February
17
What is a novice rider? Would I be considered a novice? (UK)?
Well I am currently horse hunting (very exciting!) for my first horse (but im not buying till spring). I am 15. But, I am not a typical ‘first horse’ beginner novice type – I would like to compete seriously, BSJA and do eventing and ponyclub. At the moment, I have been riding for about 5 years, but I also rode when I was little. I can walk/trot/canter/gallop and can jump 1.20m single, and round a course of 1m. I have had little competition experience as of yet, not owning my own horse, but I have done a few SJ/DR and an ODE (80cms – clear xc & sj, 55% dressage where I placed 6th). Anyway, in riding school categories, I would definitely be an experienced rider. However, in the horse owner world, where would I come? Looking at horses, I have seen quite a few that I like, but a lot say ‘would not suit a novice rider’ or ‘not a novice ride’ – do they mean a rider who is happy hacker looking for a plod, or do they mean someone like me? Because i’m confused on the definition of a ‘novice’. I have also worked at a livery/riding school for a year, they had some very difficult horses that would kick, bite, charge, buck, rear, bolt and get very stressed with the farrier/vet/dentist etc…I looked after these horses on a daily basis. So personally I wouldn’t consider myself a ‘novice’ because I am certainly not a ‘happy hacker’ or a beginner, and I enjoy fast horses with a bit of spirit, but what would you say?
Yeah, my riding school has a more hands on approach, and because I work there also I school and bring on the 4 year olds they break, and re-school some of their crazy ex-racers. And yeah, I know it can be a hidden term for ‘nutter’ 
It really depends on the quality of your riding school – some places will prepare you better than others.
Horse ownership is sooo much different to riding school horses.
A lot of Riding schools these days do just have horses that know their job, they do the same thing most days – often they have very little variety and a very similar routine every day – meaning they’re fairly predictable and hence they won’t prepare you as well for the ‘real world’ horses. I’m not saying all schools are like this, my riding school for example is one of those rare places that teaches you to ride in difficult situations, they regularly break in young horses that the more experienced get to school and bring on, and not all the horses are easy – but of a lot of the riding schools i’ve seen, very few of them could hold a candle to the place that I learnt in ways of teaching children how to ride horses that didn’t just do what they were told for an easy life.
Hence why so many people get such a massive shock when they buy a first horse, thinking they’re more than capable and prepared, and then too late realising there are far more difficult horses out there than the ponies that were called difficult at the school.
That’s why I say it depends on the riding school as to how much experience you have and where you’d be classed.
I think for a first horse, you want something that’s been there and done that – i’m not saying boring plodder, but something that you can enjoy without getting in over your head. Remember when you buy a horse, that’s it you’ve got to deal with it – they’re your responsibility. Find something that can introduce you to new things, and that you can enjoy. Horse ownership does come as a bit of a shock, even to the most prepared – and the last thing you want is to be over horsed.
‘not novice ride’ means different things to different people, but it does send warning bells off in my head – it should mean that the horse is not suitable for complete beginners, but so many people use it as a refined term for nut head, so be careful. Bring some one with you who knows your experience and is experienced themselves, so they can help you find the right horse.
February 17th, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Hi! You would be at the lower end of the intermediate riding if you get me. To prove to yourself how good a rider you are, join the pony club or BHS when you get a horse and take their tests.
As this is your first horse, go for a ride advertised as a novice/safe ride.
Hope my answer was what you were looking for.
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February 17th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
Novice would mean like inexperienced and from your description I wouldn’t say you were that. I would definitely try to arrange a trial or several riding sessions with a horse like that though before you buy it. Some times "not for beginner or novice" translates to "bat-sh*t crazy horse that will try and kill you every chance it gets". Certainly not always but you seem like you are looking for a partner to compete with in shows not a discipline problem you will have to spend hours retraining.
References :
February 17th, 2010 at 10:49 pm
It really depends on the quality of your riding school – some places will prepare you better than others.
Horse ownership is sooo much different to riding school horses.
A lot of Riding schools these days do just have horses that know their job, they do the same thing most days – often they have very little variety and a very similar routine every day – meaning they’re fairly predictable and hence they won’t prepare you as well for the ‘real world’ horses. I’m not saying all schools are like this, my riding school for example is one of those rare places that teaches you to ride in difficult situations, they regularly break in young horses that the more experienced get to school and bring on, and not all the horses are easy – but of a lot of the riding schools i’ve seen, very few of them could hold a candle to the place that I learnt in ways of teaching children how to ride horses that didn’t just do what they were told for an easy life.
Hence why so many people get such a massive shock when they buy a first horse, thinking they’re more than capable and prepared, and then too late realising there are far more difficult horses out there than the ponies that were called difficult at the school.
That’s why I say it depends on the riding school as to how much experience you have and where you’d be classed.
I think for a first horse, you want something that’s been there and done that – i’m not saying boring plodder, but something that you can enjoy without getting in over your head. Remember when you buy a horse, that’s it you’ve got to deal with it – they’re your responsibility. Find something that can introduce you to new things, and that you can enjoy. Horse ownership does come as a bit of a shock, even to the most prepared – and the last thing you want is to be over horsed.
‘not novice ride’ means different things to different people, but it does send warning bells off in my head – it should mean that the horse is not suitable for complete beginners, but so many people use it as a refined term for nut head, so be careful. Bring some one with you who knows your experience and is experienced themselves, so they can help you find the right horse.
References :
February 17th, 2010 at 11:17 pm
Of course not. A beginner is a novice. Someone who really doesn’t have any riding skills. You sound like an intermediate rider so I guess you’d just have to ride the horses to see if they were too much for you or not. Good Luck.
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February 17th, 2010 at 11:40 pm
I’d say you are more intermediate. Novices are people that haven’t been riding for very long, aren’t the best, and need a bomb proof, easy going horse that will not act up or get "hot" with them.
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February 17th, 2010 at 11:54 pm
you do not sound like a novice to me. you may be a novice horse owner, and if you’ve never leased a horse or taken care of a horse seriously, then this might not be the horse for you, but if they’re referring to riding, then you’ll be fine.
in the show world, a green/novice rider is usually someone in their first-second year of showing. if you’ve shown before, then you’re probably not a novice in the show ring either.
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