Still a Beginner?

[tillysam]

Hi everyone, It's been a long time since I posted ( and i only posted twice :] ) but I felt I should post again with another question. If anyone remembers my last thread it was about a problem I was having with a horse getting round due to inconsistency between her riders. But thankfully that issue has been resolved and I have also moved on to try other horses, all with their own challenges, around my barn.

Anyway my question how do you know when you are no longer a beginner rider? I know it seems like a pretty obvious question but I have a hard time saying I'm NOT a beginner rider. Admittedly I'm not the most confident rider, but I've ridden for around 3 years with a year and a half break in between for medical reasons. I've ridden at least 25 very different horses from plods to hot heads. And can W/T/C and have done some very very low jumping and dressage. But because of my low confidence I convince myself that I can't do anything and often my RI and I will spend the whole lesson overcoming a fear of cantering too fast or losing control at the canter. My RI has absolute faith in my abilities while I don't which makes some lessons frustrating. She's always telling me that I'm one of her only students that she would put on the green or difficult horses because she knows that I know how to ride them.

With all that said I'm wondering what the real definition of a beginner rider is. Is it a riders abilities or there confidence?

[Tatooed Lady]

I think it's ability, but you need to realize that your lack of confidence is CRIPPLING your ability. Take a deep breath next lesson, and take your RI's word that you CAN do something, instead of telling yourself that you CAN'T.
I had a similar problem in summer/fall. I was afraid to go out on the trails because I wasn't ready. A couple of the boarders that I trust not to steer me wrong said "but you ARE ready, your horse is SO ready...just go, you'll be FINE!" So I did...and I haven't looked back since.
Confidence is something that needs to be built in small steps without the glass ceiling to keep it from growing.
Best of luck!!

[Peace]

Have you read Dancing with Horses? There's a story in the beginning of the book, about a very old man, a master horseman, who lay dying. The old man commented how tragic it was that he was dying just then, when he'd finally started to figure out horses.:)

Personally I worry about horsepeople who don't consider themselves beginners.:)

[tillysam]

Thanks so much for replying both of you!

You guys are both right in so many ways so ai really appreciate the response.
Tatooed Lady- I've had my fair share of falls to and I needed a kick up the bum to get me back up to speed also :]
And Peace, I haven't heard that book but it sounds inspiring, lol I'm glad to hear that someone else thinks it's awkward being anything above a beginner in their own eyes.

[vieshot]

You sound like a novice to me

[joosie]

When I phone up somewhere to book a hack or lesson, and they ask if I'm an experienced rider, I don't know what to say. I don't consider myself to be "experienced" in terms of "advanced" (though I've had a lot of "experiences", and not all good either:rolleyes:) - but neither am I a novice. I usually end up describing my riding instead!
I'd say it's hard to define what is "experienced" or "intermediate" or "novice", because it's so comparative. I'm far less experienced than some of our clients and liveries, in terms of what they can do in the school, but I can handle behaviour on a hack that would have them screaming for mercy!
So I don't know what I'd call you, but not a "beginner" - my definition of a beginner is someone who is, literally, beginning to learn to ride.

[Seraphina]

This is sort of a hard one to answer as I don't know myself either!
I got my first horse after only 3 lessons, a move I never regretted even though some would say it was silly, and a year down the line I am W/T/C and jumping small jumps (he is 17.3hh so any jump is big to me) hacking and riding all week as well as lessons on school horses.

I have come off 9 times now, mainly due to the fact that he sometimes has alot of pain due to navicular and so bucks you off if he gets frustrated that you're doing something wrong, so not a learning horse hahaha, I learn how to on a school horse then perfect it on him.

So I would call myself somewhere in the middle but to be honest I'm not sure as people are so varied with their answers. I guess it depends on how you feel you are doing yourself!

[Gemsluvshorsesx]

Hi everyone, It's been a long time since I posted ( and i only posted twice :] ) but I felt I should post again with another question. If anyone remembers my last thread it was about a problem I was having with a horse getting round due to inconsistency between her riders. But thankfully that issue has been resolved and I have also moved on to try other horses, all with their own challenges, around my barn.

Anyway my question how do you know when you are no longer a beginner rider? I know it seems like a pretty obvious question but I have a hard time saying I'm NOT a beginner rider. Admittedly I'm not the most confident rider, but I've ridden for around 3 years with a year and a half break in between for medical reasons. I've ridden at least 25 very different horses from plods to hot heads. And can W/T/C and have done some very very low jumping and dressage. But because of my low confidence I convince myself that I can't do anything and often my RI and I will spend the whole lesson overcoming a fear of cantering too fast or losing control at the canter. My RI has absolute faith in my abilities while I don't which makes some lessons frustrating. She's always telling me that I'm one of her only students that she would put on the green or difficult horses because she knows that I know how to ride them.

