How to classify your riding ability?

[ArklePig]

Just musing really. We're hoping to get to Scotland on honeymoon later this year, so I've been looking up horsey activities. I've seen one place that states 'no novices, as you must be balanced in walk, trot, canter'.

I definitely consider myself a novice, I (and most importantly my instructor) think that I'm balanced in walk trot and canter, jumping up to about 60/70 (probably back to basics on that post lockdown as current loan horse doesn't jump). More over, I definitely consider myself a novice in terms of horsemanship as I don't have tonnes of on the ground experience. I guess there's a difference between a novice in the real world and in a riding school too?

Like I said, just musing really but I'm interested to know how to state my ability when booking rides for my holiday, obviously last thing I want to do is overstate and ruin a hack for others cause I can't keep up, equally I don't want to end up on one that's too slow paced.

How do you all generally class riding ability?

 

[ihatework]

It’s difficult.
In this sort of situation I’d call up the establishment before booking, outline your experience as you see it and give them the opportunity to ask you questions

 

[Polos Mum]

There are probably 150 reasonable definitions of a novice. Give them a call and talk to them about what you do now and see what they say.

I worked for a short wile taking out riding safari's and that was properly NO NOVICES - galloping in a group on fit horses for 7-8 hours a day over rough ground with elephant, rhino and lion around you.

We had people who'd had 5 lessons come, people would couldn't use a mounting block and someone who said they rode for 2 years which on further digging turned out to have been lead around Hyde Park once a week for 2 years - all of whom considered themselves not novices.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I think it's just easier to say what you have/haven't done rather than worry too much about labelling levels unless talking levels of competition which perhaps have a bit more meaning.

 

[sportsmansB]

I think it depends on the context
You are definitely better to understate than overstate.

I go on a lot of riding holidays and I always understate (I don't want to spend the whole time jogging along on a 4yo because I've said I can ride!) - in reality I event and SJ and do some dressage - I'd rather 'trade up' my horse for a livlier one than end up schooling one for a week.

There is a massive difference between a real world novice and a riding school novice. They might be trying to put off riding school novices by saying 'no novices'- whereas a novicey owner who hasn't done any registered competing but hacks out daily and is in reasonable balance and quite sensible would be fine - the only way to find out is to call and have a sensible chat.

 

[ArklePig]

There are probably 150 reasonable definitions of a novice. Give them a call and talk to them about what you do now and see what they say.

I worked for a short wile taking out riding safari's and that was properly NO NOVICES - galloping in a group on fit horses for 7-8 hours a day over rough ground with elephant, rhino and lion around you.

We had people who'd had 5 lessons come, people would couldn't use a mounting block and someone who said they rode for 2 years which on further digging turned out to have been lead around Hyde Park once a week for 2 years - all of whom considered themselves not novices.

This sounds both terrifying and amazing. Something to work towards in the very distant future I think. I did snort at considering yourself not a novice after being lead around Hyde Park. I've been tandem paragliding.. Does not make me a paraglider.

 

[Tarragon]

I went to a trekking centre in the Lakes where they put everyone through a test before they were allowed out. To go on the "fast hack" you had to be able to walk trot and canter and they made you do it in the school. I thought it was a very good idea. The lady doing the checking told me that she can often tell if someone was up to it as soon as she saw them approach the horse and prepare to mount. She also said that if she had already decided they were too novice to ride she would often make them continue with the test (within reason!) just to illustrate that they were not up to it!

 

[smolmaus]

I've only been to one trekking centre recently (Sheans up the north coast) and they just had a tick box for able to walk, trot, canter, manage small jumps which also worried me. I hadn't ridden in 5 years at that point so I did specifically tell them that I had plenty of riding experience but not in quite a while and they were fine to take that under advisement. The other girls I was with said they were very experienced but it was on expensive warmblood ponies back in Brazil, not lovely chunky Irish cobs! ?

They also did a quick 5-10 minute session in the arena which sorted things out nicely anyway.

I think just email them before you book. They want you to have a good time so they should be happy to advise!

 

[LadyGascoyne]

Definitely think about the context.

For a riding holiday, I’d consider myself experienced. For a lesson with Carl Hester, I’d consider myself a novice.

In terms of a holiday, I’d be thinking:

How confident are you outside of a school? How many different kinds of horses have you ridden? Are you happy to hop on a strange horse, canter across unknown ground and, if it got a little strong or silly, would you be ok to get it back, balance it and crack on without it ruining the experience for you?

