Whats the difference between a novice rider and an intermediate rider?
Not sure which one im counted as
thank,youu x
Not sure which one im counted as
thank,youu x
What can a novice rider do?
- Thread starter Milan+Merlin
- Start date
You may get very different answers on this.
I'd agree that a novice should be able to do all paces and perhaps a smallish jump.
For me the difference lies in the riders ability to affect and improve the horses way of going as well as confidence dealing with more challenging behaviors such as napping etc
I'd agree that a novice should be able to do all paces and perhaps a smallish jump.
For me the difference lies in the riders ability to affect and improve the horses way of going as well as confidence dealing with more challenging behaviors such as napping etc
I can walk, trot, canter and gallop. I can jump and do dressage moves (on horses that know what they are doing) I can do circles and do straight lines in the three paces on both reins.10 years ago I would have called myself intermediate and now I would call myself a novice cos my confidence lets me down
I can do it, I know I can but age has brought 'what ifs' into my head that I never used to have as a youngster
I can do it, I know I can but age has brought 'what ifs' into my head that I never used to have as a youngster
i think joyscarer hits the nail on the head, i can walk trot and canter fine, i can even manage a small jump but i'm def a novice. I would still not know how to fix a problem.
For me too i feel that i can get on one horse and everything is fine, a horse who know the ropes but then i can get on another horse and feel like my riding has gone back a few years. Once i feel confident to get on ANY horse and feel like i will be in control then i may feel i deserve to be called something other than a novice (...an idiot perhaps!!)
For me too i feel that i can get on one horse and everything is fine, a horse who know the ropes but then i can get on another horse and feel like my riding has gone back a few years. Once i feel confident to get on ANY horse and feel like i will be in control then i may feel i deserve to be called something other than a novice (...an idiot perhaps!!)
For me, novice is as much a state of mind as physical ability, because the way you think can dramatically change your riding and I undermine myself when I'm out of my comfort zone and not enjoying it.
With the help of the girls at the yard I'm quite happy to go out alone and can walk/trot/canter and gallop out on a hack and pop over logs or small jumps - but I have to be on a horse I'm sure of. I can jump a small xc course, and in the school I've been working hard to improve with jumping and flat work. I'm still a novice though because of the way I feel with new horses - though it's improving and taking less time to get to know them.
The one riding skill I really am hopeless at though is going back to trot, after cantering without stirrups. I haven't fallen off doing it yet, but it's not smooth!
When ever I go somewhere new, I always say I'm a walk/trot and dodgy canter - so that they don't over horse me.
I'm a total wimp and have absolutely no interest what so ever in fizzy or sparky horses. I'm very happy to have a cool bottom that sends horses into a coma
I get the greatest pleasure those times when you've worked hard, but finish on a high because it's all just clicked. I also love riding out on the hills and coming into the yard on buckle end feeling like I've been for a massage because the whole thing has been so smooth. Horse is happy with head down, and I'm ready for an afternoon nap (though I'd never get one)
It's cool being a novice because you don't put yourself under too much pressure and others' expectations of you aren't so high that you always feel like a failure
With the help of the girls at the yard I'm quite happy to go out alone and can walk/trot/canter and gallop out on a hack and pop over logs or small jumps - but I have to be on a horse I'm sure of. I can jump a small xc course, and in the school I've been working hard to improve with jumping and flat work. I'm still a novice though because of the way I feel with new horses - though it's improving and taking less time to get to know them.
The one riding skill I really am hopeless at though
is going back to trot, after cantering without stirrups. I haven't fallen off doing it yet, but it's not smooth!When ever I go somewhere new, I always say I'm a walk/trot and dodgy canter - so that they don't over horse me.
I'm a total wimp and have absolutely no interest what so ever in fizzy or sparky horses. I'm very happy to have a cool bottom that sends horses into a coma
I get the greatest pleasure those times when you've worked hard, but finish on a high because it's all just clicked. I also love riding out on the hills and coming into the yard on buckle end feeling like I've been for a massage because the whole thing has been so smooth. Horse is happy with head down, and I'm ready for an afternoon nap (though I'd never get one)
It's cool being a novice because you don't put yourself under too much pressure and others' expectations of you aren't so high that you always feel like a failure
Ah now that's a sticking point. I know of places where yuo can do dinky jumps before you canter.
Even my dinky munchkin who can't ride (I don't let her have reins) finds it not that hard to pop a jump - style doesn't enter into it though, just like her mum
To me, it's about awareness and developing 'feel' for the horse that you are riding that is the transition from novice to the next level.
A novice may well be able to walk/trot/canter/jump the right horse very well. I think it's about being able to ride a more challenging horse and improving it's way of going that shows more than novice ability.
So, so for example, only riding a horse in walk and trot but feeling that it is on the forehand, riding lots of transitions and gaining more impulsion from the hindquarters is a higher level of riding than jumping a 'push button', school master type.
In my opinion anyway!
