What would you define as "not a novice ride"?

tashcat

tashcat

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 October 2014
Messages
665
Location
Kent
Visit site
These days it almost seems like a trend to label advertised horses as "not a novice ride".

And whilst I understand there are plenty of horses out there not suitable for beginners, and also plenty of owners who do not wish their horses to be 'degraded' to beginners horses, sometimes I feel like this label is over used.

Browsing over some adverts today who says things like "forward going but not strong", "snaffle mouthed", "calm and considerate", "very honest and a good listener" whilst also listing "not a novice ride".

So the question is what sort of traits do you think a horse has or does not, in order to be labelled "not a novice ride"?
 
Ok, well I would describe my horse as not a novice ride because whilst she is 95% fabulous on the ground for farrier, clipping, leading etc (though can be funny to load in small boxes) ridden she does on a semi regular basis; buck, kick, doesn't hack alone, strong when cantering in open spaces, and needs a confident rider to get any where near the best out of her.

I brought her from a novice and she should never have been sold to her, only now is the girl getting her confidence back.

I think that the majority of horses aren't suitable for novices. In my head novices should be in riding schools and as such don't find it surprising that most horses for sale are labelled as not for novices! Though I do agree that it's neither a helpful, nor a descriptive term.
 
Last edited:
I would class my lad as "not a novice ride" because he is only rising 6 and very immature and prone to babyish behaviour. However in a few years he will be a safe sane little horse(fingers crossed )

If I saw those words in an advert I would be inclined to wonder why they would be used. I would think there were issues. So I would asked lots of questions. Makes me think. It's insane!!! :)
 
Interesting as I think I would term my boy not a novice ride though I have had novices on him. Not sure I would advertise him like that. I am always honest about abilities and faults and let the buyer decide if that it for them or not (then check I am happy if they come to try)
The things that I think make him not a novice ride are that he can 5% of the time be a twit hacking, he is a well muscled competition house who is fit and you can't leave him more than a couple of days without riding.
 
It's probably a good way of weeding out/discouraging people who have never ridden and are looking to buy a riding horse. Ergo those who are likely to not really yet be ready to actually own and ride a horse. So by putting "not a novice ride" they are trying to prevent those kind of responders responding to the ad since they've no intent to sell to someone in that or a similar position.
 
Its a very good point. I wouldn't describe my boy as " not a novice ride" as he is quite capable of taking a novice a wee walk /trot around with no issues. My mum who doesnt ride much can easily hack him bare back to the field.

However, my complete beginner OH is learning to ride on him, and there have been some cringe worthy moments! I train my boy for dressage, so he is trained to be forward and in front of the leg. When a beginner panics, they clamp on and he will think it means go! There is no badness, but can be a lot of miscommunication!

Its down to the what do you class as a novice I guess. Someone who knows not to clamp on, and to give proper aids would be fine. But a really new rider, would not have much luck!

So would any horse who is responsive be classed as " not a novice ride"?
 
These threads come on all the time. The honest answer? There is no true definition. It is depends on personal circumstances of both the horse and the rider.

My boy is excellent to hack out (can be a bit sharp when out alone), a donkey in the school and fine to handle. However, I wouldn't class him as a novice ride as he is only rising 6 and hasn't finished his education, therefore a novice wouldn't be suited on him, unless with guidance.
If someone I deemed as experienced came along, I wouldn't label him as not novice ride, because I know they would be capable in handling him.
 
I would think more of the rider, a novice rider I would class as someone who maybe isnt fit enough with lack of ballance that maybe couldn't cope when a horse puts in a massive jump or a sudden stop. Or maybe when a horse takes a sudden spook out hacking if a dog jumped suddenly from behind a wall, could their leg strength, core strength and ballance keep them on when a sudden jolt occurs.
 
A horse described as a novice ride is forgiving of errors, and in a way, you don't so much need to "ride it"
A novice ride can and will react to errors on the rider behalf, which needs a certain level of experience to ride through if, as and when you do make mistakes
 
"forward going but not strong", "snaffle mouthed", "calm and considerate", "very honest and a good listener"

All of these apply to my little Gypsy Cob, but he is a worrier, takes confidence from his rider, and needs quiet consistent riding. I would never sell him anyway, but if I did it wouldn't be to a novice, as he could easily become unhappy and panicky if he didn't have faith in his rider :)
 
We've got a pony that I'd describe as a novice ride. You have to know what you are doing to get the best out of her, and she is fab but her default action to being ridden badly is to stop and plant. She would never in a million years tank off doesn't buck unless you smack her and is as safe as you can get. Our other one is also safe, but very whizzy,has a nap in her and even at the age of 24,will bomb off if she feels like it. I wouldn't describe her as a novice ride,but she has been a great first pony for confident kids.
 
