Would you say I'm a novice?

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Kub

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Just trying to work out what my riding ability would be classed as...

I rode when I was younger but stopped for a few years and got back into it when I was at uni. I started with beginner lessons as I figured I was bigger and the horses were bigger so wanted to make sure I know my stuff. I had lessons every week for a year in my last year of uni, by the end was confident in walk trot and canter, had started jumping (though this needs a lot more work) and the usual schooling (serpentine, 20m circles, 10m circles, spiralling in and out etc.)

I haven't ridden for a couple of months since leaving uni due to lack of funds, but want to put an ad up in my local tack shops to see if anyone wants help exercising their horses.

So what level would you classify my riding?
 
Hanandhen - Yep, quite a few on a mixture of horses. Have been hacking a couple of times since finishing uni but now it's just too expensive
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Also, thought I'd add that I'm a confident rider, not overly cocky or anything, I just don't get panicky on a new horse. I'm happy to try anything and was also the first one to try something new in lessons because well, you never know unless you try!

russoheidi - Yep and have done, love a good ol' hack or just riding around a field
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I think if you've been hacking on your own, I reckon you can say you're an experienced novice (does that make sense, probably not!
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) as that's when you learn things like how to calm a horse, deal with naughtiness, scary stuff etc on your own, without an instructor there to back you up. It's so difficult to know how to describe yourself, there are so many shades of grey!

I would say that you should be able to find a horse to exercise though - personally I would describe yourself as a confident rider as opposed to either novice or experienced (as novice I think would put many people off and experienced is probably a bit too much) and then be really honest when you speak to people.

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I think in order to assess and label your riding ability you need to look at your confidence and competence instead of your skill level- ie you need to assess how you would cope if a horse threw a complete wobbly at a car/a plastic bag etc, rather than whether you can walk, trot and canter?

To explain: my share horse went totally loopy yesterday
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He is an ex racehorse and for whatever reason he totally lost his head!! He was cantering sideways (fortunately on grass!) and every time I tried to steady him he started lunging through the air
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Fortunately I was confident and competant enough to think clearly and deal with it in the correct way, but if I had been unduly nervous or just hadn't known what to do it could have got messy
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...to clarify I am not trying to suggest that you have to be able to ride a racehorse to consider yourself experienced, simply that you need to feel comfortable dealing with the unexpected
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hanandhen - Yeah, I've been thinking confident but then wondered if that was correct lol. Definitely agree with the really honest approach, which is what I do anyway, but I just don't want to put people off before they meet me. Far easier to tell them all I've done than put it in an advert lol!

ali_m - Well I'd say I'm pretty competent. Have had a horse freak out on me when on a hack, going up and in a circle, and I kept my balance and calmed her down (a tractor had gone past and I'd never ridden her before). I'm good at calming them down from the ground too, my youngster was on a complete spook-fest on Sunday, bless him.
 
It's an interesting one
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I'd say Daughter is technically more experienced and capable than I am. Can definately jump better than I can.

However, I have a good few years more experience than she does. I'm able to get the feel of a horse quicker and know how to work with different horses easier than she can.

If I saw 'confident' on an advert I'd expect what you say, i.e. that you are reasonably capable of calming a spooking horse, won't cry and get upset if a horse has a bit of a spanner attack, can catch/groom/handle the average horse and happy to have a go with something that needs a bit more.

Hope you find something soon
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I'd say competent novice. I agree it is more to do with how you deal with the unexpected than your experience or what you can 'do'.

Monty is ridden by my novice mum but he is not a 'novice' ride. This is because he is nappy sometimes. He likes to run backwards when he is in arse-mode. However, my mum deals with it since she sits quietly and rides him forwards. After a while he gives up. However, I have had much more experienced riders get on him and tense up when he acts up. This just aggravates the situation and he usually ends up on two legs!
 
MrsMozart - thanks, I think I match that assumption hehe. I completely understand that if a horse panics, you need to calm them down and reassure them, not panic and make the situation worse. After all, if they trust you and see that you're not afraid, they usually realise there's no need for them to be either.

