Nothing Suitable for novices Anymore

Perhaps a parallel could be made with the "safe first pony".
These are quite rightly like gold dust and worth every penny but people buy one and, when outgrown, if they don't have a succession of young riders pass them along, usually by word of mouth and with a waiting list, to teach another child.

Maybe less emphasis should be made on keeping the horse forever and getting one to develop with and getting the equivalent of a first pony with a view to keeping until ready to move on.
Good, safe horses suitable for a novice will always command a premium.
 
Interesting, someone text me the other day and asked what a 'novice horse' is, I think people's perceptions vary, and actually they should, I have 20 odd yrs experience and can school a horse, train a youngster, but when it comes to dressage I would class myself as pretty novice, I've never really done a huge amount in that field. I also tend to think that when advertising a horse people put that in for their own benefit, to try and safeguard their horse from people who haven't got a clue about equine handling and husbandry. There are so many horses that can be classed as 'not for novice' but this should be taken with a pinch of salt. Say for example the horse puts in a cheeky buck, one novice may be fine with this but another wouldn't, at the same time another horse may be forward going and patient, this may be fine with the other rider but not with the one who would happily and confidently take on a bucker. Don't be scared off the 'not a novice ride' tag, always ring and ask why, it may still be perfect for you.
 
I think it depends on the actual horse too. My 7yr old is the only child ever to have ridden her 5yr old 11.1. She's fab in traffic, doesn't buck, rear etc & daughter gallops her happily with myself & other experienced adults galloping in large open areas. Daughter does everything with her any kid does without me worrying about it. So from my pov could be called a novice pony. But the average 7yr old not long off the leadrein let alone with a few years in a rs would quickly come to grief. Kicking her on would result in pony galloping to next county as she's fizzy & used to light aids. No idea what she'd do with a kid holding onto her mouth or yanking, but imagine it would be objecting strongly. And the very fact she is forwards & carries herself would scare a beginner, even in walk. Plus any lack of confidence pony views as a weakness & would bully them even on the ground. But for us, she's ideal.
My 14.2 is a true schoolmistress. You can ask her wrong a dozen times but as soon as you get it correct she'll do it. I've had novice kids holding the buckle & a neckstrap go round 3' courses, as long as they use their legs to vaguely direct her to the next jump she'll sort everything else & nanny them round. A novice can hack her & if she feels someone out of balance, eg slipping, even in the middle of a course will stop while they get their seat back. But would (& has) dumped anyone who pulls on her mouth & kicking she would either plant to prove a point or tank off, depending how she felt. I would say she's a novice ride, but my idea of a novice or beginner doesn't mean pulling or kicking. If a rider is too unstable to give light aids then imo they shouldn't be responsible for giving them until they have the control to do it properly. Really don't see why you would teach someone wrongly at first then have to put it straight later.
As for the prices of proven novice rides, bombproof been there got the t shirt type schoolmasters are the one type holding value, whether its for a first pony or riding club type.
 
I know 2 people who have sold horses stating not novice ride in the advert when in fact they pretty much were but as like most horses stuck the odd silly buck or spook in sometimes the sellers covered their backs in case they were sued. As it was one was returned anyway because it reared up when the new owners dog nipped it in the face and apparantly that makes it dangerous :rolleyes:
 
Above this. I am currently doing my BHS Stage 1 once a week (&wanting to do Stage 2 after) & have just started helping out at my local RS once a week & ride there twice a week & class myself as a novice as I have tons to learn so no way would I feel I am ready to buy a pony yet.The above riders I have seen at shows are unable to do half of what myself & my group peers do in our riding lessons. The riders in my group lesson either own their own horse or are wanting to purchase their own horse and we ALL do the BHS course together, we all have our eyes wide open & class ourselves as beginners.
Good luck.[/QUOTE]

Really respect you for that.

Slightly off topic, but I did a 'train the trainer' course (not equestrian related) some years ago and learnt that there is are 4 stages to learning.
- knowing you know nothing
- not knowing how much you don't know (the dangerous phase)
- knowing how much you don't know
- knowing your education never ceases

There are a lot of riders out there who are able to canter in the school but genuinely don't class themselves as novice as their experience is insufficient for them to realise how much further they have to go.

New advertising terminology may be required!
 
i had this problem, ive just got my new pony, but in my search i had so much trouble with adverts being misleading.

one advert for a 15hh 7yr old done everything, confidence giver etc etc decided it would be good to rear up fully infront of a car on hacks and buck round the school...luckily im not novice so i was fine...but people will say whatever it takes now to sell them.

in some cases id say try a dealer but make sure they are well known as some or sneaky and horrible people..while i know a few which are soo nice and i would always buy from them....

with regards to your budget i wouldnt say its too low, just restricting....i looked at around ten horses around this price and most were very very good so just keep up searching really...

i do have adverts saved on my computer from when i was looking that fit your criteria if you want me to message you with them i can do :)?
 
