Novice Riders

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Sunlark

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Looking in the sales at loan horses, a lot of them are "not novice rides" and "experienced riders only". It got me wondering if this is down to the owners opinion, or if there is an actually definition for what a novice/experienced rider should be able to do. So what would you consider a novice rider, who would you let loan your horse?
 
Sunlark said:
Looking in the sales at loan horses, a lot of them are "not novice rides" and "experienced riders only". It got me wondering if this is down to the owners opinion, or if there is an actually definition for what a novice/experienced rider should be able to do. So what would you consider a novice rider, who would you let loan your horse?
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I would say a novice rider is someone who has only been riding for a few years or someone who doesn't really understand how to do things. Basically someone who is incapable of controlling your horse/riding to an ability that you would feel safe enough to put on your horse.
 
Novice riders can do the basics, and usually haven't ridden for very long or can be nervous, or are in the earlier stages of learning. Experienced riders generally have done lots more and have a firmer undertanding of more complex riding skills etc. I've just turned 17, I have a big 17hh sports horse who wouldn't suit a novice, because he's more quirky and needs a rider who can transfer their confidence and experince to him and ride at his level. Horses more suited to novices tend to be more genuine, bombproff and forgiving to rider error. But I think it really depends on the relationship and understanding between the horse and the person riding it. A woman wouldn't even let me go and view her horse when I was searching, purely because I was 16 at the time..I thought that was wrong because I know my limits, so I didn't think that was fair at all ( I'm sure others will think differently though!) Hope I've helped a bit :)
 
Wish I'd been riding long enough for a nice horse like that but I guess it takes practice. As it is people probably won't loan because I'm 16 too, and only riding 2 years from a very non-horsey family just to help XD
 
I would say a novice rider would be one who doesn't yet have an independent seat and would be unable to anticipate or cope with spooks, spins, bucks etc.
I don't know about the experience factor. I have known riders who have been riding for years and I wouldn't let them near my very quiet and well schooled horse. Whereas I was very happy to let a friend of a friend, who had only been riding a couple of years, hack my quirky mare. She was just more of a natural rider - not stylish at all, but chilled and completely in control and handled everything the mare threw at her.
 
My family is very very non-horsey too, we only have 1 acre of sloping pasture...but if you work at it you will get there, honestly! (that sounds really big-headed from me :/ ) but if you show dedication and try and gain as much experience with different horses, you will end up in a great position. I'll leap on probably any horse now and at least have a go :) but I would definatley start with finding a horse/pony described as 'genuine' or 'bombproof' to get you started and build your confidence and skills....I recommend Pony Club aswell to anyone, I started when I was 7 and I'm still going, it's a great place to gain knowledge and experience :)
 
It's good that people put that on adverts as it shows they are being honest about the horse's temperament. Generally, when buying from a private advert it's difficult to really find something that's genuinely a novice ride. You need to look at reputable dealers and producers that can give you what you are looking for and confidently send you away with something that will build your confidence and give you the experience you need.

Whilst we hear of nasty horror stories of unscrupulous dealers, there are people out there that genuinely know what they are talking about and can help.

Have you thought about going down that route?

What about going through a riding school?

When I started riding again after quite a few years of not riding through uni, I was still a novice and needed my confidence building and I went back to riding school, then loaned with a friend, then got my own loan from another friend and now I have my own. That was 14 years ago and I still couldn't say I'm "experienced"... I'm pretty much a novice STILL and I am still unsure if I would be confident enough to buy from a private advert that said "not a novice ride"... despite owning and riding a mad juvenile delinquent.
 
I find that owners give away lots about their own temperament in the ad. The same forward going but honest and sane horse would be described as 'not novice ride' by a nervous owner, and 'suit confident novice' by someone else... you have to ask questions about temperament and behaviour and be honest about your own ability.
 
I would doubt that any-one with 2 years riding school experience had enough knowledge to keep their own horse successfully, unless it was on either full livery with exercise or working livery. Certainly DIY could be an accident waiting to happen.
I suggest spending at least another year getting a broader riding experience and book a stable management course. Riding holidays and riding at different RS are a good way to get more experience, while if you have any horsey friends who will let you have the occasional accompanied hack and do jobs around the yard, that would be very beneficial. The real problem is not the rider's riding ability but the lack of experience of dealing with horses on the ground and on their own can be disastrous. There are plenty of threads on here which show how easily confidence can be lost, which would be a pity if a few extra months gaining experience could avoid that.
 
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I think it's refreshing actually as very few horses truely are suitable for a novice.

My current lad probably will eventually be suitable for a novice as he has a beautiful nature, very willing and forgiving. He is only 5 and as such if I were to sell him now he would be advertised as not suitable for a novice as it would not be fair to him, he is a lovely lively chap who needs to be given confidence, to be schooled correctly and allowed the chance to make his mistakes without someone scaring him by reacting incorrectly or with poor timeing.
To do justice to this stunning happy little chappie he curently needs a home experienced in bringing on youngsters, which a novice is not.
 
