What makes a good rider?

[MilosDad]

You have all the hallmarks of a good rider.
You know you can always learn, you realise the more you know the less you know so you are willing to learn and you work with any horse you are given.

That is much more rounded than someone who rides what they can manage but wont stretch themselves.

Stick with it and just remember what the one who looks down her nose sees: she sees a good rider who can and does do things she can't

 

[Johnny999]

Perhaps this should be my specialist subject working in a RS at the weekends, loaning a RS mare whilst grooming and exercising 3* eventers.

Communication between the client and the instructor is the secret. We have a range of clients. Some like a plod on a sunday morning to feel good about an hour outside and a bit of exercise. Others would like to have their own one day and become a happy hacker. Others are hell bent on competition some day. There are ponies for all, some make you look good or are great for beginners. Some are a little dead to the leg at intermediate level, but if you hit the button on the head and wake it up in the first 2 mins they will do everthing you ask. And then there are the advanced or instructor rides. These are not easy and need riding every second you are in the saddle. However they will do all the dressage moves, jump 1.30m easily, hunt and go xc all day long. And compared to the eventers I ride, they are not a million miles away.

So am I a good rider? who knows. Dressage needs a lot of work, jumping less so. My loan mare with mouth issues is just about on the bit for the first time in 8 years after 6 months of effort. I can sit on anything, stay on and make a small improvement. I've got the balls to hack in high wind, driving rain etc on my own and deal with whatever monsters appear. And this year I will do a affliated one day event on my RS mare even if I'm last. I will not get eliminated....we'll be doing better than that

But then perhaps I'm lucky with my school. I've been riding 3 years after a 25 year break. Most importantly, my instructor gets where I want to go and what I want to achieve.

 

[Renvers]

Not knowing more about the other rider i can't comment on her need to change, apart from that if she is dong it on lesson after lesson she should be more exact in her requirments from the school.

I reckon you should stop thinking of her as a better rider than you, she is just different.

Your attitude and desire to ride anything will see you better served in the end and people will (if they don't already) regard you as a good rider through all that the horses will teach you.

 

[Miss L Toe]

I kind of gave up reading all the replies, but my definition of a good rider is someone with an independent seat, who could be professional with a year or so in the right environment, and there won't be many of them at your local riding school.
Please don't get worried about others in the class, if she is so much better than you lot, she needs private lessons, her instructor should not give her an unsuitable horse., but have a word with your instructor and tell them YOU will not be swapping horses because she is a complainer and you are not.
I once heard a BHS student complain that the RS horse was no good [would not lead on left canter], but three of the instructors at the yard were able to make this horse do it, therefore the student was not a good [enough] rider. The BHSI who was giving the lesson said "You have to work with what you are given", and THIS is the key to a good rider.
A good rider can make almost any horse improve, but a complainer has one way of riding and will never be "a good rider"