A novice may well be able to walk/trot/canter/jump the right horse very well. I think it's about being able to ride a more challenging horse and improving it's way of going that shows more than novice ability.
So, so for example, only riding a horse in walk and trot but feeling that it is on the forehand, riding lots of transitions and gaining more impulsion from the hindquarters is a higher level of riding than jumping a 'push button', school master type.
In my opinion anyway!
Thanks
I can walk, trot, canter, have galloped before not recently, jump up to 2"6
I feel confident on most horses as long as ive seen them being ridden before i do. But I dont like rearing/bucking horses or ones that p**s off with you. Occasional buck is fine thou.
Would I still be a novice?
I can walk, trot, canter, have galloped before not recently, jump up to 2"6
I feel confident on most horses as long as ive seen them being ridden before i do. But I dont like rearing/bucking horses or ones that p**s off with you
. Occasional buck is fine thou.Would I still be a novice?
Ah now that's a sticking point. I know of places where yuo can do dinky jumps before you canter.
Even my dinky munchkin who can't ride (I don't let her have reins) finds it not that hard to pop a jump - style doesn't enter into it though, just like her mum
really? before i was allowed to step anywhere near a jump i had to be able to very good at cantering.
Thanks
I can walk, trot, canter, have galloped before not recently, jump up to 2"6
I feel confident on most horses as long as ive seen them being ridden before i do. But I dont like rearing/bucking horses or ones that p**s off with you
Would I still be a novice?
novice
n.
1. A person new to a field or activity; a beginner.
so according to that definition from thefreedictionary.com, no you're not.
I think it's all comparative. But as mentioned above I think what level of riding you are at is linked to if/how you can improve a horses way of going. When I ride I am 100% focussed on teaching and schooling my horse, improving his way of going, and don't (need to) think about what i'm doing as it comes naturally. I think if you are a novice you concentrate on what you're doing and not the horse as much.
The problem is that the horsey world doesn't stick to that description - or applies it to horses rather than riders. Even novice horses have to be pretty experienced (ie not beginners) before they can jump novice fences; and you/they have to be able to counter canter and show extended strides for dressage.
The nomenclature is pretty depressing though, people with a good deal of experience are still classed as beginners - ho hum.
It just depends whose dictionary you are reading, so its nearly impossible to answer.
If you do a search on here you'll find examples where schools do mini jumps (nothing too hectic!) in trot before the rider has cantered.
I too was able to do all paces before I jumped for the first time. In fact I do think that jumping from canter is far easier than jumping from trot because it is more rythmical. That's just me and how I learnt though - mind you I did all of this nearly 30 years ago and on hacks as there wasn't a schooling area. There's more than one way to learn
I think a lot of it can depend on the horse.
I have ridden horses that just wont do anything, and they make me feel like a beginner as they just wont trot, wont keep a decent walk even, and don't seem to like their work!
However if you wander off to the cafe area you will find a nice thread including videos of me jumping ILurfSmurf's horse Murphy on Saturday. I jumped about 2ft5 we think!
I like to think these days I am just a bit above novice as my confidence has soared (thanks to perserverance with my girl, riding some different horses, and falling off...seriously...) and I am reading to go out and do more without the old jelly legs!
I have ridden horses that just wont do anything, and they make me feel like a beginner as they just wont trot, wont keep a decent walk even, and don't seem to like their work!
However if you wander off to the cafe area you will find a nice thread including videos of me jumping ILurfSmurf's horse Murphy on Saturday. I jumped about 2ft5 we think!
I like to think these days I am just a bit above novice as my confidence has soared (thanks to perserverance with my girl, riding some different horses, and falling off...seriously...) and I am reading to go out and do more without the old jelly legs!
Milan and Merlin - I would say you are still a novice. I agree with Joyscarer's description too, you are moving beyond a novice when you can start to progressively improve a horse not just get it to do what you want. Walk trot and canter on a very well schooled horse is achieveable by most as long as you have a bit of confidence, and a good jumping schoolmaster could carry a relative beginner round a pretty big course.
I have jumped my friend's ex-showjumper round a BSJA 1m open course including the jump-off at 1m10 (thats 3ft9), can ask a well schooled horse for basic laterals and have been riding since I was 7 (am 22) but I feel like I'm only just beginning to move past novice stage having never had proper consistent lessons for more than a month at a time. with the help of a good instructor I've started working on getting my horse to become more soft and work better for me but I'm still miles away from getting her to work at the standard she used to with her old trainer so I have a long way to go.
I have jumped my friend's ex-showjumper round a BSJA 1m open course including the jump-off at 1m10 (thats 3ft9), can ask a well schooled horse for basic laterals and have been riding since I was 7 (am 22) but I feel like I'm only just beginning to move past novice stage having never had proper consistent lessons for more than a month at a time. with the help of a good instructor I've started working on getting my horse to become more soft and work better for me but I'm still miles away from getting her to work at the standard she used to with her old trainer so I have a long way to go.
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