I would not loan or part loan to a novice as I don't want to constantly have to be checking on everything and reschooling issues.
I also would not loan to any one under 18 due to issues I've had in the past with reliability, attitude, drama and temper tantrums
 
Would never loan out my boys but have had people approach me whilst out riding and leading to ask if I would like help exercising them. Happy to give people a try on the ISH (he's a bit more forgiving!) but would not let either of them out with someone else without me accompanying on the other horse

To be honest, confidence is more important than style to me - that stuff can all be learned. I would probably say neither of mine would be novice ride. Neither are particularly difficult (TB is bit hot and sensitive) BUT they are fit and so can be quite sharp/lively and both have their little quirks. A very nervous rider would therefore be no good at all for either of them. For that reason, I would far rather have someone ride that had ridden for a year but was confident than someone who had ridden for 10 years but was nervous.

Maybe it's health and safety requirements these days but confidence/bravery seems a rare commodity. I think maybe that's why so many are advertised as not for novice rider as many first time owners lack confidence? You can understand sellers pov if faced with nervous riders seeking the elusive 'bomb proof' horse - easier to advertise as not novice ride. Me and my sister learnt on some hellish ponies and got thrown off regularly so consequently we're both pretty confident riders - just wouldn't be allowed these days 😁
 
I would not loan to anyone under 18 as that is when you are legally an adult and I like to know who I am dealing with. You could be the nicest 16 year old but have awful parents who I would no doubt end up dealing with if anything went wrong.

The needs experienced rider thing on adverts can also be horses level of training and owners wishes. I have two horses, the youngster is currently difficult but when she is finished she will be well schooled in the basics like the other horse. When novices ride a horse regularly they often let bad habits develop like not bending properly round corners or giving instant transitions. So I prefer not to have novices ride mine.

Then there is the issue of nervousness. Novices are often nervous too, which can be why they are not really progressing with their riding. A nervous novice on my calm, bold, curious horse turns him into a spooky thing liable to spin round and tank off home. Having caused the problem with their nervousness they would then not have the skill to deal with the resulting behaviour. I do not want my horse loose on the road because the novice fell off at the spin or to have to reschool nappy behaviour caused by repeatedly tanking off home.

Novices need a lot of teaching too. They generally do not know how to lead anything other than the quietest of horses, they have not always been taught how to groom or tack up, or the importance of warming up and cooling down. If someone is looking for a sharer or loaner due to lack of time it does not work out. it is quicker to do something yourself than teach then supervise someone else doing it. Even if you do put that time in to teach people they sometimes go off and buy there own horse as soon as they become competent, which is a nuisence.

Sorry to sound so negative about novices! They are not all bad. A novice with common sense and confidence who is willing to learn and really cares about horses is better than a more experienced person who does not really care about horse welfare and is only really interested in riding.
 
Firefly9410 said:
Sorry to sound so negative about novices! They are not all bad. A novice with common sense and confidence who is willing to learn and really cares about horses is better than a more experienced person who does not really care about horse welfare and is only really interested in riding.
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Novices are great, in the right place, which is where there is someone to teach them. Novices left to their own devices are dangerous. I would always encourage someone who is enthusiastic to get involved with horses. I have allowed complete beginners to ride my Draft horse and to do jobs around the yard BUT always with supervision. I would never leave them to deal with her on their own, as I know that she would take advantage of the situation. She ran off with a previous novice owner.
 
When we were selling on behalf of clients 90% of our horses were described as not novice rides as they did not pass the 'numpty test', which meant they endured 10 minutes of loosing of sturrups, unsteady hands and a general loss of balance. We came to this assumption as we got so sick and tired of having our beautifully schooled horses being tugged around, kicked in the ribs and generally upset by people who had over-exagerated their abilities.

I do not mean this to be offensive to true novices who want to learn and do things correctly but we generally found that not novice ride put most people off instantly. Although saying this we still had to ask several people to remove themselves from the saddle before the poor creatures removed their passengers themselves.

I think these days, one has to be extremely careful about advertising a horse and what a riders capabilities are due to the 'suing nation'. It used to frighten me to death watching some of them ride, even on the true 'novice rides', we had a pony in that ended up going to a riding school, described as suitable for a novice (he passed the numpty test with flying colours) Woman turned up with a child who had ridden 8 times - no over-exaggeration on this... Anyhow, he was 'too green' even though he carried the child safely around the school, ears pricked whilst said child bounced on his back, socked his teeth in and looked very wobbly. It was a saddening moment for us but alas one which is looked back upon with fondness and humour.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Novices are great, in the right place, which is where there is someone to teach them. Novices left to their own devices are dangerous. I would always encourage someone who is enthusiastic to get involved with horses. I have allowed complete beginners to ride my Draft horse and to do jobs around the yard BUT always with supervision. I would never leave them to deal with her on their own, as I know that she would take advantage of the situation. She ran off with a previous novice owner.
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I agree. Mine are regularly ridden by novices and children, with supervision. Bad habits develop quickly, and someone needs to be there to correct schoolboy errors which would otherwise lead good ponies astray.
 
