When do you move up from being a novice?

[loopyh]

I have been riding for about 5 years now although only ever at RS, hacks or some other paid riding. I have always tended to ask for quieter horses because I am a little nervous following a fall. But is it skill, time or courage that means I could move from saying I'm a novice to an intermediate?

[Trewsers]

I don't know really, people who have replied to similar threads on here often define novice, intermediate etc quite differently to myself. I guess I would call a novice somebody like myself - I have owned my own horse for 18 months - have lessons (now and again) and have previously been learning with regular twice weekly lessons for a couple of years. I am a would be happy hacker and school now and again. I have popped over a couple of jumps now and again too. I would say somebody intermediate is perhaps somebody who can walk / trot / canter and jump reasonable height jumps with confidence and who has experience of showing in some form (either dressage tests or working hunter).

[loopyh]

I am really just a happy hacker who can walk/trot/canter I would like to move onto jumping eventually but I'm really not bothered until I can own a horse myself.

[Hallmarked]

But is it skill, time or courage that means I could move from saying I'm a novice to an intermediate?

It's skill and confidence that makes the difference. You could spend decades plodding around aimlessly, not increasing either of these.

The good news is that you can get to be what a lot of people would consider to be an intermediate level rider as a riding school client. However you have got to go to a good school, a lot in my area specialise in beginners, although they claim to be suitable for all levels:confused:

To gain skill and confidence, not only do you need a good teacher but you also need the right attitude. You need to be ready to stretch your boundries and be open to as much learning as you can.

Nicky Chapman in "Only Fools on Horses" demonstrated a good role model for this.

This is my opinion on the subject.

[Guest]

Mmmmm I think that it's a bit of everything that you mentioned.

I am a novice rider still and I have a horse of my own, can walk, trott, canter and jump and have exercised other peoples horses. However I still have alot of the finer points to learn.

I find that my confidence is a very precious thing so I tend to steer clear of difficult horses where possible.

But I agree when do we not class ourselves as novices, people ask my advice, I give it the best I can etc.

Also riding a RS horse is quite different to riding the average privatly owned horse as they tend to get less work and so are more lively.

I think it's difficult to gague what sort of rider you are, I think you'd be best telling people what you have done and let them decide what type of level they think you are at.

[Stella2]

Its one of those things that is not simply. A rider can be experienced in some things and novice in others! What about a Grand Prix dressage rider who has never jumped a horse and then decides to learn to jump, she/he would be an advanced rider in flatwork and a beginner when jumping!

[alpha1]

I have been riding about 8 months, usually 3 lessons a week. I have now done a few clear round juming competitions (only 70 & 80cm).

I still regard myself very much as a novice - but we have 3 "levels" for instruction at the riding club here, and I have just been moved up from the bottom one to the middle level (this is good for the ego, but bad for the wallet as it costs more per lesson).

[Hallmarked]

But I agree when do we not class ourselves as novices, people ask my advice, I give it the best I can etc.

Also riding a RS horse is quite different to riding the average privatly owned horse as they tend to get less work and so are more lively.


I agree it is very difficult to say when we cross the line between being a novice rider and an intermediate rider. After all it's not like there is an established and agreed standard. When you can do X, Y and Z correctly then you get your "Bronze Certificate" to display and everybody knows you are an intermediate rider.

I did say a GOOD riding school. There are some schools who keep better quality horses for more experienced clients. There is at least one in Hampshire who have/or did recently, an ex Advanced dressage horse in their yard. You have/did have to pay a premium and pass an rider assessment to get near him though. I do know someone who rides to a reasonably high standard, just riding riding school horses. I myself have improved as much in the last nine months at a riding school than I did in the previous ten years with my own horse. You cannot tar all riding schools with the same brush.

The difference is a change in attitude. Rather than thinking I know how to ride I went right back to basics to start again. There was quite a lot of 'erase and rewinding' to do. But I do agree that when I give advice, I can only give it the best I can. I don't agree with this attitude that you have to rush out and buy your own horse in order to be even considered to be an OK rider, that some people seem to have though. Not that I am accusing you, Bobbin of thinking that, it's just me stating my opinion.

