Why oh why?

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severnmiles

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When you advertise a horse as 'not novice ride' do you get a complete numpty who looks like they belong on a beach with donkeys to come and try the horse. The sad thing is they always think they're the next Pippa Funnel...or is it just me?
 
Because in novice's eyes "novice" means someone who's never sat on a horse.

If you've sat on a horse and been led round three times it means you're "advanced"
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I'll never forget the little girl (aged about 18 months) who i took on a pony ride once. Her parents proclaimed her a 'good little rider' and announced they would buy her her very own pony... it wouldnt have been so bad but they were complete chavs and hadnt the first idea. They soon changed their mind when ponio went into evil mode and tried to kick the father
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Because riding schools have this thing about grading riders as novice, intermediate and advanced which kinda gives the rider the impression that they are somewhat better than they are.
 
Ha ha - it is not just when you advertise. Our livery yard has a cottage attached and the plonka currently living there told my friend out of the blue and totally unprompted 'my wife and I have done lots of hacking and we'd be very interested in taking your horses out for a hack sometime'.
To which my friend replied by bursting out laughing at the thought of some twit who'd done a couple of plods on a riding school horse, handling her 17hh TB / WB. I think she almost let him have a ride, just for the amusement value it would have engendered, but obviously respects her horse too much...
The problem with riding is that, if you don't realise you're a novice, you probably are.
 
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The problem with riding is that, if you don't realise you're a novice, you probably are.

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Thats very true. Having said that I rarely go and look at a horse advertised as not novice ride despite competing BE and BSJA and riding for 43 years. The thing is your perception changes of what is not a novice ride. I still class myself as novice because I compare myself to the top riders.
You see what I'm getting at?
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In my experience, people that advertise their horses as Not Novice Ride have overhorsed themselves and that's why their selling.

My mare was advertised as that, she's perfect to ride actually, really well behaved and responsive, but she's a demon the ground and will swing her bum on you soon as look at you.
 
[ QUOTE ]
In my experience, people that advertise their horses as Not Novice Ride have overhorsed themselves and that's why their selling.

My mare was advertised as that, she's perfect to ride actually, really well behaved and responsive, but she's a demon the ground and will swing her bum on you soon as look at you.

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Well I certainly haven't over-horsed myself so thats your theory out of the window
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He doesn't even rear or buck its just the standard of riding is so appalling that I'd never sell him to just anyone. He's sharp to hack and could have a muppet off. But in 20 odd months I've only fallen off of him once.
 
It wasn't really a theory, just an observation. There are SO many ads out there for "Not a Novice ride" horses...

I just think there is a balance of the numpty riders you mention and the numpty owners who are selling these horses on with their bad habits probably gained with them and then expect someone else to take them on.

I don't mean you, I don't know you, just being devils advocate.
 
Well despite riding in a dreaded riding school (where yes, for the purposes of their lessons I was described as "advanced") I would still class myslef as relative novice. I think it depends a lot on the attitude of the person really; some people are very honest about their ability, some undervalue themselves and some think they are better then they are.
 
I do get what you mean, they have a little fright or the horse takes the p*ss and it goes up for sale labelled not novice ride!

Sorry didn't mean to sound defensive!

On the other hand my sisters old boy (who is now in heaven) was advertised as suitable for a novice rider and bucked her off once and his owner of twice when we viewed him
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still bought him though and he didn't have any one off in about 8 years!
 
Well I didn't mention riding schools as lets remember Talland is just a glamorous riding school. Atleast you don't think you're the next big thing. One girl who phoned said 'I've never owned a horse (fair enough neither have alot of decent riders) but I think I'm great', I just knew from that comment she'd be a real novice and she was.

She loved him and wanted to buy him, someody said just sell him to them but I'm far too soft about Ernie and want him to be happy and also I have a conscience.
 
I only made that point because 4faulter mentioned lesson grading at RSs
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I agree with you about people overestimating their ability though and I have friends who have refused to sell their horses to certain people for the same reasons.
 
It's a shame that more people aren't like you severnmiles, there would be less horses/owners unsuitable for eachother. Not all owners care about matching abilities and that's where problems start.
 
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