How would you describe yourself as a rider? and why?

For Eventing-New Learner, more of not even a learner, I have never evented as all 3 XC's I have done I was eliminated.
For Jumping-(very)Novice, can jump a reliable horse over a decent sized course, and get green ones round small courses but any 'issues' the horse develops leave me stumped.
For Dressage-Experienced, although I have never competed at a high level I have ridden alot of different types and had alot of tuition.
 
Been brought up as a dealers daughter riding most things and most times without the luxury of a saddle I have been riding for 45 years and only just started to have lessons the comment from my insturctor was well its not pretty but by hell you can stick on !
smile.gif
Make of that what you will Happy Hacker of one live wire welsh cob and one large big black young Frisian seem to stick with them most of the time. I dont do schooling no idea what thats about do jump but only hedge or log if its in the way on the ride have loads of fun come home wet muddy and happy so I would be classed as a experianced happy hacker !
 
I'd say i was experienced but i have short legs which makes it hard sometimes lol. I also have "electric knickers" and the most docile of horses seem to perk up when i'm on board
laugh.gif
 
I'd be happy to go and see an ad described "not novice ride". Ive ridden a wide range of horses, had hep from some very good people, started and brought on my own horse practically from scratch, had a couple of "problem" horses which have turned around without a prob. I'm prob not technically a great rider, but think can get results to a level.
smile.gif
 
I think the difficulty is caused because it's not just a matter of what the rider can do but what kind of horse they can do it on.

For example, I could jump a small course as I have jumped up to Discovery, but I can only do it on a very steady schoolmaster as I am really scared of jumping, so what am I? Or I compete to Medium dressage, but prefer forward going rides so can't cope that well with anything that needs a lot of leg, am I good enough to be experienced when I can't ride some kinds of horses?
 
I think I have multiple personalities when it comes to riding. Some days I feel invincable and these are when I have the best rides and things seem to go well. When I feel less confident , the horse is more spooky etc, etc.

I think there is a lot to "mind over matter" , especially when it comes to horses
 
I would consider myself to have miileage under my belt and reasonably experienced but with room for a lot of improvement. My flatwork is Ok and I can do a fairly decent novice test but I am nervous over fences although I am told I am a pretty good jump jockey. I think my trouble is that although I have ridden since I was 6 and I am now 52, I haven't ridden thousands of horses as I have only had one horse at a time with a huge gap in between them.
 
I don't have any competition experience, but I can back, bring on and re school horses and sit things where most people would go flying, so I would happily go to see a horse advertised as 'not novice ride' or 'needs experienced rider'.

I know what I'm doing in dressage and I know how to jump a course, I've just never had the chance to do it so anyone competitive would see me as a total novice.
 
Before broken back;

Relaxed
Experienced in flatwork/showing (Riding since 3 yrs old)
Reasonable rider - dressage/showing
Never bold with jumping, never liked it much
Able to ride horses from all disciplines.
Loved hacking out, even on young horses. Confident with this.
Could be pushed hard by instructors

Post back break;

Tense
Nervous
Don't often enjoy riding now
Lack of muscle tone/fitness/strength through body core has made me a less effective rider
 
My final statement on this I think would be I like a horse that is solid built (sorry I don't do TB's or mares. Confident to go through water over ditches and the odd jump (can jump but fear stands in my way to go higher than about 2ft 6" did as a child when saw no fear or danger. But now these old bones don't mend so easily broken a few + other injuries which I won't go into. I do feel that a bold hacker can almost turn its hand to anything. I'd hate to only school in a menage or area. These horses must blow their minds (My opinion only). Hunting horses are to me like a good hacking horse they have to be to face loads of galloping horses, possible water, jumps. Still I admire people who can jump over 3ft with no collywobbles and seem so confident. I love to go to Burley 3 day eventing (watching of course) but I hate the fixed fences if a horse makes a mistake the consequences can be horrific. So I don't think we should put a horse who had not chosen to possibly break its neck through it.

Thank you all for replying it has been as I suspected I don't think anyone really knows how to decribe themselves whole heartedly as one or another.
 
I would say Novice describes me best.

I can get on a non complicated horse and ride quite happily, a bit of flat work nothing special, jump a course at about 2ft 9 and take solid fences. I cannot improve a horses way of going but do not hinder it either.
 
Top