Definitions of Riding Ability

ihatework

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Very interesting post.
I consider myself to be a fairly experienced, but not the bravest, amateur rider, I've ridden in a number of disciplines on a variety of horses, most of which haven't been the easiest mounts
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However the more horses I ride, the more I realise I have a lot to learn, each horse teaches me something new.

It is the people who have only ever ridden at riding schools and think they are the world's most experienced riders that make me chuckle!
 

sunflower

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[ QUOTE ]
It is the people who have only ever ridden at riding schools and think they are the world's most experienced riders that make me chuckle!

[/ QUOTE ]

And why can't people who have only ever ridden in a riding school be experienced?
 

the watcher

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I like this post..I started riding quite young, rode a lot of different horses in different disciplines in my 20's and early 30's then had a baby, then a car accident, then quite a bad fall.

I discovered that having a child REALLY changes your priorities, that the body not working as it used to can SERIOUSLY affect your confidence and that constant pain is depressing.

I still ride, i still hope that my injuries will improve to the extent that I can do more, I am an experienced amateur..but I don't think I am very good..... or very brave these days (in my teens I was described as fearless)
 

vicijp

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I think a good, experienced rider is someone who is confident enough to ride any horse. That would be regardless of qualifications/competition history etc (soz but doesnt mean anything to me).
An inexperienced rider will ask you what a horse is like before they get on it. An experienced rider will get on and then tell you it is easy.
 

Parkranger

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Interesting post.

I always thought I was a nervous rider, but I'll get on most horses aslong as they're not complete nutters! I also got back on Ty after last week and hacked him out much to the amazement of some of the girls at the yard. I think this is due to the fact that I love him to bits though.

I have so much to recap/learn after a 15 year break and sometimes feel quite useless. When I got on Finny a while back and also rode a section d at our yard, I couldn't ride them at all - just felt so different to a more 'horsey' stride.

I've been told that I'm quite a good rider on the right horse. Whatever that means.

To me, a good rider can sit on anything and get something out of them.....don't think I'll ever be like that and I'm not particularly striving for that either!
 

ihatework

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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It is the people who have only ever ridden at riding schools and think they are the world's most experienced riders that make me chuckle!

[/ QUOTE ]

And why can't people who have only ever ridden in a riding school be experienced?

[/ QUOTE ]

IMO they can be experienced at riding 'riding school' horses but that is a totally different ball game to getting on, handling, looking after for years on end, dealing with problems (both ridden and veterinary) etc. etc. private horses.
I don't have a problem with riding schools in the slightest, but these riders have limited experience IMO
 

Parkranger

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[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
It is the people who have only ever ridden at riding schools and think they are the world's most experienced riders that make me chuckle!

[/ QUOTE ]

And why can't people who have only ever ridden in a riding school be experienced?

[/ QUOTE ]

IMO they can be experienced at riding 'riding school' horses but that is a totally different ball game to getting on, handling, looking after for years on end, dealing with problems (both ridden and veterinary) etc. etc. private horses.
I don't have a problem with riding schools in the slightest, but these riders have limited experience IMO

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree to a degree - there are so many uncontrollable factors to having a horse that are generally 'controlled' within a riding school for you.

My friend rides exclusively in a school but came out with me for a hack. She was a bit nervous but she did know the buttons to press when the horse was being a bit joggy etc.....
 

sunflower

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I do see your point but surely that can equally apply to private owners? There are people who would call themsleves experienced as they have their own horse and have competed at whatever level and done x, y and z but can only ride at that level or that successfully on that one horse compared with people who ride a variety of different horses and manage to ride them well at a riding school (and not all horses in riding schools are 'typical riding school' horses). I'm not having a go at you, I'm just saying that having had your own horse/horses does not necessarily make you experienced and equally, just because you have never had a horse of your own doesn't mean you can't be an experienced rider/horseperson.
 

ihatework

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No I do agree with you about private owners.
My current horse who I think is pretty easy and genuine, but is/was a competition horse, needed exercising.
I advertised locally, wording along the lines of 'snaffle mouth, safe and sane but being primarily TB not suitable for novice or nervous riders'
weedled out a load of callers and had one lady come to try him. Been riding 20 years, owned and shared a few horses, assured me she was happy riding a fit TB.
Sat on him in the school, really not truely balanced but came away with a big grin. Gave it a trial period, within a week my horse had learnt to spin and was having a whale of a time, she didn't last long ..... it took me the next 6 months to get the spin out of him!

