Horse riding question?

Question

What makes you a _________ rider?

1. Beginner:

2. Novice:

3. Intermediate:

4. Advanced:

5. Professional:

etc.

Like, what do you have to know/be able to do to be these?

Thanks! I just want to know what "level" I am. =)

Answer 1

i completely agree w/ xxsheldonxx165 thumbs up 4 u baybay!!! and as 4 u walrus, i dont agree at all w/ u. ur saying i should b able 2 just jump up on the horses bac 4 the 1st time and b able 2 jump a foot and a half?!?!?!?! I DONT THINK SO!!!!! so thats my answer i like the fact im considered "intermediate" after only riding 4 a littl less than a yr. :)

Answer 2

1.  New to riding through walk/trot/canter/jumping lines of 18".

2.  Can do everything a beginner rider can do on a horse that isn't "push button".  Can do all flat gaits without stirrups.

3.  Has an introduction to most types of riding (Hunt seat, Western, Dressage).  Solid control of most horses.  Knows simple dressage movements (leg yeilding, half pass, etc.) Can jump courses and consistantly find good distances.  Can recognize when a horse is sick and knows first aid.

4.  Can jump courses over 3'6" and stay out of the horse's way if a jump is awkward.  Knows upper level dressage movements.  Understands and has extensive experience in Western competitions.  Can set the horse up to perform its best.  Has experience training a young horse.  Understands the theories behind natural horsemanship.  Is successful in rated competitions.  Can completely care for a horse without extensive outside help.

5.  A professional is someone who competes for money and trains horses and riders for money.  I wouldn't really call it a "level".

Answer 3

I agree with the previous answer on the Beginner/Novice parts, but not on the rest.  (according to their answer, I would be a professional, which I'm obviously not.)

Intermediate: Western- Learning and becoming comforatable at the canter, knows diagonals, and learning or knows leads.  If english, started jumping...first jump should be a crossbar about 6 inches high.  Then move up when ready .  In the transition from intermediate to advanced should start simple lead changes.  

Advanced:

collection, flying changes, jumping higher courses, rollbacks (western), quick stops (western), more collection, balance of horse/rider, and other higher movements.  Very Advanced riders should be able to ride green horses.

Professional:  Can train horses, do all of the advanced stuff easily and beautifuly, simple communication with the horse.

Answer 4

This is my opinion, dunno if its correct...

Beginner: Doesnt know the forlock from the fetlock

Novice: Walks, trots and jumps a ground pole, learning to tack up, groom etc.

Intermediate:  Grooms, Tacks up, jumps around 2ft, gallops but still nurvous/un knowing in some disaplins.

Advanced: knows alot about a range of dicaplines jumping, dressage, western, knows how to load, ride safely on the road, been to at least 2 shows, hacks out safely, some knowlege of lunging and horse behavour.

Proffesional: chosen a disapline they like and excel in it e.g proffesional eventer, proffestional show jumper, triathalon partisapent you get the idea.

Answer 5

Depends on how long you have been riding.  I started training "Race Horses when I was eighteen Working at Detroit Race Course. Although, I started riding when I was five. Had many good Teachers, in all areas of riding, and training.

We Train in a whole different way, than when we Train Dressage or Jumping, barrel Racing, and Western and Pleasure.

Now it is going on fifty years of age. Most of my time in between  is Training people to become better riders. Soft on the hands. Bending, and relaxing, and knowing your Horse.

I would like to add. What I have always said. "Is there are many good riders. Yet, few good Horsemen and women"

So as to Knowledge. The question would be.

Can you stay on when a horse spooks or jumps? Do you have control at all times on your horse?

How many years have you been riding?

If you keep riding, and learning all you can about Horses, and not what we want, but what the Horse wants and needs are. Than you become Professional.

You can also taking some good Riding Lessons. Learn balance riding, an exercise I teach others. As side saddle, only bareback. This way Horse and Rider become as one. Young students I teach eventually learn how to even stand on their horse, if the Horses health will let them.

Let me know what your score is?

Better yet though. Horsemanship is the best.

Answer 6

this is how i see it:

beginner - ridden very few times, probably can't do to much when it comes to tacking up, stuff around the barn. Hasn't hardly trotted other than stuff being lead.

novice -someone who hasn't been riding long, learning how to care for a horse, doing better at the trot and working on the canter. Maybe some cross rails.

intermediate - usually people who have ridden quite a bit, not really really good, but they know how to do alot of things and maybe even beginning jumping. If a kid has been riding for a long time their usually about intermediate by about 10-12 or people who may not own a horse but take weekly riding lessons.

advanced - people who ride all the time, know what they are talking about, can control crazy horses, jump well, help train, give beginner riders help, pretty much do it all.

professional - someone who is extremely good in one field of horse riding, trains, rides at international things etc.

Answer 7

WESTERN SEAT

Newbie has ridden with assistance and has had some physical contact with horses

Beginner has ridden unassisted at the walk, has jogged a bit, and been on a trail ride  

Novice comfortable at walk and jog and ready to learn how to lope, can tack with some help  

Intermediate  comfortable at walk, jog and lope and can tack up Western without help  

Advanced comfortable at all gaits, knows leads & can gallop and/or do western games  

Counselor Training/Professional Level excellent barnsmanship, comfortable at all gaits & gallop, simple lead changes,

understands curb bits, spurs and their uses, and has ridden green horses in the past  

ENGLISH SEAT

Newbie has ridden with assistance and has had some physical contact with horses

Beginner has ridden unassisted at the walk and trot, has been on a trail ride, and ready to learn to groom and tack up  

Novice comfortable at walk and trot, ready to learn how to canter, or has begun learning to canter, can tack up with help  

Intermediate  comfortable at walk, trot and canter, can tack up without help, has just begun learning to jump  

Advanced comfortable at all gaits, knows leads & diagonals, can jump a course of x's & small verticals with confidence  

Counselor Training/Professional Level excellent barnsmanship, comfortable at all gaits, easily jumps courses of 2' - 2'6" has ridden green

horses in the past & knows leads, simple changes of lead & has beginning understanding of collection