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Flicker said:
I would say a novice rider would be one who doesn't yet have an independent seat and would be unable to anticipate or cope with spooks, spins, bucks etc.
I don't know about the experience factor. I have known riders who have been riding for years and I wouldn't let them near my very quiet and well schooled horse. Whereas I was very happy to let a friend of a friend, who had only been riding a couple of years, hack my quirky mare. She was just more of a natural rider - not stylish at all, but chilled and completely in control and handled everything the mare threw at her.
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I'd say I'm a novice as I certainly couldnt school or do a dressage test on another horse, but then again there have been more than a few experienced riders that have tried my mare thinking she looks easy and have gotten straight back off!..... So she obviously thinks I'm Ok?!
 
I have a wonderfull kind Irish draught ,does not nap rear buck ,goes first or last but would kill a novice rider (and be very sorry after). Its simply that he takes his confidence from his rider and a novice ,or unsympathetic rider upsets him to the point where he looses his grip. Not a bad horse by any means but no amount of schooling will ever make him anything but "not a novice ride".
 
Elsbells said:
I'd say I'm a novice as I certainly couldnt school or do a dressage test on another horse, but then again there have been more than a few experienced riders that have tried my mare thinking she looks easy and have gotten straight back off!..... So she obviously thinks I'm Ok?!
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And exacty how many old cowboys could do a dressage test . Obviously they cant ride either. LOL.
 
I'm selling a safe and sensible cob at the moment and had him advertised as suitable for novices. I based this on the fact that I had a novice sharer a couple of years ago who rode and handled him nicely. However, I had a potential purchaser try him this week and she was quite nervous and lacking confidence so the try didn't go well as my boy has a lovely forward-going but safe walk and it turned out she wanted a plod. I realised that the difference was that my ex-sharer, whilst fairly ignorant of lots of stuff, was a quiet and confident rider, so I have changed my advert to explain that his gait is naturally fast and that whilst he is a kind, uncomplicated and tolerant chap, he has never put a hoof wrong since he has been with me - not even a spook - but neither is he is not a kickalong. Thus he is now described as not suitable for beginners or unconfident novices. I've now also said that he would be perfect for someone experienced but out of practise. Ironically, he came to me after a nasty accident shattered my own confidence so for me, personally, he WAS my confidence restorer.

Unfortunately, changing the wording in my advert has also meant that the responses have dwindled somewhat, but never mind.... I'm not in a huge rush to sell him and I'm sure the right person will find him.
 
I rode from the age of 10 to around 15, then picked it up again about 12 years ago and now have my own horse. We compete at 2`6 jumping, low level xc and preliminary/novice dressage. I'd still describe myself as a novice. Am I a total beginner? No. But compared with professionals I have very little experience. If I were ever to sell my horse I would describe her as not a novice ride, because she is very forward and can be spooky. She scares people who can't cope with that, although there isn't a bad bone in her body. Would I go to look at a horse described as not a novice ride? Probably not, as I tend to interpret such adverts as meaning the horse is a nutter! :-) So I guess what I am saying is that it depends on your own perspective and who you are comparing yourself with. And whether you are buying or selling.
 
Cowpony said:
I rode from the age of 10 to around 15, then picked it up again about 12 years ago and now have my own horse. We compete at 2`6 jumping, low level xc and preliminary/novice dressage. I'd still describe myself as a novice. Am I a total beginner? No. But compared with professionals I have very little experience. If I were ever to sell my horse I would describe her as not a novice ride, because she is very forward and can be spooky. She scares people who can't cope with that, although there isn't a bad bone in her body. Would I go to look at a horse described as not a novice ride? Probably not, as I tend to interpret such adverts as meaning the horse is a nutter! :-) So I guess what I am saying is that it depends on your own perspective and who you are comparing yourself with. And whether you are buying or selling.
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For my money ,someone who jumps a horse at 2ft 6 and does low level xc and dressage is not a novice ,ability and age of horse /age and infirmities of rider,all considered,knowing your capabilities makes you not a novice rider. The rider who recklessly endangers themselves and their horse by doing things they really shouldnt ,those are novice (though not all novices are that stupid or they wouldnt live to become experienced)
 
Mike007 said:
For my money ,someone who jumps a horse at 2ft 6 and does low level xc and dressage is not a novice ,ability and age of horse /age and infirmities of rider,all considered,knowing your capabilities makes you not a novice rider. The rider who recklessly endangers themselves and their horse by doing things they really shouldnt ,those are novice (though not all novices are that stupid or they wouldnt live to become experienced)
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Ooh thanks Mike007! I'll come to you next time I need a confidence boost :)
 
I have a little stallion. He's just turned 4, broken last year and hacking out quietly. I happily put a novice or child on him when going out for group hacks. He has proven himself steady to just about everything.

He is also ridden by a competent teen / adult to continue and refine his education, and despite his temperament, I am alert for any sign of him 'trying it on', which will be gently corrected immediately (not that he's done anything yet). Even easy ponies have their moments as they grow up, and his future is my responsibility.

I guess I am saying that there is a world of difference between being suitable to be RIDDEN by a novice and suitable to be OWNED by one.
 
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