Anything under 10 y/o, need the mileage to cope with a novice. The most annoying sentence in an ad is "6 y/o perfect first time pony"

A real novice really needs something that will look after than and they are rare and expensive (especially if sound!)
But - realistically most will get by if the horse can be handled and put in their place by someone experienced once in a while - a good livery yard owner will help a novice rider get by with most horses
 
The problem is with definition.

For example, my traddie CAN and IS a "novice ride" - when he's in the right frame of mind. BUT, the next time anyone climbs up, he is definitely NOT!!!

He is quirky, and can change his mood like a chameleon. I've had a friend's 9 yo kiddy on him, we went down the road for a little ride and a stooopid git on a bicycle literally skimmed his bum as he went past, and he didn't move a muscle, bless him.

But when he's having a Rooney Day, he'll pose a considerable challenge to a professional rider.

So when he's a Novice Ride, then yes, he is, but when he isn't, he most definitely isn't!!

But here again we have the definition of what is a "novice". When I was in pony club (many moons ago :) ) a novice was probably defined then as someone who hadn't yet passed their Pony Club C test! C test was a kind of standard back then, of whether a (child) was capable of general keep and associated care of a pony at grass and riding independently, i.e. able to walk, trot, canter o the correct lead, and pop a little fence. A rider of this standard would be (probably) able to go for a hack without being accompanied on a schoolmaster-type horse/pony.
 
Last edited:
Neither of my horses is a novice ride .
They are both very very nice horses but C is an advanced eventer and sharp and J is a big chaser type TB he's deceptively laid back and a bit quirky to ride he likes you or he does not .
Fatty would teach a novice about hunting but he's very naughty in the school
H will be a novice ride by the time he's ten.
Tatts is just so alternative he's defiantly not for a novice .
 
I wouldn't advertise either of mine as novice rides either, though I wouldn't hesitate to put a novice on Fergs (if I deemed them sensible enough to listen to instruction) in the school. Fergus is sharp to hack, though he'd probably be fine for a novice to ride in schools if he weren't fit. I strongly suspect he'd take the mickey though and become very evasive of work, because he's smart enough not to waste energy for no reason!

Dae is young, and has that streak of eccentricity that could lead to issues in the wrong hands. It's for their protection, and the protection of their education as much as it is for the rider.
 
My boy would match most of the OPs post..absolute dobbin that you can do pretty much anything with, give kiddies rides on, and hand over to non horsey people to play with...but I'd still say not for a novice.

He is good as gold but like any animal, has his quirks...Was v headshy when I got him, picks tone up off the rider, and knows he is a beefy 'sport' cob.

So if you're firm, kind and he trusts you, you can put a toddler his back and walk past the flapping tarp and moving digger. One day I carried some white rope into his stable to put on as a lunging aid, and we had rearing, shaking, squealing and whites of eyes, then wary of me for days...

Previous boy on the other hand, genuine novice ride and handle as a retired riding school pensioner :)
 
I would class myself as a novice rider because I lack confidence. I over horsed myself completely with mine however we have had some amazing days where we have pinged 2'9 like it's nothing (isn't to some but when you have no confidence in general), gone galloping down hills, schooled bareback and generally pratted about! Alf isn't a novice ride at all; horrific to hack in company and has to be at the front, spooky in the school, feeds off of riders energy, will rear, evades contact ect. However, I have an amazing instructor who knows what to say to bring out my confidence which leads to a more calm horse that I can work with to ask to do simple things. He's currently out of work anyway, mud fever/no saddle but I firmly believe I made the right choice in buying the little s..t! Once he comes back into work though my lessons will continue. I'm currently having lessons at a riding school to build confidence back up and have some fun. I wouldn't change a single thing about my munchkin!
 
I have one horse I was say was suitable for a novice but not nervous rider, she is calm in most situations, unfazed by the heaviest traffic, will do what her rider asks rather than what horses around her are doing and always has brakes. However she isn't a plod and steps out well which a nervous rider may find unsettling.
 
Here in Spain we have the opposite problem with adverts. 99% of horses I have seen advertised all say "suitable for any rider".. meaning from beginners to advanced.. and this can be used for two year old horses up to twenty year olds. This is often followed up with a pic of a toddler plonked bareback onto the poor creature which obviously proves this is the case ;)
 
My horse is & isn't a novice ride

She is an eventer but I could stick a novice on her to hack out or potter round the school or pop a jump & she would do it but she wouldn't put the effort in or do it correctly she would look correct would she wouldn't be.