 

[Lipglosspukka]

I think its always wise for these places to see people ride for ten minutes in arena.

Myself and a relatively unhorsey partner went for a hack in Spain. He had ridden up to a canter but wasn't balanced. He was okay on something that just followed but was not in control as such.

He was initially teamed up with a little bay mare. They watched him ride for a few minutes in the arena before changing him onto a solid grey horse.

He did fine on the hack but the grey was as quiet as they come and just plodded along behind.

 

[conniegirl]

for me it depends what company i'm in, who i'm talking to and the situation they want me to ride in.

I'm not a novice by most standards I've been riding most my life, happy to get on most things on the flat, backed and ridden away problem horses, competed to a reasonable level in showing and dressage but put me in front of a course of showjumps and nerves will make it so that I ride like a novice as i've had a couple of horrific falls jumping and scared myself. I can cope with popping the odd log on a hack, or jumping my pony in the school (only 1 or 2 jumps and he is a pony you point at a jump and he will sort himself out, pop it and come back to walk on the other side).

Talking to Charlotte du Jardin or Carl Hester, i'd be firmly in the novice camp. Talking to most riding schools then i'm firmly in thier very advanced camp.


My dream holiday is a horseback safari, yes i'd be considdered good enough for one of them however my husband wouldnt be so i've arranged that it will be something I do with my sister in the future, though she would need a few lessons first to get back in the swing of things as she hasnt ridden in a few years.

 

[ArklePig]

This is all really good food for thought thank you. Especially LG, I think yes I'd be happy to canter across unfamiliar ground but not sure how I would deal with it if it got silly or strong so much to think about. I'm hoping when things ease a bit I can get my instructor out on some hacks with me to maybe build confidence and assess my ability in that area. Thanks everyone

 

[ArklePig]

I've only been to one trekking centre recently (Sheans up the north coast) and they just had a tick box for able to walk, trot, canter, manage small jumps which also worried me. I hadn't ridden in 5 years at that point so I did specifically tell them that I had plenty of riding experience but not in quite a while and they were fine to take that under advisement. The other girls I was with said they were very experienced but it was on expensive warmblood ponies back in Brazil, not lovely chunky Irish cobs! ?

They also did a quick 5-10 minute session in the arena which sorted things out nicely anyway.

I think just email them before you book. They want you to have a good time so they should be happy to advise!

I'd be interested to hear how you got on at Sheans smolmaus, their beach rides look lovely. The only place I've been here is Mount pleasant trekking centre. That was about 2 years ago on a whim after not having sat on a horse in ten years and I've been hooked again ever since ?

 

[smolmaus]

I'd be interested to hear how you got on at Sheans smolmaus, their beach rides look lovely. The only place I've been here is Mount pleasant trekking centre. That was about 2 years ago on a whim after not having sat on a horse in ten years and I've been hooked again ever since ?

I've never been to Mount Pleasant myself. I knew a horse about 10 years ago came from there to the RS I was at and he didn't give me the best opinion of them tbh. Which is perhaps slightly unfair! But my good opinion once lost and all that lol

At Sheans we did a group ride with maybe 8 complete novices and 4 of us capable-ish for a girl from work's birthday and they catered for both groups really well, but separately. We didn't do their beach one but they have a lovely route up onto the hills with spectacular views and some nice long canter stretches with an easier more farm-based route for those that couldn't canter. The novicey ones gave great reports as well, everyone had a great time. Only downside was it was flipping freezing.

They do sell ponies from time to time as well and if I ever spot Harry the cow-cob I was on I'll need the OH to hide the debit card ? A pheasant bombed out from a hedge on the way back, scared the life out of me, I jumped a mile and Harry didn't even twitch! That was me hooked again as well!

 

[ArklePig]

Thanks smolmaus, deffo one to add to the list for after lockdown! I too stalk their ponies for sale, was a big fan of Rose and tried unsuccessfully to talk OH into it.. Apparently we need to secure permanent housing for ourselves before we add on the expense of housing a pony ?

 

[PurBee]

Ive had the opposite experience of trekking centres in the uk. You tell them youre novice, they hope you’re not!

