How do you rate your riding ability?

Urm I was going to say average, but seeing as I cant jump over 2'6" (and thts only if I'm told its 2') and can do a prelim test with a caller, I'd say I'm pathetic compared to many of you.

I can walk, trot, canter and gallop and can cope with napping, bucks and rears (unless vertical). I've been described as a quiet and compent rider though, so I cant be that bad I guess.
 
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Depends what I'm on. Always had a bit of a knack with the lazy neds but goes to pot when i'm on something wizzy.

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Same here only the other way round, put me on a horse that needs kicking and I'm useless put my on a hot head and I can usually get a nice tune out them.

I would say I was average, I can't do anything special like grand prix dressage or grade A showjumping. But I suppose it's all relative, I think being able to ride Grand Prix is special, my friend who is learning to ride thinks me being able to canter is special
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oh and being able to turn my horse is apparently also quite amazing!
 
I don't jump, so I'm probably useless according to all the eventers and SJers on here
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I can school fairly well... sort of. I am so tight in my hips that I can't really do much by way of extension and collection (so that would make me about prelim standard, right?!) but I can get a half decent horse to perform most lateral work half decently. I did my first few steps of canter half pass yesterday
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I judge myself by which horses I am allowed to ride at work. I get to ride some properly smart ones at the mo (no serious schooling though) so I must be ok! I am to be allowed a sit on the posh Luso stallion sometime soon too (wouldn't be let loose with him if I wasn't safe)
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I'd say I'm between a novice and "intermediate" standard... but that would depend on defining those terms!
 
I dotn think the height you jump or whatever makes you a good rider. IF youw ere on a horse that was really difficulte and wouldnt jump and y ou got it over a 1ft x pole, to me that is better then getting on a school master and jumping 4ft?!

On one pony i jump 3ft norm and on another i only jump 2ft6 because he is learning and dont wana rush him! But i get just of a buzz riding him as i do Jem because sometimes he refuses and when you get him over it feels really cool!

Im say i was a novice, maybe not even that but i dont care i have fun
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Depends on the day and in recent years the state of my back!!

Firstly the height you can jump and the dressage test you can ride has 'almost' no relation to your ability as a rider. With the right horse even a complete novice with a bit of decent tutition could be taught the right buttons, Just look at only fools on horses they were jumping 1m tracks (albeit some with questionable style) and most hadn't ridden at all up until a month before, but they had the right horses. The majority were very novicey riders and still were at the end of the comp. Same and even more so with dressage a rider taught to push the correct buttons on a schoolmaster could soon ride a medium test but put on anything requiring riding even at novice level would fall apart.

There are very very good riders who never go over higher than 3ft fences or novice/elementary dressage, these are normally admittedly those who back and bring on and sell youngsters for a living! There are riders on the BSJA circuit who never jump above discovery or the very rare newcomers but are excellent riders producing cracking horses but they are always sold before they get the chance to move up to a higher level.

Anyway as for my riding I will be big headed enough (well someone had to do it
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) to say previously I was a good rider, which is backed up by primarily by instructors and BD talent spotter (old format where you didn't even have your own horses there!
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) final placings! And the fact bought everything on from youngsters (oldest pony i had was a 6yo!) and did fairly well competitively, and could get on pretty much anything and get results (i was the rider who got given the reject ponies to sort on numerous occasions!!).

Unfortunately the last few years things have gone somewhat downhill especially since I hurt my back. At the worst times now I feel useless and barely able to get a tune, at the better times which thankfully am in a good spell at the moment it all seems to click and make sense and work. I'm no where near the rider I was but I would still 'hope' I was fairly decent to the point i can still get a decent tune on whichever horse you choose to put me on!
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Unfortunately the last few years things have gone somewhat downhill especially since I hurt my back. At the worst times now I feel useless and barely able to get a tune, at the better times which thankfully am in a good spell at the moment it all seems to click and make sense and work. I'm no where near the rider I was but I would still 'hope' I was fairly decent to the point i can still get a decent tune on whichever horse you choose to put me on!
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Oh yeah, i definatly go up a few levels if i've been to the chiro in the last few days!
 
hey, i was the first one to be big headed enough to say that i am a fairly decent rider
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but i am not a naturally talented rider like some people!
 
Somewhere between shite and shite-r.

To the extent I had to stifle an outburst/tantrum at myself during a dressage lesson today by stopping and 'ajusting the girth' on the side not visible to my instructor.
 
Never thought I was any good as we got yelled at so much when I was a kid. Those were the "it's always the rider's fault" days.

All I can say now is I usually manage to get to where I intend going and back again with my horse still under me! I would just like to know what my patient and very willing horse thinks of my riding - think he wishes mum would finally sort out her heavy left hand.
 
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