Experienced vs novice horse owner

[bz88]

Hi how would you describe experienced owner vs novice owner? I’m not talking about ability to ride just ownership, knowledge and care. I’ve stumbled across post on Facebook advertising space at livery yard, part and full livery but for horses with experienced owners only. I own my horse for three years, rode and loaned/shared before, he’s on diy, I do everything for him and I have general knowledge regarding health, signs of illness and nutrition. I clip him myself and I even wash his winky. Would you describe me as a novice? In no means I’m blowing my own trumpet, I’m just curious
Thanks

 

[paddi22]

There are some lucky people who have the joy of being on full livery, with very straightforward horses who are rarely sick and have no issues. They often seem to be novicey owners, mainly because experience generally come through things going horribly wrong or else having to slog none stop in lots of different scenarios. Also some people seem to buy horses before the even know the very basics, and because of that end up needing a lot of hand holding on yards.

 

[ponynutz]

I'd say you'd be fine unless it's a competition yard? Then they might be expecting a different set of skills to qualify as experienced.

 

[Vodkagirly]

I would say that's experienced. I've met people who have bought a horse after a few weeks of lessons, back when they were cheap.
One was OK, she didnt know much but put horse on fuĺl livery and paid for lots of lessons. She would ask people to check her tacking up etc at first but it was all sensible stuff.
The others were a nightmare, no idea how to look after horse, no budget and abandoned the horse after a couple of weeks.

 

[PurpleSpots]

Sometimes people actually mean 'with common sense' rather than 'experienced', because even people who've owned horses for years can still have no idea what their horse actually needs in life, and so are 'novices' in that respect!

Sometimes people mean people who are 'self-sufficient' in looking after their horses, in that they don't want someone who is going to ask for lots of advice from other owners on the yard regularly so the other liveries can get on with their own horses and just share ideas more evenly when needed.

Sometimes people mean 'competition riders' because they are snobby and look down on those who don't compete and don't want to be around them.

It can vary alot.

For me, 'novice owner' means someone who is fairly new to owning/looking after a horse and is going to need alot of support and assistance initially, but as it's a steep learning curve the need for support tails off fairly quickly usually. But they still need guidance on how to interpret when the horse has an issue and how to sort it out, even when the daily tasks become secure.

For me, an 'experienced' owner is one who is secure in their daily and yearly management of their horse/horses who are as a result settled, healthy and content, who knows when to call in specialists (saddle fitter, vet, farrier, trimmer, etc) and which one to call when the horse shows they have an issue. But we're all always still learning, so there are always going to be things over which they feel uncertain from time to time.

I would probably add descriptors like 'fairly' and 'very' to novice and experienced for a better scale, and might alter 'novice' to 'novicey' if it was a person who had had a horse for a while but still felt out of their depth and wasn't yet confident in their care and management of the horse.

 

[4Hoofed]

We have all ends of the spectrum at ours! For me someone experienced is someone who won’t be needing daily advice or help when they attend. When it’s their days won’t been to be taught how to muck out, what their horse needs to eat etc, and how to tack up/bandage/what rug. But I’d be hesitant to go to a yard with that stipulation… I can understand why that may be in the YOs head.. but I think you sort of assess wether someone is a good fit for your yard during the total contact, and viewing. But that’s me personally.