One place in wales who me, OH, and MIL went to for a trek. MIL never been on a horse, very nervous - told them so, only wants to walk, she needs a dope on a rope. I told them i ride, OH novice but brave. We both get old cobs. Thinking we were going on separate treks, we all ended up going out together. The 2 leading the trek then declare ‘trot’ - i yell “no!” Seeing MIL gripping on for dear life with a clenched teeth face just at walk. Just in case i read her wrong, i asked her if she wanted to trot....she just shook her head. I ended up arguing with the leads of the trek “i told the yard she’s complete novice, only walk - why are we all on the same trek together with differing abilities?!” They gave me hate vibes For the rest of the trek which they cut down to just 20 mins around a field!

Another place in scotland, i told them i had a large break from riding, so happy with walk, trot, canter but nothing too intensive/fast or logs to jump.
Cue the most stressful trek of my life on a huge firecracker ginger TB! Lead says “ok, canter here”....and take off at break neck speed. Cantering on a very narrow mountain path, sheer drop one side, trees the other, the TB decides its at the tracks, suddenly wakes up and wants to race the lead. Lead horse bucking at him to get him back. So TB decides to try to overtake! I couldnt stop the beast, who was also bucking with ramped up energy, couldnt turn him round at that speed as path too narrow. He decides to use the sheer drop side of the path to overtake, knows its dodgy but tries anyway....im losing balance as the canter pace is all over the place with his excitement so i yell “stop” over and over until lead hears me, who not once looked back to see if her group was doing ok!!

The other 2 on the trek were way behind us. I told her how TB was behaving, and told her to take him and ill have her horse. She didnt like it but damn, the TB was out of control with so much buzzed up energy.
The ride back on her well behaved horse was wonderful! A great canter! She was whipping the crap out of the TB all the way back, with his dancing and prancing.
When we got back to the yard, the other 2 on the trek said they were glad i had the dangerous one as the hubby had a bad accident riding yrs back and had only just recovered to get back into it, the TB wouldve finished off his fragile nerves....it almost did me too!

Then the yard helper who came to get the lead horse from me asked why i was not on the TB. I said he was abit spirited - she told me “well he has been on box rest with a cough for 3 weeks and hasn’t been out or ridden”!!!

Wow - just wow....how could they even think of putting anyone unknown off-yard on that horse?!

Im never going to a trek centre again!?

 

[smolmaus]

Thanks smolmaus, deffo one to add to the list for after lockdown! I too stalk their ponies for sale, was a big fan of Rose and tried unsuccessfully to talk OH into it.. Apparently we need to secure permanent housing for ourselves before we add on the expense of housing a pony ?

She is a very pretty pony! Surprised she is still for sale tbh, unless their website is just out of date.

We need these non-horsey sensible OH's to keep us on the straight and narrow. I've had probably the exact same conversation with mine! ? Of course now we have the house I've no flipping money to be looking at ponies!

Ive had the opposite experience of trekking centres in the uk. You tell them youre novice, they hope you’re not!

Wow - just wow....how could they even think of putting anyone unknown off-yard on that horse?!

Im never going to a trek centre again!?

This is giving me palpitations just reading it ??? Please copy paste that directly into a google review!!

 

[ArklePig]

I need to know where in Scotland PurBee went so that I can avoid? I have dreams of riding a Clydesdale and a Highland pony not a nutty TB off three weeks box rest! Jesus take the reins, I'd have died!

 

[McFluff]

I prefer to understate if riding somewhere unknown to me - particularly if it is likely to end up riding in a group of randoms. That way I make sure my experience is good, and I often end up with a nice steady horse and can admire the scenery and not worry about any shenanigans. Worth having a chat with them, and thinking about what you want to get from going on the ride.
I'm always amazed at the number of people who say they are experienced but then clearly haven't a clue - if I ran somewhere I'd definitely do an arena check.
I went on a hack once and ended up being the only person (out of 8) still on their horse after one of the 'I can ride' (but clearly couldn't) muppets let her horse barge through a gate from the back and set everyone off across the moor. Very scary, and the horses were all nicely schooled, she was just a total muppet.
I also went somewhere that did an arena check - this highlighted that someone had talked up their experience (horse totally took charge). That's where my plan backfired as I ended up being swapped from the nice quiet one I was on. Was tempted to ask for my money back at the end as a schooling fee. Didn't get to admire the scenery as was in constant dialogue with the horse about what I expected of him - I enjoyed the last 10 minutes as he finally decided to behave!
So while I can cope with the livelier rides, I much prefer admiring the scenery from a nice steady horse!

 

[AmyMay]

Definitely think about the context.

For a riding holiday, I’d consider myself experienced. For a lesson with Carl Hester, I’d consider myself a novice.

