Just being nosey.. what level rider do you think you are?

I have been riding since I was about 4 (I'm now 22) and have had my own for 4 years so would say I'm fairly experienced however I have no interest in showing, dressage or anything other than a nice hack and a few jumps in the field so would be a complete novice in those areas. My boy is not a novice ride by any means though. I also haven't had a lesson since I've had him so dread to think what bad habits I've got into over the last few years.
I have a good seat though & am capable of all things I want to do. But equally I don't think experience always means a good rider.
 
I think it's a hard thing to define. Just because you "can" jump a 3ft fence doesn't mean you're "good" at it, if you see what I mean. Does it count that you can do something, even if it's a little haphazard?

I consider myself middle of the road. I'm by no means a top rider in terms of dressage, jumping or any other specialised field and I don't pride myself on perfect position or schooling techniques. However, this hasn't stopped me breaking in my 4 year old by myself and being really pleased with how he's coming along. If I were that bad, he wouldn't be coming along the way he is.
 
difficult to know what you would class as novice, intermediate, experienced etc. I have been riding for 20years and brought on several youngsters/green horses, hunted, SJ, HT,DR etc but not at a high affiliated level...I would probably class myself as an Intermediate.
 
Fairly rubbish :o but we get along ok. Although I am fairly sure I'm going to be ripped apart in my first lesson in about a year next week :o.
 
Auslander said:
I can sit to any size trot - my seat doesn't move. It's the rest of me - like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8WyOXhJ3uk :o
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That made me laugh, not so much the dummy but that company signed up here in order to advertise (against t&c's obviously). Unfortunately for them they posted their first, very blatant advert, in Suggestions and Feedback, the one place where TFC was guaranteed to see it! 'Dummy' seemed appropriate :D

To answer the OP - somewhere between mildly ineffective and cr@p :rolleyes: :o :D
 
Was very competent in younger days, jump anything, had fab balance, ride anything, fearless. Considered myself quite experienced.

These days, like to keep all four feet on ground, choosy what I ride, consider myself advanced novice.
 
So I'll be really arrogant and say I think I'm a good rider and I don't believe riding ability is well measured by competition.

I know when my horses aren't right, and I mean ever so slightly not right, and am not willing or able to push on through it, so consequently I have spent more time at the vets over the years than at competitions. ;)

I've never had a sound enough horse to progress with jumping, but on the brief occasions when I've had access to one, I've found jumping large fences is not more difficult for the rider than jumping small fences so long as the horse is up for it, there is just less margin for error.

Dressage is probably a better measure of achieving higher standards of riding technicality wise but it doesn't necessarily develop stickability and as said in the other thread, some absolute passengers can do well in dressage given the right horse.

Some folk you see out, mainly hunting and eventing, really helping their horses know what they need to do, right now :D , in an instant, instinctive reaction, they're great riders and they might never win anything in their lives.
 
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BillyBob-Sleigh said:
difficult to know what you would class as novice, intermediate, experienced etc. I have been riding for 20years and brought on several youngsters/green horses, hunted, SJ, HT,DR etc but not at a high affiliated level...I would probably class myself as an Intermediate.
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I was thinking the same. In your average riding school I'd probably be "advanced"; in the grand scheme of things I'd probably be intermediate. My confidence is fairly fragile, though, so I'm less likely to tackle some things that other riders would think nothing of!
 
Don't know how to describe my skill level at all. At this very point in time my riding is rusty. When not rusty, my seat is quite good. My former riding instructor who rides FEI dressage, told someone in my presence that they could listen to anything that I had to say about rider position as my own seat was so good. (This came about because I had given her some advice and she asked him about it.) Can ride a horse around a small show jumping course (about 3ft). Would like a try at something bigger but need the horse power. Easily conquered my advanced stablehand course last year and enjoyed handling the more difficult horses. Am the person that some people consider 'the' person for a difficult and unhappy horse. Have a reputation for being better at horses than people.

Yet despite the above, some people would class me as very novice because a serious lack of spatial skills means that I struggle with dressage. I need reference points in the arena to ride circles for example. It isn't a riding problem as I need it when on my own two feet.

So level can be a hard thing to measure unless you stick strictly to what level you could compete at.
 
Rather than 'experienced', I prefer to classify myself as 'competent' and confident. This is because nooone is a completely confident rider - everyone has their limits - and experience is completely relative.
For example, I am more than happy to ride a horse that is young, naps, bucks, is strong, difficult to handle, lacks confidence, tricky in traffic, spooky, bolshy etc. However my balance/security still isn't the best, I'm not a super-confident rider and I haven't done any dressage. However I love to hunt and jump, particularly XC. I was a better rider when I was younger and more confident, as I really do think that 90% of success (whatever you deem that to be) is in the mind.
If you're doing something familar that you know you can handle then you tend to feel more comfortable. However I haven't competed much or to a very high standard (only local level due to a lack of funds for fees & a trainer, and lack of time). Many others, on the other hand, compete to a respectable level but have no or very little experience of riding or handling a horse that has any serious quirks.
So it just depends, really...
 
Well, I'm jiggered if I know. I've been trying for years (20+) and until this week I would have thought of myself as average in terms of ability (in fact, I often think I am actively bad) but people on here keep telling me otherwise when I say I'm average :confused: So I guess I'm not a novice due to time served but I'd never say I was good either

I'm fearless, I have that going for me at least! :D
 
wonkey_donkey said:
I was good rider during my childhood and teens. Show jumped up to a good level and passed my BHSAI when I was in my early twenties.

