Beginner? Intermediate? Advanced?

[buttercup132]

I dont know what I am. I would like to say advanced in some stuff. I dont jump and dont do dressage. I used to but now I just ride. I know how to control a horse when they freak out. And I mean totally freak out. Like bucking and rearing and taking offf galloping. I did jump and know how and used to compete but they werent overly large jumps. I've had a bit of dressage training but not much at all. So I dont know what I would be considered.

[Toby's my baby]

That's good advice, if you ride dressage and jump. Any advice for Western riders?? I have been riding western for....9 years, and I really couldn't tell you what I am, so Miss Z, could you post some stuff for western??

[Miss Z]

Any advice for Western riders?? I have been riding western for....9 years, and I really couldn't tell you what I am, so Miss Z, could you post some stuff for western??

Well, I have a very limited knowledge of Western as I've only ridden Western once but I'll have a go! Most of this is from reading books, so here goes...

Beginner: Basically the same as an English beginner, just someone who can control a quiet horse in walk and possibly trot, and knows how to turn the horse.

Novice: A rider who can walk, trot and canter whilst maintaining a still,
comfortable and balanced seat in the saddle. The rider should look as if he/she is doing very little to make the horse move.

Intermediate: All four gaits should be confidently mastered, and the rider should know the forward seat adopted in galloping. The rider will probably have to be fit and healthy, and will be good at lengthening and collecting paces. They will be striving for smooth movement from the horse.

Advanced: All four gaits are mastered. The rider will ride any horse with confidence, can maintain a strong and confident position and will know about how to ride in certain showing classes, eg: western pleasure and trail classes. As buttercup132 said, they can usually sit out bucks, rears and spooks. They can make a horse so responsive that it can turn, as you might say, 'on a dime' and may know some different paces such as the jog or the lope.

Hope that helps But as I said, don't rely on everything I say about western, as I haven't really had much experience with that riding style

[Toby's my baby]

Thank you!! I guess I would be considered an advanced then yay!

[CarrieB]

Thanks everybody!! You guys were a lot of help!