In terms of a holiday, I’d be thinking:

How confident are you outside of a school? How many different kinds of horses have you ridden? Are you happy to hop on a strange horse, canter across unknown ground and, if it got a little strong or silly, would you be ok to get it back, balance it and crack on without it ruining the experience for you?

Excellent post.

 

[McFluff]

Purbee - reading your account just made my blood run cold. That is so dangerous, glad you stayed on, and well done for insisting on a swap.

 

[Shilasdair]

Well, I used to earn my living as a riding instructor, and I'd always put 'novice' for myself.

I'd much rather have the safe sensible dobbin, than the crazed nutter.

Many years ago, when I was on a college trip, we were meant to be going to an Irish equestrian centre to play horseball but for some reason that changed to 'Here, have a 5 year old, and go cross country'. I struck gold - my 5 year old was called 'Angel' and she was - I've never had so much fun in my life. But it could have gone the other way. Anyway, it's to avoid that, you always say 'novice'.

The minute you walk across the yard and lead your horse out of the stable, instructors can tell, anyway.

 

[teapot]

In my experience of sifting rider forms, those who can ride say they can't, and those that can't ride say they can... As Shils says though, you can tell the moment they're given a horse anyway!

I know Lochness Riding doesn't take beginners/novices because of the speed and terrain of the routes they do. It's also about fitness imho too - can you maintain a light seat for a 5/10min canter or faster/longer.

 

[AmyMay]

I alway class myself as a competent novice, despite owning horses for many years. I don’t have horses any more, and get my fix a couple of times a year at a stables a few miles away.

As Shills says, they can tell pretty quickly what’s what. I was given the loveliest quiet little horse the first time I went. I was booted off five mins later and given another lovely horse to ride which was much sparkier. It’s a great place to ride ?

 

[Tarragon]

I went for a trek in France once a long while back and soon realised that my style of riding didn't match the way the horse I was riding was trained, and we clashed. It was all about hardly any contact and a sort of Western in style. So even if you think you can ride, it may be not enough! I know better now, but back then I tried the Pony Club style of riding I had been brought up with and it didn't work!

 

[Tarragon]

I alway class myself as a competent novice, despite owning horses for many years. ?

this is my preferred description of my ability as a horse rider

 

[HollyWoozle]

As someone who sells riding holidays, I can say that terms like 'novice', 'intermediate' etc. become almost meaningless as they're completely open to interpretation and also depends on different disciplines and all sorts. I would write to them saying exactly what you have said on here and I am sure they will be delighted to have you.

 

[Pippity]

I need to know where in Scotland PurBee went so that I can avoid? I have dreams of riding a Clydesdale and a Highland pony not a nutty TB off three weeks box rest! Jesus take the reins, I'd have died!

It isn't Scotland, but if you want to ride a Clydie I definitely recommend Cumbrian Heavy Horses. They have a 5-10 minute chat with you on the phone to gauge your competence/confidence, rather than justing having ticky boxes. I definitely undersold my abilities, to the extent that the ride leader offered to swap me onto her much livelier horse, but I was happy with my steady lad. He galloped and cantered when I asked him to, stopped when I asked him to, and was generally exactly what I wanted from something that big!

 

[Tarragon]

It isn't Scotland, but if you want to ride a Clydie I definitely recommend Cumbrian Heavy Horses. They have a 5-10 minute chat with you on the phone to gauge your competence/confidence, rather than justing having ticky boxes. I definitely undersold my abilities, to the extent that the ride leader offered to swap me onto her much livelier horse, but I was happy with my steady lad. He galloped and cantered when I asked him to, stopped when I asked him to, and was generally exactly what I wanted from something that big!

I second that! Cumbrian Heavy horses were very professional. We had a fantastic time.

 

[Archangel]

I went for a beach ride with a friend at her local riding school. I think they asked if I could ride first - not sure.

We had to cross a very busy A road, then later scramble down the stones onto the beach. My horse was a fluffy cob and very sweet, but a bit all over the place and lookey so needed mummying a bit. I tutted at myself "honestly, can't even ride a riding school cob in a straight line".

Anyway, we all (about 14 of us) thundered down the beach for a very long way, one girl fell off at the end through sheer exhaustion. My little cob seemed surprised to be going so fast and a dog chased us for a while but we got through that. At the end the lead rider turned round, looked at my horse and said "he did really well, we have only had him a week and he has never been on the beach before". So knowing all this, they didn't think to mention it to me or look back even once to see if I was splattered all over the beach. Madness.