when do you stop being a novice?

[louise1]

(and dont say when you start to be a beginner!!!:D ).

Up to what level of riding are you at to stop being a beginner? I was just wondering, as if i wanted to go into sharing/loan of a horse in some of the adverts i have been looking at say 'not suitable for a novice rider' any ideas peopl?:D

[jenren!!]

This has been discussed alot recently. I think once you can walk, trot and canter in good balance and have been riding a fair while i think its fair to say you are no longer a beginner. However i think 'beginner' and 'novice' mean different things. To me 'beginner' is to do with the time frame - new to riding, only just learning the basic paces etc whereas a novice can already ride fine and may have their own horse yet may lack experience.

Im an experienced novice, yet i have been riding 10 years.

[nutkin]

I would say you become an intermediate rider when you can safely walk,trot and canter both in the school and out on a hack and remain in control of a horse that is capable of putting in the odd spook or buck without falling off.However there are many different reasons as to why people advertise their horses as unsuitable for novices.It may be because they are strong or fizzy or because they will take the mick out of someone who isn't confident or even very well schooled and the owner doesn't want them ruined by a novice who doesn't know what they are doing.

[Iron Maiden]

I would say P isn't suitable for a novice rider, but only because she's green & needs to be educated - I doubt she'd try to deck anyone unless she got seriously bored or cross! More of an issue is probably her personality, she's definitely a bit intimidating on the ground at times - you really need to earn her respect & trust and she doesn't suffer fools gladly!

When I used to teach a novice was generally someone who wasn't yet able to deal with something unexpected, so might well be fine walking, trotting, cantering & even popping over a little jump on a safe horse but you wouldn't want to put them on a horse that might throw in a buck, spook, sudden spurt of speed etc. I guess these are perhaps the horses who aren't a 'novice ride'.

[Libbyo]

In Nutkins description, that makes me an intermediate rider, but to me I am very much a beginer/novice.

Much of the title will be in your own confidence, If you feel confident doing these things you move up the ladder.

BUT.

In my opinion when you are looking at sharing/loaning, you are better off underestinating your ability than wishing you are more able.

Riding without instruction/supervision is very different than classes/rs hacks. You do feel you have gone a bit backwards.

Well I did.

Libbyo :)

[vince42]

When I used to teach a novice was generally someone who wasn't yet able to deal with something unexpected, so might well be fine walking, trotting, cantering & even popping over a little jump on a safe horse but you wouldn't want to put them on a horse that might throw in a buck, spook, sudden spurt of speed etc. I guess these are perhaps the horses who aren't a 'novice ride'.
__________________

Exactly why I consider myself a novice -it's the ability to cope with the unexpected and stay safe that sets the intermediate mark and the advanced mark for me is where the rider can turn ANY situation into a positive learning experience.

Regards loaning /sharing it's more likely the ability to cope with a particular challenging behaviour - there's no reason a 'novice' might not be able to cope but it does depend on the rider and the horse.

Vince

[jinglejoys]

As far as I'm concerned I'm still a beginner as when my teacher asked me at school if I thought I was ready to go up into the next class I said "No" and was never asked again!
Since then I lost my nerve,stopped riding for over 35 yrs and then got Sarah-lee who gave me the courage ro start riding again but things have changed so much since the 60's:confused:

[rohan]

Jinglejoys
what a dredful thing to happen . Iv been rining for the best part of 40years yith a 12 year gap (marrage kids ect) now Im back to the beginning again. I think that in some ways we are always novices as we are always learning something new.:eek:

[loopyh]

I would like to consider myself intermediate these days as I have mastered walk, trot, canter both in a lesson and on a hack although as far as riding alone and being able to school alone I'm hopless and the horse definitely takes the micky - any advice anyone?

[louise1]

HI there, thanks everyone for your replies. I was only wondering as i am interested in going into sharing to start off with sometime in the future, but reading some adverts i have seen most horses are not for a novice ride. Obviously i want to quite a lot of lessons to be compentant rider first of all and also learn how to look after a horse aswell.

[rohan]

Louise1
speaking form experience thy to find something that is quite and easy to take care of we got a lovely cob he was great to practice on as we never owned ha horse/pony before and we wanted to eventually have our own. the fact that he wasent the type of horse we would buy he was a wonderful horse to have in our lives he taught us so much.So go for It. There are lots of people to help with advise and support.;)

[carrimclaren]

Agree with Rohan. If you're new to this and you've never shared/loaned/owned a horse before it's probably best to go for a quiet horse. I'd tend to say avoid adverts with "not novice ride" in them for the time being as it is usually because, as someone else said, they've got a "quirk" or two or they are at a good level which needs a rider to take them further.

[rohan]

Hay Louise maby you should get in contact with Elm ( see her thread ) he sounds perfect for you. any body else??

[harryhorse11]

I've always classed myself as a novice, but then Harry really isn't for a novice rider, he'd take the micky and get quite naughty :eek: I'm not a confident rider either, so i find that question a hard one to answer from my own point of view, having said that a friend rode him today and thought he was well schooled:D then went on to ask if he could compete him for me;)

[mogadoga]

I can walk/trot/canter/gallop/some stuff like sholder in etc. Jump poles and xc. Ride out safely etc. Have an ok vetenary knowledge (obviously not to take over a vets job! but i can take care of stuff myself and recognise when a vet is needed) and ive successfully brought on my horse from 3 1/2 to now 6. And must admit hes going extremly well in many ways.

I wouldnt let a novice on him tbh, he can be spooky/highly strung. Or lazy and not move. And i dare not take any risks! Although im fine with him (bar my fall 2 months ago- but tbh that was nothing to do with him haha)

But i still say im a novice! :D

[sophie33]

Just to agree with the others. I am definitely a novice, I wouldn't even say I am a competent novice, but I've been taking lessons a couple of years and can walk, trot, canter. However, I have virtually no experience of dealing with the unexpected. I can walk, trot and canter but only on a quiet well-schooled horse. And my canter is pretty untidy!
I recently started my first share, and I just kept looking til I found one that was suitable for a novice, they do come up from time to time! I think the jump from lessons to sharing (never mind owning) is pretty big and even the lovely calm Ben (my share horse) is harder, and certainly different, to ride than a school horse in many ways.