What is a NOVICE rider ??

A novice to me would be someone who can't safely walk trot or canter in an arena environment. I wouldn't class myself as a novice because I walk trot and canter, hack a nappy mare confidently and I don't panic and can stay on if she bombs off, spooks, bucks and naps. BUT I would definately not class myself as experienced because I don't jump and I do have confidence issues on new horses. I suppose it depends on your point of view and what discipline you are at as to weather your a novice or not.
 
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personally I think that if you cannot comfortably and competently control a range of (non-riding school type) horses in all four paces in the school and in open spaces then you are a novice rider.

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i agree with arwens definition here, this sums it up well for me

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I think, out of all the posts I've read, this sums it up for me too.

As an aside, I fail to see where jumping ability fits in?

As an example, I can see people hunting over humungous fences and think 'oh my god, they are brave', but I see people doing dressage, and I think 'oh my god, they can ride'.

Of course, I appreciate that you need to be able to 'ride' to get a horse around a technical SJ course, but I still believe that horsemanship is about being able to control a horse at all four paces in an everyday environment, and get it to do what you want it to do.
 
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personally I think that if you cannot comfortably and competently control a range of (non-riding school type) horses in all four paces in the school and in open spaces then you are a novice rider.

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I think that is a good point.
And I know I point it out all the time... but I've known some pretty damn difficult riding school horses lol that private horse owners have a lot of trouble on
 
I think it is tricky and it is easy to get confused with novice and nervous riders and they are not the same thing!

I think a novice rider is someone who has just started to learn to ride and could not go out on hack on their own. If you can walk, trot and canter out on hack alone then I think you are not a novice. People under estimate the skill required to hack out independently and deal with traffic and ride in open spaces.

Bravery and experience are different things altogether and are often muddled up. If someone is not brave it does not mean that they are a novice rider - I for example will ride any pony but I do not feel confident riding horses as I am only 5.2ft I have been riding 30 years and own a 5yr old NF 14h pony and I am bringing him on.

However because I don't ride horses according to the quote below this makes me a novice rider.

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personally I think that if you cannot comfortably and competently control a range of (non-riding school type) horses in all four paces in the school and in open spaces then you are a novice rider.
 
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As an example, I can see people hunting over humungous fences and think 'oh my god, they are brave'

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lol - "oh my god they are brave, because they can't ride for sh*t!" a lot of the time!
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Not me though obviously!
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I would say.....

Beginner - learning to rise in trot, steer etc

Novice - able to walk, trot, canter and hack out an average horse

Advanced Novice - able to do all the above, get themselves out of trouble on a hack, jump a bit, has a good competent knowledge of basic horsemanship and isn't overly worried by the odd buck (class myself here)

intermediate - someone who probably competes alot, can get a tune out of most horses without too much hassle, doesn't get too worried about something that has the odd rear etc

Advanced - someone who is competent, knowledgeable to do almost anything, could break a young horse etc

I guess there are loads of in between levels but that's how I view the horsey world!!
 
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