What is your definition/idea of a 'novice rider'?

[skint1]

I know someone on another forum (not a UK based one!) who is probably in their late 30s and has ridden for most of their lives, I would never have guessed that based on what I've seen of their posts, photos and videos I'd have guessed maybe returning to horses after a long break at best, but apparently not.

Since I have known them they've acquired a few green horses of varying descriptions and it never ends that well, yet each time they search for a new one, they end up with greenies in need of confident and experienced riders to further their education. So after so many years of riding I guess they can't possibly be "novice" but there is certainly something that makes me think they shouldn't be bringing on green horses.

 

[laura_nash]

Alternative definition: a novice is someone who could ride my boy on a good day but NOT on a bad one!!!

I like this definition!

For me someone who is still a passenger, not yet a rider able to influence the horse, is a beginner. A novice has taken the next step up and can influence the horse, but hasn't yet consolidated their progress so they can easily fall apart (e.g. someone that can ride a particular horse happily in the school but couldn't hack it out, can ride well in a lesson but can't school on their own, or can only really ride one specific horse).

 

[Epona78]

I do think it took some time to get her to take me seriously..I suspect a case of ' another bored housewife wanting to ride' attitude. At some point there was a shift in attitude and I think she started to take my wanting to ride more seriously.
If you can manage it I'd advise that you have more frequent lessons. I started at one per week but upped it to two when my canter block set in. I've made a lot of progress once I did this.

Hi! I think I have the opposite problem to you, I AM a bored housewife, haha! Riding is my "me time", my half hour of peace away from three very noisy kids. My instructor is a very competitive rider, and doesn't seem to understand riding just for fun. I just want to be able to ride well enough so that people don't laugh and point at me! Perhaps we should swap instructors?
I am going to up to two half hour privates a week in November when my youngest starts nursery, I don't know how much difference it will make. I tell my OH it's like trying to learn to paint when you don't own a paintbrush!

 

[PandorasJar]

Hmm.

I wouldn't define myself as a novice. Ridden some very difficult horses as shares/owned. However put me on a new horse infront of someone, however well behaved, and I feel like a novice.

If looking to buy I'll always say I'm novice, but that's mainly because I'm useless when being watched and tacking up seems to take all day!

I think someone who uses the mouth to balance rather than their body is a novice. And as mentioned, being a passenger.

Pan

 

[WestCoast]

Someone certain members of this forum can be sneery about.

Paula

 

[PandorasJar]

I would say a novice is someone who is happy to ride what they are used to, but not confident to ride anything that they dont know, or trust. I always classed myself as novice when I had Benson, we would hack, sj to around 2ft3, xc, and dressage, but put me on a different horse, and I would be as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike!

lol, take people out of the equation and I'm fine... put someone watching me and I fall apart So I'm a novice when I have an audience

 

[YasandCrystal]

Someone certain members of this forum can be sneery about.

Paula

Hmmm very true and we would all do well to remember that we all started out at some point as novices though some seem to have been born in the saddle
The only unattractive quality to me is an arrogant know-it-all novice who maybe asks for but won't listen to advice

 

[AbFab]

I have ridden for over 20yrs and have ridden all sorts of different horses. However, after getting my new TB I have never felt more of a novice!! I am so used to my other horse that a 'new' one seems so alien and I have no idea where the buttons are.

It's daft really. If I see adverts that say 'not a novice ride' I stay away, but surely if I'd been doing anything else for 20yrs I wouldn't be a novice? Haha they are great levellers aren't they?