What is an experienced rider?

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Trotting

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So, I'm sure this has been asked around a few times but, I can't seem to find any posts.

What would you class as an "experienced" rider?

I ask because I'd like to vaguely work out what category I come under.
Thanks.
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hmmm I would say a rider who can competently ride and control any horse or one who competes or rides to top of their particular area.
 
I'm classified as an''Experienced rider'' but I still ride like a bag of sh!t compared to other ''Experienced riders''
So heavens knows what truly is an experienced rider
 
I would say a exsperianced rider would be someone who knows how to have a horse work correctly,who is balanced on the flat, and can manage any type of horse, whilst on the floor and riding, but thats just my thought
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This is interesting
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I teach short courses for BHS exams and stuff, and get people to fill in a form giving their level of experience etc before they ride. I have learnt they all bend the truth!
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If someone says their experience is "limited" or describes themselves as "novice", they are generally pretty competent and just being modest
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. If however they put "experienced" or say they ride lots of youngsters, then the alarm bells start ringing because they probably can't do rising trot and have an attack of the vapours if there are more than 2 people riding round the arena at the same time
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[ QUOTE ]
This is interesting
smile.gif
I teach short courses for BHS exams and stuff, and get people to fill in a form giving their level of experience etc before they ride. I have learnt they all bend the truth!
smile.gif
If someone says their experience is "limited" or describes themselves as "novice", they are generally pretty competent and just being modest
blush.gif
. If however they put "experienced" or say they ride lots of youngsters, then the alarm bells start ringing because they probably can't do rising trot and have an attack of the vapours if there are more than 2 people riding round the arena at the same time
smirk.gif


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I've had exactly the same experience when looking for sharers or grooms. Anyone who describes themselves as experienced is likely to not even know how to pop on a rug, people who are modest are more likely to know what they are doing. I wonder if it's because people are over confident when they start riding and it takes a while to realise how difficult it is to do it right, or to ride a challenging horse, or to learn many of the complicated bits of horse care.
 
Well I dunno, all I do know is that the ones who think they are "experienced" and are in fact a complete liability are also the ones most likely to complain and blame someone else when they wobble off
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One woman called me vindictive after a weekend of trying to prevent her causing a major accident in a group lesson situation. It got to the point where the other people in the group spent their time taking evasive action while she bounced off the walls and scared the life out of everyone - I suggested she gave up any idea that she might pass her Stage 2 the following week (at this point she told me she had already failed it once - hadn't mentioned that before) and she rang my boss to complain about me and then wrote to the BHS ditto
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I do hope she is reading this
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I think an experienced rider is...
one who knows there is always more to learn, knows how painful falling off can be, but who gets back on even so, one who treats a horse as a horse and not as a baby or a machine, one who has had a go at most things and can share their experiences. An experienced rider doesnt necessarily need to have certificates or rosettes or awards, but can simply put their knowledge into practice when they ride.
 
There is a massive difference between experienced and competent I reckon. I'm fairly experienced, I've ridden for quite a long time and I've been in lots of different situations. However, I am not competent! I know what I should do, but it never quite happens.
 
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I think an experienced rider is...
one who knows there is always more to learn

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I agree. Someone with feel, patience and respect. Someone who sees riding as a partnership so they think about how they affect the horse and not just what the horse can do for them. Someone who has learnt that sometimes you have to leave it for another day. That there is more than one path to a destination. I could go on and on...!
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I think an experienced rider is:

Someone who can 'get a tune out of' many different horses, knows how to handle them on the ground as well, listens to the horse, isn't afraid to take all the gadgets off and start from scratch, doesn't immediately think that a fall means that the horse is out to kill them, and recognises that every horse has something to teach even the best rider.
 
I am experienced in that I have done a lot of riding over a long time frame but I would not say I am very good rider though.

I would think a better way would perhaps be not to judge how much experience some has had but at what level they ride.

I would say I was at intro level as though I have ridden for over 30 years I do not do pre novice eventing or novice dressage or entry level show affiliated jumping. Though I have brought on a youngster he is actually more sensible than a lot of horses twice his age and I knew that when I bought him - whilst I might not fall if a horse messed about I am not massively brave so hence that is why I do not jump big jumps and prefer to take it a bit easy!.

I do however think there is a difference between experienced and professional and sometimes people get muddled up and think that you have to ride at professional level to be an experienced rider.
 
"Professional" isn't a level of riding, it's a statement of employment. A professional rider derives some or all of their income from riding (and associated activities). It doesn't necessarily mean they are either experienced or any good (although it is more than likely that they are both).

I've been riding for 20-odd years and handling horses on the ground, from newborns and ponies to competition-fit eventers, throughout that time. I would claim to be experienced but I don't ride much these days, so wouldn't claim to be a proven rider at any level. I believe I could event at N or maybe higher, but only with time, fitness and training.

I can, however, talk a very good 4* round.
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Thanks for all the replies guys.
It seems that the question can't actually be truly answered as no-one definitely knows the answer.
I think everyone has their own opinion and my classification of an experienced rider is similar and different to all of yours in many ways.
I'd say an experienced rider is someone who can ride a variety of different horses and get a pretty nice response from them. I wouldn't say they have to have competed to be experienced because, some of the learning curves in riding can happen simply in a stable. I think knowing that your a good/middle/bad - so to speak - rider is an important fact. People over guessing their experience always backfires.
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I know what I should do, but it never quite happens.
NoSurrender, I completely agree with you on this, my mind is more clever than my body!
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I'd say I was an experienced rider (done most things) and a competant rider (can control pretty much any horse and can get most going fairly well).

However I wouldn't call myself an advanced rider - there's PLENTY of scope for improvement!
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