Describing your riding level

[RachelB]

I went for a dressage lesson with a new instructor this morning (new to me anyway). I found my first stumbling block before I had even sat on the horse, as he asked me to tell him what I did with my riding and what level I was at. I am pretty harsh on my own riding ability but I said I could do most lateral work ok (leg yield, shoulder-in, travers, half-pass needs some work) but I've not really worked on collection or extension before. I took a guess and said I was probably at elementary standard.
I then proceeded in the lesson to embarrass myself with the most awful attempts at even basic leg-yielding, but found collected and medium trot fairly easy!

Anyway my point is, we all find it easy enough to describe the level at which the horse is working against the BD levels of competition, but is it actually very accurate to use them to describe the rider? Elementary was a complete guess for me - I've never ridden an elementary test (never had the horsepower) but I have won at prelim and have done a decent novice test or two. I could probably get through an elementary on a horse of the same standard, if I had one.
How do you describe your riding? Do you think it particularly accurate or correct to compare yourself to the BD levels?

 

[Taffster]

Mine is easy - I'm useless with no natural ability at all. So now i have given up and just enjoy mine from the floor whilst someone else does all the work and goes to the shows

 

[not_with_it]

No I dont think its really accurate. Anyone can ride an elementary or medium test but it really doesnt mean you are any good. Believe me ive seen some shocking riding at BD.

 

[Hippona]

Taffster!...you are back from exile I see.....

My riding level....consistently average...but I usually manage to stay on...although saying that, last year my son video'd me on his mobile....goddamit I looked good in minature! (whilst squinting)

 

[Silverspring]

[ QUOTE ]
most lateral work ok (leg yield, shoulder-in, travers, half-pass needs some work) ...

I've never ridden an elementary test (never had the horsepower)

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm so confused, you can do half pass (maybe not well but you can do it) but you haven't competed Ele? I used to compete Ele and was only then starting to consider trying true half-pass. It's not something most horse's can do!

It is difficult to decribe a riders level of riding as it depends so much on the horse they are given. Some people may have never competed a day in their life but can get a tune out of most horses, it's just a gift.

I have been told I have a classical seat but given my 5 years of dresage training I'm not really shocked. My jumping on the other hand leaves alot to be desire, I'm fine up to about 3 ft then I get a bit of a mental block. I can ride the fence perfectly but as soon as I get to take off I just forget everything and fall to pieces! Not ideal when trying to do a course of jumps!

 

[RachelB]

Taffster - well I could have just told him I was useless but he may have wondered why I was bothering with having lessons if I thought that!

nat - that was what made me wonder whether I had been that correct to say I was elementary standard... when I say "standard", I mean would be capable of getting 60-65% at least. I think my issue was that you could stick any rider on a good horse and get them round a medium test, but you couldn't necessarily stick a GP rider on a prelim horse and do the same!
Is there really any other way of describing riding level though?

 

[PaddyMonty]

My level would be 'crap but can generally keep horse between me and ground'

I dont think it is possible to put ability in to boxes really. We all have strengths and weaknesses that would place us in several boxes depending on how the question was phrased.

 

[Bossanova]

I tell people we've done BE intermediate but we cant do dressage- that generally gives them the general picture!!

 

[annret]

[ QUOTE ]
My level would be 'crap but can generally keep horse between me and ground'

I dont think it is possible to put ability in to boxes really. We all have strengths and weaknesses that would place us in several boxes depending on how the question was phrased.

[/ QUOTE ]

Exactly. For me, personally, I ride mares far better than geldings, sharp/hot types FAR FAR better than horses who need pushing on etc etc etc yet I consider myself VERY novice. However, doesn't mean I wouldn't go and see a horse described as 'Not novice ride as forward going'!

 

[RachelB]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
most lateral work ok (leg yield, shoulder-in, travers, half-pass needs some work) ...

I've never ridden an elementary test (never had the horsepower)

[/ QUOTE ]

I'm so confused, you can do half pass (maybe not well but you can do it) but you haven't competed Ele? I used to compete Ele and was only then starting to consider trying true half-pass. It's not something most horse's can do!

