Am I novice?

C

_Chloe_

Active Member
Joined
6 May 2013
Messages
33
Location
Scotland
Visit site
I've been riding for around nearly five years, I'm competent in walk, trot, canter and jumping. I would say I'm a confident rider and I've been able to control spooky, green horses before. I'm confident hacking out in walk, trot, canter. And for most of the time I've been riding I have had lessons regularly. I know most aspects of horse care. Different people seem to have different opinions on what the definition of a 'novice rider' is. Would you say I'm novice?
 
I think it depends who is asking and why...

There is a world of difference between a riding school horse, and a private one, and between sharing/loaning, and having your own - as I have discovered.

At the place I learnt to ride, you would have been in the advanced classes if that is any help...

I found the biggest challenge was in knowing what to do without backup - a riding school horse who is being a b***er, but worked lots and knows what he is supposed to do, is very different to a private horse, who may be worked less and ridden by fewer people, being a prat when you're on your own at the yard in the evening...
 
I'd say that you're pretty much the same as me, and I class myself as a novice in the grand scheme of things.

It's been said on here before but I'll reiterate it- most riding schools class 'novice' as someone who's a complete beginner, and 'advanced' as someone with the capabilities of you and me. However, I don't think that this is a realistic reflection of how other horsey folk class 'novice' outside of the RS. I've been in the riding school for most of my riding life, and even now I'm basically just a confident happy hacker doing some regular, but not advanced, schooling with a green, but easy enough, pony. So yes, I'd say you're a novice :)

ETA Just read Lego's post and she's got it spot on :) Sharing (which is what I'm doing now) is so different from being in the RS, you don't have someone telling you what to do when the pony's acting up (which could be considered a good or bad thing!) and you basically don't have the safety blanket of there always being qualified people there to help.
 
Last edited:
Lego hit the nail on the head...get you're own without support...the horse will tell you if you're a novice or not, lol...it's not all about the riding, it's usually about the training, well in my case it is...I'll ride anything from a riding school,come to my boy at home, and I think twice...am I a beginner,no, but horses can push you to where you think you are...so ask your horse if you're a novice, he'll show you if you are....but well dine for getting where you are, labels don't define the relationship between you and you're horse.x
 
Another thing from me, sorry :o
Sounds cliché, and I didn't really like it when people said this when I was in the RS, but my share horse has taught me SO much in half a year, more than what the RS ponies taught me in 6 years. I'd never hacked out alone before I took him on, and neither had he, but we both taught each other and now we can happily hack out alone just in time for summer. It's a completely different world- and if you have the time and money for it, then I would really recommend sharing :)
 
I think it entirely depends on the context, handed a polo pony or on the hunting field I'd be a total novice even though I've owned my own for 20+ years and keep them at home (up to 5 at one point before children!)

Novice eventing is 1.10m XC fences which are pretty huge.

At a riding school I wouldn't need a lead rein though!!

I wouldn't go and look at a horse for sale that was described as 'not a novice ride' as that usually is code for 'it's a nutter' and while I can sit a rear and buck I'd rather not!!

I find it's better to understate your riding and have people draw their own conclusions from watching you - I'd rather that than strut around saying I'd a great rider and be given a nutter to ride and prove myself wrong!!
 
Thanks everyone for the replies, and I totally understand what all of you mean, I think sharing or loaning a horse just now would be a good thing to do next to improve my riding, and have a challenge. Although I have took in what you guys have said and I think the best option for me right now would be to share a horse which is a novice ride to experience non RS horses safely and comfortably. Thanks again!
 
_Chloe_ said:
Thanks everyone for the replies, and I totally understand what all of you mean, I think sharing or loaning a horse just now would be a good thing to do next to improve my riding, and have a challenge. Although I have took in what you guys have said and I think the best option for me right now would be to share a horse which is a novice ride to experience non RS horses safely and comfortably. Thanks again!
Click to expand...

That sounds eminently sensible:D Good luck with finding a suitable beast.
 
That's a great idea, it's lovely to do whatever you want when you ride without someone telling you what to do! Good luck with finding a horse and let us know how you get on. x
 
You are being very wise. Confidence is easy to shatter, so a confidence giving pony/horse that you can enjoy, is just what you need.
 
defo get a safe first share, last year I was straight out of a riding school and although my first share was 'safe' he was spooky and although I never hacked alone my confidence went from 110% to -300%. was awful so ended back up in a riding school! but now I have a brill share and slowly getting my confidence up :D

I am defo a novice... even though I have been riding for 7 years, but I think Im the type of person who will always count myself as a novice because I always feel everyone else knows a lot more than me!
 
Yeah, I feel my first share should be enjoyable for both me and the horse, and I should feel safe, without a fear of the horse bolting, rearing, or bucking. And once I'm used to non RS horses, I could maybe move on to a horse that was more risky. Thanks :)
 
It is like learning to drive. You really start learning after you pass the test and you are driving on your own. When you start riding away from ridding school ponies/horses that is when you really start learning. Enjoy.
 
As the others have said, sharing can be fab :)

I started riding 'properly' about 8/9 years ago, and just had lessons in the RS for the first year or so. I then took a 2/3 day share on the ploddiest cob in the RS :) Yes - she was ploddier than anything I rode in lessons, but the YO and I were happy that she was old and kind enough to forgive any mistakes. RS mentality - ask her something reasonable and she'd do it, ask her something daft and she'd ignore you! She did wonders for my confidence, and I kept her for a couple of years, until I'd really outgrown her.

I've had a series of shares/loans since, all getting a bit more challenging - and they taught me to deal with the different types of horse/behaviour that are within my comfort zone. As well as different management regimes etc...

I bought my first horse 2 years ago - and despite being a kind and generally awesome coblet, we have definitely had teething problems! Something always crops up! For example, getting on well at lovely new yard, long hacks by myself again, working on the things he isn't so good at - like stopping whilst horse in front canters away etc. Took him to first dressage in a couple of months and pros were that he travelled and went in the warm up like a pro, then turned into a spooky giraffe in the test arena, and threw a whopping buck in the warm up for our prelim! Not our best moment! He's never done anything like that before, and I know I made it worse by getting nervous when he played up, but just shows that they always have a trick up their sleeve, and having the right friends to help you out in the sticky spots is absolutely invaluable! :D
 
Thanks, sharing sounds like the best option for my riding to improve and to adapt to different horsey personalities and habits. Thanks you guys so much, it's made my decision a lot easier and now I know the next step to take in my riding. Thank you! :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top