Following the snobbery and Happy Hackers post ...

[Archiesmummy]

I read to about page 7 and then lost the will ...

Can you please define what a 'good rider' is to you, please.

Is a good rider someone who can ride a dressage test, ride for endless hours in all terrain, ride at Badminton?

I myself tend to think about me and mine, not what other people are doing with theirs. I have produced a wonderful, calm, safe, brilliant hack who suits me, not everybody I am sure, but me.

I think a good rider is in tune with their horse, gets what they want out of their horse, and I don't mean the horse can turn somersaults, etc, it may be a simple walk trot canter gallop and most importantly stop and does what the rider asks. We may have our own styles but surely if we can get our horses to do all of these things we aren't doing at all badly, are we?

 

[Firewell]

I what is a good rider to one person isn't to another!
In my mind a good rider is someone who is quiet, effective and works with the horse not against it. A good rider can get a decent tune on the flat and over jumps out of most horses and they have a decent seat so if the worse does happen they can stick on!
I think it's easy to be a novice rider, an ineffective rider, not have a good seat or hands. An actual 'bad' rider though... That could mean many things! Even good riders may have bad days .