However, I am now in my mid 40's and I'm now really quite an ineffective, wobbly and weak rider :-(

I tend to stick to hacking quietly round the block and looking after my neddies on the floor now which is a shame really as I miss those days!
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LOL me too, but I'm further down the slippery slope than you are.

I did work myself up to experienced I suppose, did some jumping and cross country.

Now I'm worse than a novice, need a ladder to get on, damage to various body parts over the years means I dont bend in the right places, I cant even get off properly now due to bad knee. Cant ride anything which needs a lot of leg at all.

I think we should get our own classification :D :D :D
 
I'm competent, I can make a horse go, sometimes stop, sometimes turn in the direction I want!

Ability wise I'm not too bad, I'd say advanced novice! If I had the right lessons then I'm sure I'd find I wasn't totally rubbish. Over the last couple of weeks I've been looking for a share horse and the owners of the ones I've ridden have said I'd a 'good little rider'! That amused me.

When I started college I got mistaken for a BHS Stage 3 flat rider! I hadn't even done my Stage 1 at that point, I'd just had some lessons. But when I get out of practise I get a horrible chair seat and become thoroughly ineffective.

But on the flip side I am not a jumper, I can do a maximum of 2'9 and not very effectively. I've only once gone round a course of 10 jumps or something. More than anything I'm unconfident, again if I had the lessons I'd be alright.
 
I would say im confident, over the years ive ridden all sorts (almost 10 years)
I would say i have good balance, also very patient and forgiving with horses and i can alter my riding depending on which horse im on

But i would say i am no where near experienced, im still learning so maybe in 30 years time i can say im experienced :D
I wouldnt even say im good, just competant and i just get on with it. Middle novice i would say
 
Usually very effective but rather untidy much of the time....
I used to be the person who backs & schools them, but puts someone else on for the end result :rolleyes:;)

I really enjoy finding what makes the horse/pony 'tick' and also getting to the bottom of problems, tho these days take a much more 'watching' role as happy to rattle round on my own horse :)

The Fuzzy Furry, Jack of all, but master of......and still learning every day :)
 
I am novice I think - have been riding for 35 years but just not a natural at it, luckily have a very tolerant pony. I have got to the stage now where if I had to ride anything else but him I would be hopeless.

I do compete a bit and did manage to win a dressage class last year but it is mainly luck rather than skill.
 
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Well I ride racehorses(cheltenham festival winners!!), rode olympic event horses,
and I have competed BE, but still wouldnt say I was an experienced rider.
I lack confidence in my own ability but have been told I ride well.
 
Dave282B said:
Crap but enthusiastic
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LOL!!^^^

Well in reality I'm competent, but not brave anymore - bravery went out the door at about the age of 37 I think.....so although I could ride out most problems, I would rather to let someone else do it! I'm ok at schooling on the flat, but I absolutely am worse than a beginner at jumping. A crosspole can instill the fear of God into me...I prefer "safe" now and while the word "project" would have got me excited at one time, I now appreciate my body being in one piece.
 
Id say im a teeny bit above a novice, I can handle a reasonable horse, know how to groom, basic stable management, can ride okay, can walk trot and canter and nearly perfectly balanced :) getting there! Just started jumping lessons ,slowly getting my confidence back.

I dont know all the names for things, i dont have tonnes of confidence, if i ride someone elses horse it will take me a while to adjust! I dont know much about illnesses in horses but i have lots of knowledgable friends at the yard so if im ever worried i ask them, so thats why I think im a teeny bit above a novice.

Oh and i still cant manage sitting trot without thinking im going to bounce right out of the saddle!! Haha!
 
I would say I am experienced in handling horses and riding to a normal level ie hacking/basic schooling. Novice jumping now - used to do a bit years ago but am too nervous with it now (ok over small jumps at home). Complete beginner with any eventing or xc - never done it (only some small drops etc on my old pony years ago and logs out hacking).

I value my neck a lot more now I am older now though, and find myself getting more nervous in hairy situations!!
 
My riding's deteriorated as I've got older :eek:

I did my AI and stage 3 back in the days when there was the horsemasters exam. I used to love jumping anything and getting results out of difficult horses. I did lots of teaching and breaking/schooling with a wide variety of horses/ponies. I was known for my stickability.


Now I'm happy to simply hack out, my legs just about stand up to an hour schooling, never mind an hour without stirrups! Endurance riding has become a two hour hack :o Stickability now often means the point at which I get cramp when dismounting. I view horses carefully before getting on them nowadays, and am happiest with my native pony.

I'm looking forwards to long leisurely day hacks this summer, if my muscles can stand hours in the saddle.:rolleyes:

Like others though there are things I've never done and so would class myself as novice in those respects.
 
At best I would say workmanlike, but rusty. I am probably a better horsewoman than a rider, as I have loads of knowledge and horsey skills and a good 'eye'. I am not as brave as I was in my youth, much more cautious. I rode competitively from the age of 3 - 21, county level and above, but then stopped for a few years, only helping out where necessary. I have a good seat and can do most things, but also lack confidence in my own ability; that goes for most things in life though.
 
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