But I still hold my opinion about riding school riders, I'm not saying they can't ride, just saying they have limited experience. That doesn't make them a some of them bad riders, just they haven't experienced the joy's of riding a variety of nags outside of a RS environment.
 

Rambo

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This is a very interesting post (even if it did start a looong time ago
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)...

I think ability and balls need to be clarified quite clearly to start with.

I have been riding for 32 years. I did have an extended break in the middle, but would still consider myself to be an experienced rider. By that I mean I have the ability to control pretty much any horse in any situation, both from on top and from on the ground. I have competed to a decent level nationally with some success, and I have been trained by some of the very best horsemen in the world. As a younger rider I actively sought out the trickier rides and I owned a few crazy ones in my time too
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I have fallen off more times than I care to remember but have been lucky not to do myself any real harm over the years.

So where do the balls come into it ?

Well, I am the same rider today that I was when I was younger.....from a technical perspective at least. The real difference is that I now have different priorities....i'm self-employed, have a young family, and my body isn't what it used to be.....basically I am more aware of my own fragility. I will still get on and ride most things, and I think get a reasonable tune out of them too. But, I will not actively seek trouble by getting on a knowingly difficult horse. Quite simply, I can't afford to take stupid risks anymore.

I think the OP referred to the phrase 'not a novice ride', and whether or not you would go to see a horse advertised as such. Well, I wouldn't consider either of my two to be novice rides, but i'm not sure i'd use the phrase in an advert for either if I were selling. Conversely, I would not discount going to see a horse advertised as such for the purposes that I want. In fact, i'd more likely discount a horse that WAS advertised as a novice ride in that instance lol!
 

BBs

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I would class myself as experienced but not the bravest. I will get on most horses although since getting older it has made me *think more* of what *could happen* and sometimes IMO its not worth me risking my neck on someone elses horse when I have 3 of my own who depend on me!
There are people who i hunt with and I close my eyes as they bomb past me hurtling towards a fairly decent hedge - how they survive god only knows!.
Just because you have the balls or stupidity to jump huge fences or ride difficult horses doent automatically make you a *good rider* does it??
Someone I know is very experienced with young difficult horses, however, he has no style whatsoever and quite frankly looks a mess on a horse, but he is effective.
Ive ridden sensitive show cobs, laid back ex race horses, looney 12.2 show ponies, plain stupid thoroughbreds, unbacked youngesters and bucking bronkos of every shape and size - its all been good experience and I loved it when I was younger - now I am quite happy to have a slightly easier ride. Dont get me wrong I love having a horse with a bit of spirit and whose a bit cheeky, but i think gone are the days when riding something which is so unpredictable, its not worth risking my neck - I have enough problems with my own!
 

lisan

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When I was thinking of selling May I saw a 'wanted' advert from someone who classes themselves as an 'intermediate' rider who rode as a child then has since had 8 lessons in a riding school
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Not sure how I would class myself! Having had two mad mares over the last 6 years, numerous falls, but ridden since being two! Have recently discovered I don't bounce anymore and would prefer a more ameinable horse, but hey ho, I will convince my Madam to do a half decent dressage test one of these days!
 

teapot

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[ QUOTE ]
IMO they can be experienced at riding 'riding school' horses but that is a totally different ball game to getting on, handling, looking after for years on end, dealing with problems (both ridden and veterinary) etc. etc. private horses.
I don't have a problem with riding schools in the slightest, but these riders have limited experience IMO

[/ QUOTE ]

That is the attitude that really really annoys me
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I've been in the riding school environment my entire horsey life so 7 years now. Been at current yard 6years. The horses I get to ride are anything between 14hh cobs to 17.2 competition horses (who are all out either doing BE or BD). My last lesson up there was an ex ride of some "names" in the eventing world, sadly lost his bottle going xc. But he's not an average RS horse. There is an adulasian who had been doing Grand Prix equivalent in Spain before he was brought over - used in the RS.