[/ QUOTE ]
What I meant was, if I was on a horse that could do half-pass and I was asked to produce one, I could. Not a particularly elegant one, but I can do the general movement!
I think my trouble is that I ride a lot of different horses and don't have my own to compete. So one day I might be riding a horse with no talent at all that could get 50% at prelim, but the next day I might be riding a proper schoolmaster (or just a talented horse) who would gladly produce all the laterals, collection, medium, extended paces, and a few half-steps of piaffe if I hit the right button.
I've never competed elementary because the horses I have competed in the past have been of a lower standard, but the ones I currently ride are of varying standards. Does that make more sense?

 

[RachelB]

[ QUOTE ]
I dont think it is possible to put ability in to boxes really. We all have strengths and weaknesses that would place us in several boxes depending on how the question was phrased.

[/ QUOTE ]
But how is it so easy to put horses into "ability boxes" but not riders? Is it simply because we (mostly) train horses for competition so we train them almong fairly "straight lines", whereas riders aren't trained in the same way? That's what I can't seem to get my head around!

 

[dressagecrazy]

I have no-idea really, not crap but not good!! Ive trained my own horse from Re-backing him to now working Medium level Dressage but im very far from good.
I always try to duck out of the question with Trainers really & i normally say well this is what ive done but you tell me what you think as i have no Illusions of grandeur when it comes to my riding i pull myself apart on a daily basis.

 

[ihatework]

I tend to play down my ability, will if pushed say what I have done in past. Normally just describe myself as a capable RC level rider

 

[Ezme]

I used to say I was riding at BHS stage 2 standard but now its a bit more compliacated than that as I havn't had regular lessons for a good while and I have unusally good "stickability" after years of riding poorly schooled/ probs in pain school horses that well.... I've bashed this certain local establishment on here before so it doens't need to be said again. I'm pretty good at getting babies/slightly messed up horses, going in the right direction and at the right pace its just style that may leave a little to be desired! That being said I previously i could riding decent shoulder in's, walk pirruettes (sp) canter demi vaults and of course leg yeilds but I should think nearly everyone can ride a leg yeild even if they don't know it just thing about opening gates and other every day uses for it!

 

[Silverspring]

[ QUOTE ]

But how is it so easy to put horses into "ability boxes" but not riders?

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe because it's the horse that has all the talent and the rider is just able to get the tune out of them

if you gave me a grade A SJer I could probably manage a course of 3'6" fence because the horse could do most of the work. Give me a bad jumper and we'd be snookered after fence 1! Same for all horses as you say if you get a talented one you can ride it (to differing levels depending on the rider) but if you get a less talented one no amount of rider skill can get it to perform. I'm think cob doing piaffe...it just wouldn't really work.

 

[RachelB]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

But how is it so easy to put horses into "ability boxes" but not riders?

[/ QUOTE ]

Maybe because it's the horse that has all the talent and the rider is just able to get the tune out of them

if you gave me a grade A SJer I could probably manage a course of 3'6" fence because the horse could do most of the work. Give me a bad jumper and we'd be snookered after fence 1! Same for all horses as you say if you get a talented one you can ride it (to differing levels depending on the rider) but if you get a less talented one no amount of rider skill can get it to perform. I'm think cob doing piaffe...it just wouldn't really work.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ah see that makes it make just a little more sense in my head!
Next time I'll just say I'm rubbish, it's far easier than going through what I can and can't do (mostly can't!)!

 

[Hippona]

Hmmm- have you noticed that we all seem to be saying we're fairy crap/average....that can't really be true, can it?

My jumping is pants...never been a jumper- I had a horse when I was younger that preferred to go around rather than over...I am still mentally scarred from this I think.

I can get a good tune out of most horses on the flat/schooling....I hack out on a very sharp horse regularly, my seat is good/independant and I ride lightly with a soft contact...cos thats what works best on him......but to be frank I think would go to pieces under pressure so I don't really compete, apart from in-hand showing and the odd local ridden class.....

Think I will bribe my son to video me and reveal the true state of my riding!

 

[arwenplusone]

I normally skirt over 'level' and just say I can get a tune out of most horses & will stick on and ride through issues quite happily.