However to event her she needs a decent rider, not a pro by any means but someone who can ride correctly & get the right tune out of her to produce a decent test & for her to feel happy to jump her best

So yeh I think horses can be both as well
 
My lad will eventually be a novice ride, but at the moment he is only 5 yrs old. He is only just learning himself and does occasionaly decide to try his luck. Once taught the correct way he is super consistant but teach him wrong and you will ruin him for ever.
He has the calmest, sweetest nature and is totaly unphased by any traffic or anything spooky
 
It's an interesting one. My boy I would happily put a complete beginner on in the school. BUT only if I were there to supervise. He can be quite explosive if you upset him and will try to audition for the spanish riding school(as I know to my cost as I have a habit of over-riding sometimes and interfering when I should be sat quiet which he then tells me off for). These upsets normally occur when you're asking him to work properly / stop cheating / generally do something that he finds difficult or scary. A novice isn't likely to ask enough of him that they'd veer into that territory so he'll plop along quite happily (most likely missing tracking up by a mile and on his forehand cos that's his default lazy mode!). Equally someone with better core strength, control and balance than me would probably not get into half as many arguments so I'm not saying I'm brilliant either.

Out hacking I wouldn't put anyone on him who can't sit a sideways teleport style spook or an unintentional sudden stop. I also wouldn't put anyone on him who can't sit very very quiet when he gathers himself up in preparation to run from scary objects (or who doesn't have the quick reaction speed to stop him his his tracks when he does try to go). He can be very very good and I've taken him past roadworks, through traffic lights, over motorway bridges and in heavy traffic in company (alone we stick to quieter routes as he's more spooky and can be prone to napping so I like to put myself in a position when I can see out any disagreement to the end) but I'll admit than when he tenses up all his muscles so he's like a rubber ball ready to go he can still scare me as he's not always predictable when in that frame of mind!
 
My trad mare yes, she would and has looked after novices but bless her she is strong. My highland no way, he's super but clever, dying to be boss and takes 'channelling '.... He would gave a novice on toast not in a nasty way but could became nappy...he's the perfect gent in company never strong. I'm yet to sit on her yet but my baby hipo would be more than suitable in a few years, she's a poppet.
 
Most horses aren't a novice ride because while they will behave in a calm and considerate way with a good rider on them, they will quickly go down hill with a novice riding every day.
 
To me a horse that suits a novice needs piloting rather than riding. Can sort itself out and is laid back.

I know many people who say their horse isn't a novice ride who don't realise they are pretty novice themselves. People seem to like having horses that are quirky regardless of if the horse is or not.

I'd rather say my horse is well behaved personally. Although don't think a novice would cope with revel as he's too sharp off the leg and seat
 
I think people think my WB would be a novice ride but I know that he can go from dope on a rope to a knob if something upsets him. When I first got him hacking out alone in particular was difficult he would spin and tank off at anything that he found spooky, now he is 99% as good as gold on all his familiar routes but does get very tense on new or less familiar routes. However for example going out the gate of the yard he always wants to make a bit of a fuss about whatever is around the corner i.e. skip, unfamiliar vehicle, bin etc. and without keeping leg on and not taking nonsense I'm pretty sure he would revert back to spinning around and refusing to go out of the yard. He would also (and still sometimes does try) take off in the school one second you are cantering nicely the next you are careering around at a rate of knots. I call it his party piece but an unbalanced rider would probably come off and tbh it can be scary.

The only time a non-professional hacked him out (an experienced friend who wasn't supposed to be hacking him but that is another story) he span around whilst crossing a B road slipped and fell over in front of the waiting traffic and then ran off - luckily his stomach got the better of him and he only went around the corner before finding some grass to eat. But he could have been killed or permanently injured and so could have my friend.

So that is why mine is not a novice ride.
 
Mine are all novice rides :) They have their quirks, one won't really hack, one is very sensitive to the seat whilst also being strong and big moving, one can throw a buck (as in most rides he will) and the other very sharp (international level pony, 70% arab..). None are ungenuine though. I'm not a novice as in a beginner and have ridden all my life, am confident backing and breaking, have competed at national (and international driving) level, but I'm not about to go around a BE intermediate, team chasing, and Id look pretty scruffy at BD medium, so I still have a way to go ;) I learnt through trial and error on a mixed band of cheeky/green horses and came out alive, so I don't think they're about to kill anyone. Yes they'll be schoolmasters in the true sense of the word- teaching seat and independent feel quickly, and wouldn't perform as well for a novice, but Id expect them to come out alive and if they came a cropper that'd help them improve quicker! I've used them all to teach more novice riders and drivers on occasion, and all were foot perfect (better behaved than for experienced riders) :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top