Experience wise - I worked for 3 and half years at the yard, stopped in 05. In that time - yes ok, dealt with the RS cobs, taught the beginners, lead escort out hacking etc - usual RS activities. BUT as well as that I've dealt with stallions who are used for covering; youngstock; other competition horses, helped run the big Spring Show we used to do (before insurance costs were a problem); helped judge competitions; aided with PC testing & taught Sm lessons to the younger kids; worked with some very experienced staff who for instance, one learnt her trade through Catherson & also groomed for rides at Badminton. All 3 of my main instructors are out at BD & BE doing very well with their horses & they regularly ride for the TTT clinics (one was riding during their Gala in 05). And I have the chance of watching & occasionally having lessons with the likes of Andrew Murphy & Robert Pickles

Not all RSs and their clients are bad.

I ride outside of the RS when I can, had Baron on a share basis last year. I would say that I'm semi experienced in riding horses that need pushing on etc as that's why I tend to enjoy riding. But have ridden forward going horses that need coming back (Baron last year is a good example, plus obviously horses in the RS). I hack out a variety of horses when I can through friends etc .
 

metalmare

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I've only been riding for four years. It was always my dream but we didn't have the money until then. I always used to ride anything - I was lucky to get offered a fair few rides from people ranging across all types. But I was so desperate to get on a horse and make up for lost time I became a bit reckless. I guess I still am a bit, judging by my determination to try and ride that traffic shy horse and improve her. But it's funny what you'll try and attempt in the absence of an alternative ride! But now I'm at uni and I can see my career (vaguely in the distance) approaching and with it responsibilities, etc, I've realised that all I want, when I next buy a horse in a few years, is something that will hack happily (for a few hours and at a decent pace), walk, trot and canter and jump about three foot (at a push) and not cause me too much hassel. In the past I have been so keen to improve myself that it has spoiled my enjoyment and now I am going to take a step back and see it for what it is - a hobby. I've never competed - I don't want to. I achieved a great deal with my foal against the odds and, with the correct facilities and help I wouldn't rule out taking another youngster on in the future.

I don't have experience or talent, I can keep an independent seat 95% of the time, sit to the trot on most horses, rise nicely, canter sometimes nicely, sometimes badly, gallop fearfully, jump anything less than 2 feet happily and anything over two feet nervously. I don't jab the horse in the mouth and I can usually sit bucks and spins, etc.

But apart from that I sometimes turn into a nervous wreck, I sometimes don't feel in control and I panic, am I doing this right? Should I do this? Should I do that? What will happen if? I would love to be able to gallop downhill without feeling terrified, jump tiny cross country courses, etc. I've learned that some horses I cannot ride - some infuriate me, I clash with their personalities, some intimidate me.

So I am going to stop pushing my comfort zone (as far as riding for a hobby goes and being a happy hacker I'm really not bad), start taking lessons again asap and chill out a bit!
 

Parkranger

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[ QUOTE ]
I think a good, experienced rider is someone who is confident enough to ride any horse. That would be regardless of qualifications/competition history etc (soz but doesnt mean anything to me).
An inexperienced rider will ask you what a horse is like before they get on it. An experienced rider will get on and then tell you it is easy.

