How do you define novice...

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annret

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Argh.
I'm really not a good rider, nervy, not well balanced BUT I am quiet and sympathetic hence I get on far better with TBs, Anglos and hot WBs than I do with cobs!

Now, while i'm down here at Uni I want to ride but totally non-competitively and as I was writing my description of my riding ability I just thought to myself how TOTALLY cr*p I was and how I sounded like a complete muppet...
yet my horse is definately not a 'novice' ride...

How do you define a novice?
There needs to be some extra terms I think as an intermediate riding school rider is normally a novice in 'real' horses if that makes sense!

Ideas/discussion please
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I did a thread on this about 6 months ago. Have no idea how to find the post so I could link it for you. Did get quite a good discussion going. I think the word Novice is often used in too broad a spectrum it could mean anything upto a rider who is not a proffessional in my opinion. (ie top paid show jumpers and eventers).
 
I understand where you are coming from! I always was lucky to have own horses until uni and tried a riding school. I was in the advanced clases and better than most and same as some (instructor words) but i can honestly say i am not advanced in the real world. maybe high intermidiate at very best!

i also ride better on more forward going types, though i think this may be as I then have more time to concentrate on myself than trying to keep the horse moving forward! if that makes sense?!
 
I'm definately a novice. Returning to riding, the theory is there but the practice is lacking, can rise at the trot and have had a canter but needs something 100% bombproof as wouldn't be able to manage anything else.

Anyone who can jump, handle a lively spooky horse/pony is not a novice in my eyes - they are something I aspire to be and I would be happy at that!

Saying that, I am happy with a forward going horse, but one that doesn't spook or take off. Would hate a plod.
 
I have had horses for over 30 years, have show-jumped, gymkhana'd, hunted, driven, done ODE's, showing, dressage and owned horses from 14 months old to a veteran in his 30's, but still consider myself a novice.

I think that as long as you are still learning, (which most of us are), then you're a novice - it's just that some novices are more experienced than other novices!
 
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I have had horses for over 30 years, have show-jumped, gymkhana'd, hunted, driven, done ODE's, showing, dressage and owned horses from 14 months old to a veteran in his 30's, but still consider myself a novice.

I think that as long as you are still learning, (which most of us are), then you're a novice - it's just that some novices are more experienced than other novices!

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But even the top riders are still learning...you never stop learning with horses, do you?
I reckon you're what most of us would class as intermediate but too modest to attribute that to yourself
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I understand where you are coming from! I always was lucky to have own horses until uni and tried a riding school. I was in the advanced clases and better than most and same as some (instructor words) but i can honestly say i am not advanced in the real world. maybe high intermidiate at very best!

i also ride better on more forward going types, though i think this may be as I then have more time to concentrate on myself than trying to keep the horse moving forward! if that makes sense?!

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Yep, snap, also i feel far safer bizarrely on narrower, spookier but more responsive horsies - feels like home
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intresting


I how would describe a novice (in ridden terms) would be can walk trot canter and ride a simple dressage test. but yet a novice horse owner i think is somthing different as someone may be able to ride well (ie riding school lesson) but has diffuclutly in knowing somthing like a worming programme or how to tell if a horse needs the vet...

i would personally put my self as an improving working to intermediate
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in riding and would like to think working to meduim level in care!! if that makes sense. (as will sit on anything with 4 legs and neighs if i can)

But agree that owning you own horse is completely different from riding schools. now in riding school terms something above a novice is to productivley get the horse to walk trot and canter without it breaking into a downward pace for at least 2 laps of the school
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But agree that owning you own horse is completely different from riding schools. now in riding school terms something above a novice is to productivley get the horse to walk trot and canter without it breaking into a downward pace for at least 2 laps of the school
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Have you been on an RS horse lately? 2 laps of canter on a stubborn cob is a damnsight harder than a simple dressage test on my horsey!
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It seems that 'immobile' = 'safe' in RS terms
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I'll second that annret! lol! I'm having the same kind of problem with the definition of novice at the moment as i'm trying to buy my first horse and have almost been a little offended when something which is forward going has been labelled 'not a novice ride'
 
true never thought of it like that

so maybe looking at it now that i am a complete novice either that or i have it all too easy. spooky horse compared to riding schooll hummmmm i chose the spooky one less of a leg ache

i failed arghhh
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I think it can be hard to define, generally i think of myself as a fairly experienced rider, I have been riding for 14 years on a variety of different horses in all disciplines and have won several competitions at local level, I quite often ride difficult or naughty problems and normally stay on! I have backed a youngster and schooled several horses from nothing to a moderate level of dressage and jumping. But when i got on my yard owners advanced dressage horse for the first time a few weeks ago I suddenly felt very novicey! I couldn't even get him to canter for ages as he is trained to go off the seat and is also quite lazy so you really have to ride him (he is also quite lazy and prone to bucking!) I am mastering him now but i felt hopeless when i first got on!

In answer to the original question, generally if I wereselling a horse and put not suitable for novices in the advert it would mean I'd want someone with good balance and capable of giving subtle aids, and who probably hasn't only ridden riding schhol horses, as often privately owned ones behave very differently. Often riding school riders are used to having to bully their horses somewhat, so can get a real surprise when they suddenly get on something responsive, and can scare themselves quite badly as a result. I've known a few people loose their confidence when they buy their own horse having always ridden in a riding school, and suddenly have a much sharper mount that goes forward and spooks and likes going fast etc!
 
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Argh.
I'm really not a good rider, nervy, not well balanced BUT I am quiet and sympathetic hence I get on far better with TBs, Anglos and hot WBs than I do with cobs!


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You must be fairly well balanced or you would upset sensitive type horses. If you mean you are a bit ineffective with lazy/backward thinking types I'd just say that means they don't suit your style of riding. You don't sound like a novice to me. Perhaps not as adaptable as some people but that doesn't matter if you stick to the types that suit you. I'd call a novice a beginner. A good rider has developed balance and feel, which you must have to ride sharp horses. A really good, established rider can adapt their riding between all different types. That's what I think, anyway.
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