So what makes a novice rider?

[Toffee44]

Just a thought really ( I am yet again avoiding uni work) coming from the green plus green = Black and blue "old horse saying"

I wouldnt consider myself as a novice rider, however I am pants in a school I have found out.

But I will ride most horses out and do so successfully. (bar my blip with Samba a few weeks ago, im now back on track). I can cope with bolting horses, jogging horses, spooky horses etc but I cannot for the life me school effectively at the moment.

So who is a novice rider?

I also know people total opposite brilliant in the school and are really nervous about hacking etc

 

[jsr]

I class myself as novice. BUT I will happily hack out anywhere, gallop across open fields or beaches. Have hunted (only just but still!), have done XC and pretty much will try anything once. I fall of sometimes but always get back on. I will admit I'm scared when I am and I will get off if I feel I cannot cope. I don't school, I find it boring and I'm not good at communicating with my horse what I want him to do..therefore making me frustrated and him annoyed at me being a div.

I have a limit, won't ride horses I don't like the look of, will sit on a horse but if I don't feel happy I'll get off, but I expect alot of it is my age (41) and knowing I have to protect myself and I have a house and responsibilities. To some I'm most likely not novice but in my eyes I certainly am. Wouldn't ever have the face to call myself advanced but then I've seen people who class themselves above me as riders (you know the one's ) who talk the talk but I've yet to see them do half the things I've given a good go at!! Might not look the part but I try and we have fun doing it!!

 

[Nocturnal]

I tend to think of a novice rider as one who is taught by a horse, rather than one who teaches a horse, if that makes sense!

 

[missyme10]

I'm definitely a novice, although one that will hack out anywhere and feels they can cope.
I hate schooling but can and do.
But I never feel I can get beyond novice as with having a bad accident and losing my confidence, it doesn't take much to make me take a step back, I guess I now sort of stay in my comfort zone and will probably remain a novice for the rest of my life as apart from popping and few jumps and nice hacks out, I dont really want to do anything else with my horses x

 

[Steorra]

So many different views on this! And some people don't know how little they know, as jsr says Here's my answer:

Beginner: still learning basic aids and finding their balance in walk, trot and canter.

Novice: Has an understanding of the basic aids. Can walk, trot and canter on a sensible horse in the arena and in the open, and pop a small jump or two. Is reasonably balanced, but doesn't have the skill or sensitivity to ride a more challenging horse, or an understanding of how to improve a horse.

Intermediate: Has the coordination and skill to do more than the basics, ie lateral work and transitions within paces. Or, if a jumper, can ride a course in an accurate and balanced way, choosing good lines etc. Can comfortably ride a trickier horse, but not a very young or sensitive one (ie any horse that would be classed as a 'professional' ride). Understands and can implement some techniques to improve a horse's way of going. Might compete at RC / lower levels of affiliated competition.

Advanced: has the experience and skill to ride and improve most horses, including green or hot-headed ones. Has the knowledge to retrain a horse who has been badly started, or is changing discipline, or is a 'problem' horse. Alternatively, I'd also class someone who is riding at a high level in their discipline as 'advanced'.

 

[Magicmillbrook]

So many different views on this! And some people don't know how little they know, as jsr says Here's my answer:

Beginner: still learning basic aids and finding their balance in walk, trot and canter.

Novice: Has an understanding of the basic aids. Can walk, trot and canter on a sensible horse in the arena and in the open, and pop a small jump or two. Is reasonably balanced, but doesn't have the skill or sensitivity to ride a more challenging horse, or an understanding of how to improve a horse.

Intermediate: Has the coordination and skill to do more than the basics, ie lateral work and transitions within paces. Or, if a jumper, can ride a course in an accurate and balanced way, choosing good lines etc. Can comfortably ride a trickier horse, but not a very young or sensitive one (ie any horse that would be classed as a 'professional' ride). Understands and can implement some techniques to improve a horse's way of going. Might compete at RC / lower levels of affiliated competition.

Advanced: has the experience and skill to ride and improve most horses, including green or hot-headed ones. Has the knowledge to retrain a horse who has been badly started, or is changing discipline, or is a 'problem' horse. Alternatively, I'd also class someone who is riding at a high level in their discipline as 'advanced'.

Ahhh thats quite a good description, probaly the best genaralisation that could be made - I am a Novermediate as I do & dont do a bit from both!

 

[Steorra]

I'm still not quite sure where I fit in...even to my own definition! I'm confident that I'm intermediate but I don't have the breadth of experience to be an advanced rider, even though I maybe fit some of the criteria.

And there are definitely people who don't fit the generalisation. For example I know a lady who is vastly experienced, far more so than I am, and has two horses I wouldn't ride for danger money (and I'm definitely not a nervous rider!) but she does no flatwork schooling. Ever. Her horses would eat me for breakfast, but if she tried to ride my dressage horse the way she rides hers there would be fireworks too! So I guess riding style should come into it somewhere too.

That said, I would expect a really good rider to adapt their style to suit different horses.