[/ QUOTE ]

totally agree!!!!
 

ihatework

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Sorry, but thats my opinion and one I still believe quite strongly.
I never said riding schools were bad (well some are but I know there are some good ones out there).
In the scheme of things 7 years isn't a long time, but that is in no way meant to belittle your experience as a rider, it just comes back to the interpretation of what is an experienced rider! Its a sliding scale, you are far more experienced than some people, and other people are far more experienced than you!
For the record, I spent my first 6 years riding at cr@p RS's and then went into the steep learning curve of horse ownership. Since then I have been back to riding schools every now and again, the best of which was Jenny Ward's place where I trained with the University team on her Stage 4 horses.
None of it's done me any good, 22 years later and I'm still cr@p
tongue.gif
 

metalmare

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I have done a lot of riding outside of riding schools; I've ridden racehorses, and a wide assortment of other things. And I have to say that some of the HARDEST horses I've ever ridden have been those at my riding school! They aren't, in fact, owned by the school but are all on full loan. I have ridden some beautifully responsive horses there but the majority are thick skinned, stubborn, willful creatures who try to cut corners, canter when it's not their turn, stop dead, etc and they require far more riding than many of the non-riding school horses I've experienced. I have been bucked with, bolted with and more on school ponies. Yes I've had all this outside, too but the best horse I've ever ridden (not in terms of talent but in terms of temper) was my old loan horse who had never set foot inside a riding school but who, if she had been younger and healthier, would have benefitted many a learner.
 

teapot

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I'm not asking for you to change your opinion, but just wish IN GENERAL (not aimed at you) people shouldn't immedidately disgregard RS riders.

And heck - we've all been a beginner once
 

metalmare

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To be honest I'm coming to think that it's not what you know that is important, it's how much you enjoy it! Provided you know enough to ride your horse safely and kindly and you know enough to keep your horse fit and healthy that should be enough. It might limit your options when buying a horse but I would sooner be a novice enjoying the hobby anyday than a professional who is sick of it.

(I'm not implying that this is neccessarily the case, merely stating that my values have changed.)
 

darksided

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I agree with you that riding school horses can sometimes be bloody hard!

I've ridden for 10 years weekly at a riding school, so I wouldn't exactly say I'm at an advanced stage
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I've only competed a proper show once, and that was an in hand class lol. However I'd say that I'm pretty confident- I'll ride whatever they put me on- and I'm fairly competent.

Most of the horses I have encountered at the RS have been really challenging! Ok there are some typical plods, but these are mainly the small ponies or the larger ones are for the very new riders.

I think riding at a RS is very good at developing your riding because you learn to ride lots of different types of horses. I know plenty of pony owners who seem excellent little riders, but put them on a pony other than their own and they will really struggle!
 

metalmare

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I also know tons of people who, since leaving riding schools and going out into the big wide world of horses have deteriorated hugely - they become so so sloppy because they buy a beginners horse, get sloppy and don't ride anything challenging or bother to improve themselves. When I stopped going to a riding school I was careful to talk to lots of people, read lots of books, talk to people on here and ride lots of different horses so I didn't get sloppy! I also had monthly lessons when possible. had I just ridden my own horse I would quickly have deteriorated without the commitment I put in.
 

BBs

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[ QUOTE ]
I say I can walk trot and canter stop and start , well on a good day
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[/ QUOTE ]

Well you rode Winston very well! and he may look easy but he isnt!
 

Alibear

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Oh he is so nice to ride , you've done such a fantastic job on him, he is sooo lovely. I need find a minnie winnie for me
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(personally I think it was the heels that helped he didn't want me putting those anywhere near him
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)
 

BBs

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PMSL!
The other day we were discussing about a woman who used to go hunting who rode in high heels - I thought of you LMAO!!

Naww fanks hun! hes feeling bloody amazing atm - you will have to come over and ride him again
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Vx
 

Tia

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A good rider in my opinion is someone who can happily jump up on any horse and is subtle enough to blend with it. I've seen some apparently top-notch riders who couldn't eloquently ride a pony. And then I've seen bomb-along pony riders who can happily ride a top-notch horse.

I think a lot has to do with the background of the rider - the amount of different styles of riding they have done in their life - riding naughty horses and learning to ride bareback generally makes for a better overall rider in my opinion.

How did such an old post resurface, LOL!!
 
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