I think sometimes it takes more skill as a rider to get a riding school cob working nicely than a finely schooled Medium dressage horse.

 

[Silverspring]

I totally disagree!

 

[tabithakat64]

Riding wise I lack confidence and would say I'm a definitely anovice rider even though I've been riding for years. I can happily do the movements required for both prelim and novice tests on most horses (My horse and I struggle with right canter though

) but have some bad positional faults that I'm struggling to correct plus I lack feel.

 

[Walrus]

I think it depends on how the rider is trained to a certain extent. For example if you have a horse and rider combination that are trained together it is probably a lot easier to describe the level they are working at together (dressage, showjumping or eventing levels or jump heights). I know what you mean about it being difficult to describe your level if you ride lots of different horses and don't compete. I've not competed at anything beyond local level but that's not to say I couldn't. I know wht tpe of horses I get on best with but who's to say that's the type I'll be riding in the lesson. There are also different types of levels of rider - there's the one who rides beautifully technically on a well schooled horse then there's the one who wouldn't know half pass from travers but will happily hop on anything that may try and kill them and get it working reasonably! And of course there's everything in between!

Personally, I'd say I've gone backwards in ability and confidence since the time I used to ride for a dealer and get on everything and anything but I've probably improved in terms of technical knowledge since having more lessons at a riding school. Overall I'd describe myself as "fairly rubbish but hopefully competent (as in, horse between me and the ground) on most things that aren't total nutters, no competition experience, better on big, slightly dim hunter types or tank-like natives with attitude. No-hoper on anything sensitive, fine, tempremental in a prima donna way (as opposed to stubbon type tempremental). Scaredy cat over fences unless adrenaline takes over and the horse knows exactly what its doing."

 

[Kate260881]

I have a lot more experience jumping and have never really had proper dressage training so on the flat I'd say pretty novice in what the actual aids for more advance movements are. However, I wouldn't say I'm a novice rider. I can cope with most horses and the majority of people I know wouldn't be able to deal with my current girl as you have to be very in tune with her to get her to do anything. And certainly jumping I know a LOT more than I do for pure dressage and would say I'm a least an intermediate rider. I think that just because you don't know how to do half pass (I've never even tried it so couldn't tell you) doesn't mean you're a novice rider.

I am in dire need of some dressage lessons though!!

 

[sloulou]

It depends on the situation actually

I usually say that I have ridden for a long time, and have competed affilated BE until about 7 yrs ago but am now rubbish, out of practice and much less confident with absolutely no style. Which is true

However - if I was going for a hack / lesson at a riding school - I would say I am an advanced level rider - because for their scale I am (as in I can canter and jump!).

But for freelance instructor lesson with my horse I would say we are novicey.

 

[stencilface]

Ditto widget - I say I am advanced if I go trekking or similar as in I can canter and more importantly stop!!

Otherwise, I have been told I ride like sh*t, and that my dressage is crap (and I paid for those opinions

). I am not particularly good, but then to joe bloggs on the street most of us may as well be Zara Philips!!

 

[Hippona]

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I totally disagree!

[/ QUOTE ]

What absolute shite you talk

......LOL!

 

[Hippona]

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I totally disagree!

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PS stop bullying me.....I might have to get a friend in to talk bollocks

 

[Taffster]

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Taffster!...you are back from exile I see.....


[/ QUOTE ]

I am and have so missed everyone!!

I did my lines and now i know i must refrain from sending insulting pm's to other users on the forum and must do it from my aol account if it is necessary!!

 

[Hippona]

You wiley old fox!

 

[Ellies_mum2]

How would I describe my riding level?

Erm.... a work in progress me thinks

I can stick on, canter and stop and have managed basic walk and trot dressage tests without disgracing myself or the poor horse

 

[RussianGirl]

I do FEI level dressage, and I'm aiming for the 2016 Paralympics - probably won't happen, but it's good to dream, I have an interview with the commitee about me shadowing the team for 6 months, which is great though! I have poor balance and can no longer jump or event courses higher than 80cms; I'd say I'm good in certain areas, very poor in others.