With all that said I'm wondering what the real definition of a beginner rider is. Is it a riders abilities or there confidence?

I think you move up from a beginner when you can walk trot and canter confidently, then id say you are a novice.
But you cant be a novice if you are riding green horses, as you have to be pretty good to do that!
So id say you're more than a novice. You are the best judge though, what do you think you are?
Ive been in the same boat ie. riding inconsistently because i also have medical problems meaning i have to take long breaks inbetween riding. this has caused me to remain a beginner. every time i get somewhere ie, can start doing the fun stuff like jumping, something happens and i end up being out for months on end, then when i return to it, i have to start in the beginners again and it takes ages to get back into it! lol. I think the fact that your RI thinks you are capable is something to remember, so you Must be better than you think. Have faith in your own ability :)

[titch_]

im in the same situation you are. i can W/T/C and have started jumping (my biggest only 1'6) i have also galloped. so what does that make me?

When i say i have been riding 4 n half months EVERYONE assumes i can walk and trot.

So i think that lengh of time riding has a tiny thing in expericance
i have only rode 8 difrent ponys (2 hunters, mounted games pony, a SJ, ex eventer, polo and 2 RS)

[Cupcake]

You sound like a novice to me

Well that was helpful :rolleyes:
I've been riding for 8 or so years (don't keep count) but still consider myself a beginner. Mostly because I don't want to seem posh and full of myself. And I haven't ridden in so long that I proberly don't remember anything anyway.

[EmmaRotherham]

I'm far less experienced than some of our clients and liveries, in terms of what they can do in the school, but I can handle behaviour on a hack that would have them screaming for mercy!
So I don't know what I'd call you, but not a "beginner" - my definition of a beginner is someone who is, literally, beginning to learn to ride.

I agree. It depends on what area you're talking about. I'm a total beginner when it comes to driving and cross country, but would probably be more novice at dressage (can never remember half the aids for half the things i'm 'meant' to know). Hacking and general schooling, i'd say between novice and intermediate (depends on my nerves and the horse) and i don't really 'Do' jumping (i can, just not keen unless it's small lol

[pineapple]

in my book theres

beginner
very novice
novice
competent novice
good
etc....

i would, from what you have said and the amount of time you have been riding would describe you as competent novice. but its hard with out seeing pics to say how well you ride. but your not a beginner ride from what you say... not at all.

[Jane.A]

A beginner is some one who is literally just learning the basics, a novice is someone who has learned the basics but needs to develop their riding experiences on different horses and aquiring different discipline skills. From a training perspective their are different levels of competance. We all start of as unconscious incompetants,(blissfully unaware of how much we don't know and how difficult riding is.) We then move to conscious incompetance, and are aware of how much we have to learn and how gracious these animals are in accomodating us and our lack of co-ordination and balance. If we work hard enough across the disciplines we can become conscious competants, we know what we are doing for the most part, but still have to think about it. The gifted and elite few ascend to unconscious competants. They are so at one with their animal they don't think how to do it they react instinctively and before the problem or issue arises and do so seemlessly. Few attain that level even at top level. Some attain it with one horse, fewer attain it with many. Years as a rider do not necessarily mean you have aquired the extra skills to move boxes. You may be fearless and be able to stick on but can you actually improve the horse's way of going and teach it to work in better balance? Can you sort out why it's reacting in that way, is it pain, fear, discomfort with tack or bit? There are so many facets to good horsemanship. I've novice evented, shown at County level, bred and backed my own youngsters, hunted, and done dressage to medium level. I would say I am consciously competant to ride a medium dressage test, but consciously incompetant to ride at PSG. I'm consciously incompetant to jump over 3'6, never could see a stride, just used to ride positively forward and pray! Consciously incompetant at driving horses (have helped a friend FEI driving and ridden on back of buggy, can tack them up and know the theory). I think it better to describe yourself as a novice and for people to be impressed than for people to be disappointed if you make yourself out to be something you subsequently turn out not to be, or even overhorse you as a result of your mis diagnosis of your current abilities. Remember modesty rules.

[cwb]

Putting labels on people or their skills really isn't very helpful in theory or in practice.

If you need to communicate your ability then say what you can do / have done. Then is it clear where you are.

To say you are a beginner/novice/intermediate/experienced doesn't tell the listener anything!

I have been riding for four months and can walk trot and canter and feel reasonably secure - I have ridden 6 different horses and hacked out a couple of times - I haven't fallen off yet! I have no idea what other people would class me as, and I don't care!

[horse__obsessed]

i would describe yourself as a novice rather than a beginner, and limited experience with different actions riding - such as jumping bigger jumps/hacking/whatever, rather than inexperienced :)

[goeslikestink]

if you can control and steer and ride the horse with stirrups giving clear signals and direction plus jump a small course of jumps
then you arnt a beginner

[coverblown]

eight yearson and i don't feel muchmore than a beginner - perhaps due to elderly start