What is not a novice ride??

[hondatyper]

Been bored at lunchtime so like many others on here I like looking at horses for sale ads, but so many say not a novice ride. I think this is pretty vague as it could mean it's a complete fruit cake nutter horse or just something that you can't put a complete beginner on, so if you have advertised a horse or were to, what do you mean by not novice ride?

 

[Kat]

I'm looking for a horse, and to be honest I disregard this statement as being completely meaningless. If the advert looks otherwise ok I'll call them up and ask what they mean.

Some people class just about any normal horse behaviour as making a horse not suitable for novices, others use it to mean lunatic horse that will kill anyone that sits on it. I'm always honest with a seller about my abilities and a genuine seller will be happy to discuss the horse.

 

[Little_Miss_1]

Haha, I'm not a novice rider (evented, backed horses, reschooled nutters for a number of people etc) but whenever I see 'not novice ride' I think 'completley off its head crazy'! Maybe I'm wrong, but it always puts me off!! Strange really when you consider the tyoe of horses I have ridden for other people, but the horses that I own and handle every day I want to be sane!

 

[s4sugar]

I once advertised a seven year old near TB mare as "not done much for past two years due to owners illness so a bit green and not for a novice" and got people phone up who had never ridden outside of a riding school.
This mare was very easy but needed a quiet confident rider as she would do whatever you asked -and a novice may (make that would) have found the wrong buttons.


When I've been looking I've found that not novice ride can mean anything from forward going to absolute maniac.
Phoning up can be enlightening but I worry when I'm not asked about my experience. ( I usually say owned horses a while back and used to hunt but a bit rusty if I'm asked )

 

[Kenzo]

I think some people put 'not novice ride' purely to filter out the type of people enquiring about the horse.

Some people can ride pretty well but once on board something with a heart beat , they turn into nervous wrecks and can't ride for toffee, then turns the horse into a dangerous loon.

So I don't think its always a case of the horse being a tad difficult, sometimes its purely to ensure your horse is getting a good rider so they don't clash and their capabilities are equally matched and buyers and not wasting sellers time...and vice versa

As for answering your question, I wouldnt even like to go there

 

[shark1]

i assume a not novice ride is something that cant be trusted to behave !

i often put it on an ad, as i only have sharp / quirky horses and i dont want beginners or novices trying them as it will only end badly for everyone!

anyone serious usually rings up and asks, so then i can give them the details and they can make a semi sensible assesment on whether they want to try it or not. im a terrible liar so i just tell them like it is !

 

[Luci07]

I always assumed "not a novice ride" meant very quirky and for professionial or an exceptionally talented amateur. I will rethink now as would say mine was not a novice ride - he is very straightforward and easy to read but is capable of upping the anti if he thinks he can get away with it (or if I am not paying enough attention!)

 

[Benji1]

this statement often makes me wonder what people class as a 'novice'. I saw one that was advertised as 'not a novice ride' and the only issue with him was he wasn't particuarly brilliant at hacking alone.

but like others have said, it can sometimes mean they are a little more than a 'bit fresh'

I'd ring up and ask what his/her vices are and why they wouldn't suit a novice