m course with little balance, little skill, and little consideration as to the horse (and yup- these people include both very 'experienced' people, and those who also are novices, which probably know no different)!

If you are able to help your horse learn new things, to improve its way of going (rather than just ride it at the level it knows already), to teach it manners etc, then I would definitely put you above a novice- although I don't bother with labels, just do the best for yourself and your horse as possible, and work with what you've got, which any good (regardless of level of skill) will do!
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What a fantastic post!!
 
Thanks all, some interesting thoughts. By youngster I mean green rather than unbroken. I am defintely not the person to back a youngster, although I have done a fair bit of the groundwork with a 12.2 sec B who then went off to be backed. I would be too big as well as too useless! I lack the confidence if not the skills and that's not the start a horse needs. I think I'd be fine on the flat with a youngster but not jumping.

It's definitely cemented in my mind what I should be looking for when I'm in that position. I'm dreading it to be honest. Don't know if I'll ever trust a horse like I trust M or have one who will look after me as well as he does :(
 
Everyone has their own areas that they are good at. Anyone would pull my position to pieces, I'm a big wuss about jumping these days and I wouldn't even get on a lot of my friend's big horses. However I love taking completely unhandled native ponies and turning them into something ready for other people to take into a ridden class or to drive. I tend to get bored with ponies once they know their job. I leave the training of big horses to my friend who loves that and is good at it but hasn't the patience with little half wild creatures.
 
Gloi said:
Everyone has their own areas that they are good at. Anyone would pull my position to pieces, I'm a big wuss about jumping these days and I wouldn't even get on a lot of my friend's big horses. However I love taking completely unhandled native ponies and turning them into something ready for other people to take into a ridden class or to drive. I tend to get bored with ponies once they know their job. I leave the training of big horses to my friend who loves that and is good at it but hasn't the patience with little half wild creatures.
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Me too. I can't ride worth a damn, but my youngsters turn out quiet and mannerly.
 
I'm not a novice, more of a veteran! I've ridden/owned/loaned/shared horses for over 40 years, and therefore am a wealth of "knowledge"! I also work with horses.

However, I no longer jump, and I dislike handling youngsters (although I need to sometimes).

So I guess I peaked several years ago, and will no doubt revert to novice status eventually!
 
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