I also don't let horses take the mick, it always annoys me when people moan that their horse eats the grass all the time or prats about when it's because they didn't nip it in the bud in the first place.
 
So does this sound ok? Just for a starting point, I can then go through my experience etc. when I hear from them:

Wanted

Kind and confident adult rider looking for a horse to hack out 1-2 times a week in the Street, Somerset area. Competent with horses and their handling, currently bringing on a 2 year old cob but really missing the riding side of things.

Looking to help out at weekends ideally, as work full time Monday – Friday, but could do evenings too, if not too dark or have access to a school with lighting. Have own transport so location not an issue and willing to travel up to 30 minutes from Street.

Financial contribution sadly not available, but more than happy to help with yard duties.

Stats: 22 year old woman, 5’ 5” and 13.5st

If you would like some help and think you have anything suitable, please contact me on

Any good?
 
I would agree with competant novice.
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Your ad sounds really good, but I am umming and ahhing about the 2 year old cob bit: are you doing the pre-backing and backing of this horse? Because thats what I would assume from your ad, and I think it runs the risk of making you sound more experienced than you are.

On the other hand I don't want to do you an injustice
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Personally I would leave that out and include more about the type of horse you are looking to ride/share: can it be "anything," a bit fizzy but mainly safe, or just a plod, for example?

I would also remove the bit about the weekend/ Monday to Friday availability, as I think that would put people off replying. Lots of people skim-read, and the first bit of that paragraph reads as if you want to take up their horse at the time when they also have the most time to enjoy it, and do nothing at the time that they have the least time to do it and need the help. Most people who respond will realise you don't want to ride in the dark, and equally many people have floodlit facilities, and its something you can find out in your conversation with them
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I would definitely say Novice too.

I would class a Competent Novice Rider as someone who has ridden a large number of horses, particularly non school horses.

Be able to hack out alone, be able to handle a fast hack as part of a group. Be able to cope with gates and traffic alone and as a group.

I would also expect them to be able to cope with a small SJ and XC course and be able to do as basic dressage test, not necessarily in competition, just to be capable of doing it.
 
Would this be better then?

Kind and confident novice adult rider looking for a horse to hack out 1-2 times a week in the Street, Somerset area. Competent with horses and their handling, have own transport so location not an issue and willing to travel up to 30 minutes from Street.

Financial contribution sadly not available, but more than happy to help with yard duties.

Stats: 22 year old woman, 5’ 5” and 13.5st

If you would like some help and think you have anything suitable, please contact me on

??
 
Just googled what novice means to see what it's actual definition is...

Says it's a person who is new to the circumstances, work, etc., in which he or she is placed; beginner

Which isn't really what people think it means in regards to riding lol! I just don't want to put people off thinking I am all new to this because I use the word 'novice' (which I'm not) and hence not contact me *sigh*
 
Hiya Kub,how about this:

Sensible, reliable rider looking for a horse to ride a few times a week in the Street, Somerset area.

I've been horse riding for x years and I am competent and confident at riding and handling a variety of horses. I'm not sure what to call the riding level between 'novice' and 'experienced' but I am definitely there!

Sadly I cannot offer a financial contribution, but I am happy to help around the yard in exchange for riding.

If you think I might be right for you and your horse please get in touch.

Any good?
 
I think the focus so far has been too much on riding.....you offer help with yard duties and I think you need to expand on these. Without the financial contribution the person loaning the horse has to have some return and that will be time and help with jobs for most horse owners.

Have you been responsible for the care of a horse etc
 
Sparklet - yep yep, looked after my friend's top quality dressage horse a few times through uni and she was very particular, which I didn't mind at all but just meant I made triple sure I'd done everything properly lol. I also have my own 2 year old cob so I look after him daily and know the commitment needed
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I'm hoping to just get some interest from my ad first and then I can really go into my experience with horses and what I've done etc. I just don't want people put off at the first hurdle before they get a chance to really find out if I'm suitable for them and their horse.
 
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