What defines novice, experienced, intermediate?

[Irishdiamond]

Can anyone define what these usually mean? I find the lines blurry sometimes and can't work out whether to class myself as experienced or novice. As riding ability vs actual horse experience confuse me.

What do you all consider a novice to be capable off, intermediate, experienced etc?? Preferably regarding teen/ adult riders.

 

[stormox]

go by BHS stages- novice stage 1, int 2 experienced 3 and 4.

 

[pennyturner]

I think it's possible to be a very experienced rider, (years of riding, etc) who is still a novice, if you know what I mean. I would put myself in that category. The more experience you have, the more you appreciate your shortcomings.

 

[teapot]

I recently filled in a new rider/client form and the 'highest' category for flatwork (jumping and hacking were extra boxes underneath) was 'influence and change a horse's way of going' which I thought was a good way of doing it.

I can tick that box but wouldn't describe myself as experienced in any way, shape or form.

 

[MuddyMonster]

It's quite a vague subject, it seems I think 'influencing the horse too' can be vague too. Influencing a safe, sane well schooled horse is different to influencing a youngster or rehabbing a 'difficult' horse.

Also, there is the stable management side as well as the riding to consider, if we are talking all round horsemanship.

If in doubt I would always put novice, at least they'd be pleasantly surprised

 

[teapot]

It's quite a vague subject, it seems I think 'influencing the horse too' can be vague too. Influencing a safe, sane well schooled horse is different to influencing a youngster or rehabbing a 'difficult' horse.

Vague to a point but I thought it was a good one as only someone who understood what it actually meant would probably tick the box. Or you'd hope so at least. Also stops the 'I can walk, trot, canter therefore I'm experienced' attitude. At least in terms of sorting riding school clients out anyway.

Guess it depends on what context the OP is talking?

 

[Cowpony]

I think it also depends on hours in the saddle/working around horses, not years. My husband has been riding for a couple of years, but he only rides once a week and is still very novice. He helps me with my horse, has done part of the Progressive Riding Tests and can groom and pick out feet, tack up etc. Is he ready for his own horse? Absolutely not!

 

[Shay]

Thats the thing I think - context.

For a riding school Novice is quite possibly only just off the lead rein and advanced means they can canter and maybe pop a small jump. For a riding holiday the "grades" would - I expect - move upward a bit. I quite like the idea of possibly comparing it to BHS stages - but unless you've done your stages how do you know what is actually required?

Then you get to the competition standards which are actually relatively well defined. For example PC and BS novice classes are 90cm. BE Novice is 110cm. BD have a novice section - but the test varies depending on league.

And lets not get on to care standards... Plus we're all learning all the time anyway.

No real answer for you OP - in what context were you asking?

 

[turnbuckle]

Thats the thing I think - context.

No real answer for you OP - in what context were you asking?

I suspect for the reason I find these threads so tempting...fishing for compliments in an indirect way! I've ridden on and off all my life, and my current horse is seriously not a novice ride and I HAVE brought him on a fair way (with MUCH help), but in most ways I'm a total eejit numpty novice. But if someone rated me in the direction of being a proper horseman I would puff up and GLOW for a whole month!

 

[scats]

What I notice is that there seem to be two types of experienced riders (I use experienced meaning the length of time they have ridden in this instance). There are those who have ridden for years and can walk, trot, canter and pop a course but they simply ride and seem to be unable to influence the horse in a way that would improve its way of going. Sure, they can influence a horse as in they can make it canter, point it at jumps and even ask for basic lateral work... but they don't 'gel' or understand the biomechanics of how a horse should move or work. These are often the people whose horses never really improve in their way of going, despite being ridden every day and doing a variety of things.

Then there are those who have the 'feel'. They have an inate understanding that they can influence a horses way of going and they understand how a horses body works. Friend of mine gets very frustrated that she doesn't have this feel, and she doesn't, it is evident from her riding and horses way of going. There's nothing wrong with her riding, to a non-rider she must look good, but a rider with that 'feel' will look and instantly see that the connection isn't there.

This is a great thread actually. Interesting to see how people view it.

 

[sarahann1]

Our RC uses dressage levels to sort out who goes into what flatwork lesson and jump heights for jumping.

I find in general terms, beginner, novice, intermediate and experienced to be pretty useless out of any context.

 

[milliepops]

I find in general terms, beginner, novice, intermediate and experienced to be pretty useless out of any context.

^^ this.
It's all relative.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

This is the best summary I can come up with:

A Novice rider sits there and doesn't do anything to improve the horse

An Intermediate rides the horse "correctly" but doesn't either improve or dis-improve the horse

An Experienced rider improves the horse as they ride and the horse is better for them having ridden it

 

[Kat]

I think you are a novice until you can walk trot canter and pop a small jump in balance on a safe horse and ride in more than one environment (so not just a school). So probably around BHS stage 1 level. But in a riding school context that would certainly be an intermediate group lesson and at some advanced.

Beyond that it is really difficult to define any categories because people's experience is so varied. Someone might be competing at a high level but on a made horse and someone else might be starting and bringing on youngsters regularly and to a good standard but have no competitive experience. Some people lose their nerve or have injuries that stop them doing things that they were once capable of. Some people are restricted by horse power. Some people are experienced in a very limited sphere.

 

[Abi90]

It's so difficult, I don't know how to classify myself. I'm used to riding youngsters and have a very green (well not so green now) horse who came to me not being able to walk or trot in a straight line in a school and was scared of poles. 12 months later due to my riding and a lot of help from the ground from my instructor he goes nicely. However only because I know how to support him to do that, he would wander all over the shop looking like a giraffe with other people. So does that make me experienced?

But then I've never had a chance to compete until i got him and we are certainly nowhere near any of the affiliated Novice classes! Although on a different horse I could probably do it. So does that make me a novice?

I certainly wouldn't be put off by a sales advert saying "not for novices" but I also agree that it depends on context.

 

[ManBearPig]

I'm another who thinks it depends on context. I would consider myself a novice in general; not a complete beginner but very aware of what I can and can't do. Comfortable in all paces, some basic lateral movements and small jumps but could in no way school a horse on or improve its way of going and have never had an opportunity to compete.
However, when choosing a holiday in Iceland I chose one for "experienced" riders as the requirements were just that I was happy and in control at all paces and happy spending up to 8 hours a day in the saddle (with breaks and not on the same horse!); I got on just fine and had the best week of my life. My guide was even surprised I had never ridden an Icelandic before and said I was getting lovely paces from them. *Gets all soppy and nostalgic, longing to be tolting across the lava fields in the shadow of Mount Hekla.*
I think a lot of people get the word "novice" confused with "beginner" - some "not novice rides" (a bit spooky or nappy etc) I would be completely comfortable and confident to ride and have often seen friends advertise their horses for sale/loan with "no novices" even though I would consider them to be novices themselves.