Define a novice ride

katieB

katieB

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Aug 14, 2003
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What do people class as a novice ride? I I have always thought of Milly as a confidence giver and suitable for a novice but over the last few weeks I am starting to wonder whether I have been a bit deluded in thinking that. I ride Milly out mainly on my own and we go to various different places, she goes quite happily and I will often ride bitless if we arent doing any road work. She pulls up easily, goes in front or behind if she is with another horse and is generally a nice, easy horse to ride. Occasionally she will nap but this is normally only in certain points and only if you are riding with washing lines and she knows she can try it on! All it takes is to turn her round and push her forwards. Also she is not silly-spooky but she may have a look at things and needs encouragement to go past whatever is scaring her. Despite these 2 things I have always classed her as a novice ride - she doesnt buck, rear, bolt etc. Does novice ride mean that they very rarely show any signs of "naughtiness"? Am I being a bit over generous with the term?
 
Well my husband is a novice, and i wouldnt let him ride my horse as she isnt particularily naughty as such but she will stop and plant her feet or spook if she is scared so you need to be able to pick up on the first sign of her being worried to keep moving her forward which a novice wouldnt be able to notice a change in the horse as easy.

I would say a novice ride is a horse that isnt fazed by anything, will happily walk past scary objects even if it has to 'banana' past them.
Is well schooled, and will only do as much or as little as the rider is capable of.
Doesnt nap, buck, rear, bolt, spook (by which i mean a proper 'sideward canter' spook, not just a shy !!! )
 
KatieB - Milly sounds lovely! :)

I think suitability for a novice depends on what they are like going past scary things with a novice riding. Milly might only be a little bit naughty when you are on her, but you probably know exactly what you are doing, and know her moods. If someone relatively new rode her and she stopped, they may not be able to get her going again. (Mind you, I don't know her so she's probably a darling - I'm just using an example!):)

I think there are lots of levels of suitability for novices, from those perfect for a total beginner through those suitable for someone with a bit more knowledge or confidence (but still in need of help).
 
Katie B on the whole I generally agree with your description. All the things yours does mine does too and I would still describe mine a novice ride.

A horse that is up on his toes and looking around, shys/spooks all the time even if it is the wind is not a novice ride.

I'm sure there are some divided opions on this subject. What is novice to one might not be novice to another. Partly depending on how good a rider you are.

Some horses have the occasional buck if they are happy, and I do mean occasional. Alot of people would say if it bucks even occasionally then is not a novice ride. But I feel that if it is not bucking all the time and may be bucks once every couple of months if you are riding it nearly every day then to me that still says he can be a novice ride.
 
I think the term "novice" is widely over used in the equestrian world because you have I think different levels of novice: -

Riding School Terminology: -
Novice/beginner - Anything from the lead rein to someone who has recently gained a lot more confidence riding alone, without even a runner next to them and has attempted a canter.

We then progress through to better beginners at our RS, which you have to be able to W/T/C, prepare your horse yourself (tighten girth, lengthen stirrups etc), do circles, figures of 8 and attempt a small x-pole.

Intermediate - all of above, work without stirrups in all 3-gaits, more advanced lateral work, higher jumps, small course, attempt smaller jumps on x-country.

Advanced - all of above plus harder lateral work, bigger jumps, larger courses be able to ride any of the horses on the yard.

Now personally nothing against anybody who rides at any of those levels but there are very few in the intermediate that I know could ride my old share and she was in many ways a novice pony, in the school very easy to ride although very 1-sided she was willingly and reliable, on hacks as bombproof as they come, never spooked and if did consisted of standing and looking at for maximum a minute, never anything more. But in winter was very strong due to getting little turnout and weekend rides only. So would never put anyone on her that I didn't think could cope.

But then you look at serious high standard competitions and the novice dressage tests and x-country courses are ones I know the "advanced" riders from a RS would struggle with.

To me "Novice" means the following: -

In terms of pleasure/non-competitive riding someone who's confident in all 4-gaits, can happily cope with spooks nothing major but an average spook, in the school and out on the roads and has hacked out in company and alone. Someone who has a basic knowledge of stable management needs of a horse.

I would say that now I am only just getting to "Novice" by terms, although I was considered an Intermediate/advanced rider at my RS. I can ride my new share in 4-gaits, cope with spooks of all degrees, napping, spinning on roads, bolting on bridleways and broncoing in the school without getting too stressed. Will hack happily alone and in company without feeling terrified (hated hacking alone).
 
So in answer to your question (sorry I really waffled didn't I!) I would say in "my" terms Milly is a "novice" ride but for others a novice might mean a complete stead fast unfazable horse.
 
Have to agree that the term novice ride can be very much in the "grey area" of terminology. I basically class novice in different levels. You can get the lower end of the scale, the people who are just learning to walk/trot/canter, maybe have popped the odd jump. The higher end i class as people who are more able to cope with problems e.g spooking, napping, bucking, being strong etc. who have also jumped bigger heights. I always think it mainly means experience with regards to handling situations. You could term milly as novice but then i suppose you could get the wrong person on her who would let her take the mickey with regards to the napping(mainly because they lack the experience to deal with it) and hey presto the habit worsens and it ends up a problem. Difficult one to determine really. I'd have termed my old mare not novice ride as she had a real bucking habit and needed you to be confident on her (which took me a while to be). Once you were she'd work her socks off for you but if you gave her an inch she'd grab the mile off you. But then she probably didnt have enough oomph for an experienced rider either. Middle of the road really.
Unfortunately there are some people who just can't handle the fact that they are novices (like it's a bad word or something) and like to determine themselves intermediate riders. These are the sort i'd not put near anything other than a bombproof ned :p
 
I'm never going to be anything more than a novice because I don't really want to jump although I keep toying with the idea that i SHOULD rather than actually wanting to :rolleyes:

I would reinterate what someone else siad, it's not what your horse will do or not do with you it is about what they will do will a novice on board :)
 
Thanks for the replies. The reason I was asking is that she has been giving her new sharer a bit of trouble whilst out hacking (we can only hack due to her condition) and I feel a bit guilty about labelling her a novice ride and then she has been a madam :o The girl who rides her has had a couple of nasty falls in the past (plus one fall off Milly last week due to some little brats booting a football at her) so I thought Milly would be great for her, the same way as she was for me. Hopefully she will persevere and Milly will stop being such a moose :rolleyes:
 
I think you always do end up feeling a little guilty when your horse does something to someone else, just a natural reaction. Wouldn't worry too much at this stage. Sounds like it's just Milly testing the waters with a new rider. The lass will either get Milly's measure and how to handle her or she won't and then you'll have to try and work through it. Def. wouldn't worry too much. Horses will always be different with different people, esp. new riders.
I used to have someone school my mare once a month for me and if she ever said god she's been ignorant, lazy etc. i'd end up apologising :rolleyes: God knows why but typical reaction.
 
Novice ride = Gem :D
One of my friends who has ataxia (balance and co-ord probs) sat on her the other day. She was kicking her (involuntary) and Gem could sense it, she didn't move until I asked her to on the lead rein :)
She helped my other friend jump her first straight and first 2ft :)
And she has boosted my confidence up no end :D

She is just like Milly, except I haven't had her spook yet (touch wood) and the only napping she does is in the stubble field next to the farm - when we are cantering on the side going away from farm she drifts to the right and tries to break into walk :rolleyes:

But yep, I would say Milly is a novice ride, but prob not for complete beginners x
 
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