Like the OP, I class myself as a novice even though I can walk, trot, canter and do them all without stirrups, and even pop the occasional little fence, and I can look after a horse and manage it very well - although I may not look the most elegant and pull some interesting faces while doing so.

I've found the ads for the horses I like the look of - which is exactly the same remit - only up to about £3000 ish - I've literally had to pounce on as others get there first!

I now check the horses for sale ads online every day twice a day to try and make sure if I see something I like I get there first as what we want is rather popular!
 
The words "not a novice ride" or "not suitable for a novce" used alone in an advert are meaningless. If you like the look of the horse and the rest of teh description sounds right phone up and ask them what they mean by this phrase, then you can decide whether it might be worth viewing.

From both experience and reading on here it seems that it can mean any of the following:
Total nutcase that the owner is terrified of
Is a normal horse that isn't 100% perfect all of the time but is basically good but the seller be bothered dealing with phonecalls from dreamers who have had two lessons.
Is a nice normal horse with one quirk
Is a nice normal horse but doesn't like being pulled about or bumped up and down on
Isn't a kick along brain dead plod
Is nice and normal but the owner likes to convince themselves that they are an exeptional rider and no one else could ride it like her.
Is more suited to a competitive/experienced home, perhaps needs lots of work or is very forward and quick thinking.

It really needs to be qualified in the advert or the seller needs to expect phonecalls asking for an explaination.

I think a more useful advert might say "not a novice ride as can be spooky" or "not a novice ride as it can buck when in high spirits" or whatever.
 
I just think people expect machines nowadays. They dont realise that for all the good 'novice' horses out there, there has been someone in the background who has put the time, effort and consideration over years to make the horse that way.

Less experienced 'riding school' rider buys a horse, normally a nice looking, young sort and then say 'oh this is hard work!', the horse has a spook or a buck, looks to the rider for confidence. The rider gets scared, its a downward spiral and the horse is put on the market with a 'suit professional', 'not novice ride' tags.

Its a shame.
 
Slightly off topic, but I did a 'train the trainer' course (not equestrian related) some years ago and learnt that there is are 4 stages to learning.
- knowing you know nothing
- not knowing how much you don't know (the dangerous phase)
- knowing how much you don't know
- knowing your education never ceases


My RI uses this also.
I've been looking at horse adverts also and have been curious about this phrase. On the other hand I find bomb proof somewhat off putting. My limited horse experience to date has shown me that bombs (happily untested but highly improbable in any case) they may be fine with but passing squirrels and rustling in hedgerows are quite another matter. And I've never seen 'pheasant flying out of undergrowth' proof!
Sorry I'm a little pedantic about words! Anyhow back to subject! I've watched a friend battle with her good natured but green horse. She dosent know how to ask and he dosent know what to do. It's painful to see and the poor chap gets all the blame. Then its exploring what bits of equipment can be added to control /make him comply. I could well understand not wanting an animal I cared for go through that but with regards to advertising I would suspect that it's a way of covering the seller against claims.
 
The problem is most riding school horses are ridden a good few hours everyday. Its a point that is often missed by those who progress from riding school onto their own horses and then expect humm havent ridden the horse for a couple of days and there is only you there to ride it.

Its a very different way of going about things and you never learn to ride until you get your first horse and learn how to school it and progress further with its training.
 
Firewell said:
I just think people expect machines nowadays. They dont realise that for all the good 'novice' horses out there, there has been someone in the background who has put the time, effort and consideration over years to make the horse that way.

Less experienced 'riding school' rider buys a horse, normally a nice looking, young sort and then say 'oh this is hard work!', the horse has a spook or a buck, looks to the rider for confidence. The rider gets scared, its a downward spiral and the horse is put on the market with a 'suit professional', 'not novice ride' tags.

Its a shame.
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agreed! you get riders too big for their boots buy a bigger nice horse to play and compete on one thing scares it and they cant cope and dont think to look into it just class it as difficult...its very sad.
 
Toby_Zaphod said:
The suitable horses are still out there but if you want one then you'll have to up your budget to afford one. These type of horses are what everyone wants & when something is sought after the price does rise. I read many posts with people saying that due to the current climate horses are being sold off cheaply. I think that some horses are but quality horses of the nature you arer after still command a good price.
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Summed up very well above. Good quality, sensible horses are selling well and in significant demand - I know this personally - and the horse you have described OP is worth considerably more than your budget. As you have said, waiting until your budget is able to increase is one solution as might be considering an older horse but even that older horse would often not be achievable without spending more. Very best of luck.
 
OP - if you want a nice safe bombproof allrounder for that budget then you either need to look for an older horse (you could probably get something 13/14 for that budget and still get years of fun with it - any reason you're not considering them?) or compromise - perhaps on a vice, or get a horse that is safe but needs a lot of work on schooling.

As for the 'not a novice ride' phrase generally - it really is so broad that I don't think you can make any assumptions from an advert. However, generally I would take it to mean a horse that may throw the odd spook/buck/nap and need a rider capable of coping with it, and a horse that needs a rider with a little bit more refinement - one that won't tolerate being yanked around or booted in the ribs.
 
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