[rubysmum]

for me definition of not a novice is less about ability to do stuff when its all going well but more about dealing with challenging & SCARY SITUATIONS :eek: - i know that i would still be vvvv scared if Ruby did a serious rear or bolted at top speed in open country - riders i see as beyond novice are able to deal with this sort of thing rather then being paralaysed by terror and forgeting everything they know [as i would]

[carrimclaren]

Def. agree with Rubysmum. I think when the bigger scary things start to become less worrying and not as scary. I think also when you begin to understand "feel" and start to really learn how to get the horses working properly and in a way that benefits both of you. Someone once said to me that you'll know when you're getting there as something will happen e.g a buck, spook etc. and you'll still be able to carry on your conversation as if not a lot happened and laugh about it instead of panic and worry.

[charlotte+jill!]

Its hard to say ........

Theres the riding school levels of novice inter advanced and then id say theres a level outside of that in like the horse owning sense of it ..... with horse care and competision experiance.

[nicolaj]

I think it's all relative.

You could have a person who has owned a horse for years, but it is a nice quiet type that is very even tempered, very rarely does anything unexpected, knows it's job, and have owned it for years, some would class that person as being experienced. Put that person on a more 'difficult' horse, it could just be one less well schooled or a young horse not a nutter, and this person could be classed as a novice as the horse challenges their ability and they are unable to 'cope'.

I've just booked myself a private lesson as a good local riding school to concentrate on my own riding, even though I have my own horse, I've classed myself as a novice.

To add confusion, I've come across people who've owned horses for years and yet their riding ability and knowledge are horrendous, and these people would say they are experienced!

I've seen individuals who have a weekly riding school lessons have a much better riding ability and knowledge.

I think it's more about confidence and competance than novice, intermediate etc.

[jenren!!]

It is hard to say, skill might be one thing BUT you have to take into account that not all people use those skills, therefore you automatically presume they dont have it.

A happy hacker for example, might have the skill and knowledge to bring on young horses, but just want to hack.

From that i think it can only be us to decide whether we have 'crossed the line' as such, but obviously you're gonna get people overestimating their abilities, which in that case leaves you wondering.

I for one, dont have a clue what i am really. Im certainly not novice, as i have been riding years and years BUT it might take some people years and years to learn the rising trot, therefore making them novice.

It really is a difficult one, but i think it's a large confusion because of our differences and situations. A good way of looking at this is to step outside yourself - dont ask a RI or friend to assess you, do it yourself - do you see yourself as an intermediate rider?

[carrimclaren]

To add confusion, I've come across people who've owned horses for years and yet their riding ability and knowledge are horrendous, and these people would say they are experienced!


You're def. right there. We had one of those at my old place and it was a disaster waiting to happen. She had been riding a year, got sold a 4 year old and then spent another year not riding it hardly as she was scared of her. Poor horse didn't know whether it was coming or going as it needed an experienced rider as she was a very intelligent and strong mare. Lovely horse but far too much for a novice with no confidence to handle. All the woman's instructors (who she bought it off) assured her she had the right horse, didn't it look the part etc. so she kept her. Luckily they got through some of their problems but for some reason the woman then turned into a nightmare. She now terms herself "an experienced horsewoman" to all that will listen. :rolleyes: The main cause of this problem is vanity and greed but i just feel sorry for the mare as she's not had much of a start.

Anyway rant over :D

[Sol_Gemma]

i think your no longer a novice when you know how to ride different horses. Lots of people can ride RS horses as they tend to be simelar, need a bit of leg, stop when you pull, theyre patient etc (not all of them are of course but generally) This weekend i have been looking at horses, every one was different. The first one a 6 year old TB mare, likes a very light contact and responds to weight aids you dont need any leg. Second one a big 16.3 irish horse, very comfy armchair ride, needs leg and also holding in front so his nose isnt on the floor LOL and lastly a veteran retired eventer, forward going but responsive to hand leg and seat. The owner of the first horse tol me off because i had said i was a novice (as dont class myself as experienced) I said WHAT am i :confused: she said intermediate