Beginner or intermediate?

Question

Hi hil so. I've been riding for like 6 months now. And when I look at some adds online for horses.. Some say that the horse needs a intermediate rider, while others say that a beginner would be fine.
So now I'm wondering.... WhAt is then difference between intermediate and beginner?

I know it's a stupid question. But honestly. When you learn how to do an advanced thing on your horse, someone just doesn't hop out of nowhere saying "Congrats! In the horse world you are now advanced!"
And your trainer doesn't say it either.

So now the question is.. What would I be considered?

I can walk, trot, sit trot, post trot, canter, post while cantering, jump, I have been to competitions, I can back up, I know how to do the emergancy stop..

I think thats it.

Some of those snobby girls say I am still beginner, even though I know more stuff than them, just because they have been riding longer.

Soo.. Again, would I be considered intermediate? Or does it just matter on how long you have been riding?

And btw, NO MEAN COMMENTS PLEASE.

Answer 1

Yeah, people here can be a bit harsh.



I've never been one to categorise my riding, or anyone elses unless they are plainly a beginner who cannot rise to the trot or plainly an advanced rider regularly competing across the country.



One can ride for less than a year and be better than one who has ridden for 2 years. It all depends on the person. Therefore, I wouldn't listen to those girls and I wouldn't be self concious about your own riding skills.



What you CAN do is just keep riding. Keep learning.



However, the definition for an intermediate varies. It's basically someone who is confident riding at all gaits, can do basic schooling (serpentines, change of diagonals etc), is confident around horses whilst offmount and can tack up by ones self.



If you feel you fit that, then feel free to call yourself an intermediate.

When you go looking for a horse on these advertisements, your ability will show when you head over to test ride.



Better yet, you can ask your instructor.





***As for your posting to the canter, I assume you mean you are able to 2 point whilst cantering (or rather rise and hold a risen position whilst cantering), and not rise to the canter as one would rise to the trot.

Answer 2

If your looking at buying a horse, I would go with a beginner horse. Weather you are an intermediate rider or not (I'd have to see you ride to tell). It's always better to get a horse that can teach you instead of the other way around for your first horse. Some horses for intermediate riders can be spooky, etc. With a beginner horse you will be a lot better off. It's impressive you've learned so much over a short period of time. You must be a natural! Good luck finding a horse(:

Answer 3

Well you must be skilled if you figured out a way to post while cantering ;)

Any ways I'd say your still a beginner. I galloped a horse the first time I rode. Wasn't the smartest idea but I didn't know any better but that didn't make me an advanced rider just because I did it and I didn't fall off.

Being able to do something and being able to do it well and correctly is a different story.

With some practice and dedication you won't be to far off from advancing. I realize being told your a beginner kinda sucks cause you ddesperatelywant to be intermediate but in all honesty it's better to know then find out later.

Some things to look forward to that are signs our advancing are being able to do most or all things on a loose rein and off your seat and legs. If your soft on your horse and your not balancing off it's face those are signs of improvement. If you can walk trot and canter with out reins and your not bouncing every were or falling off then I would consider you intermediate. It's not a unrealistic goal and can be achieved by having your instructor lunge you at the different gaits. Going faster as you gain more balance and control.

Answer 4

Youve only been riding for six months right, therefore you're just beginning.cough* beginner cough* cough*. I dont like to look at the riding skills people have (although beginners tend to have less riding skills) because Everybody has different ability. Some naturals get on a horse for the first time and are ready to canter by the end of their lesson.Also, you may be able to canter, but are you on the right lead, do you have the correct position, etc. You need to know how to correct your horse and teach him;her new things before you consider yourself ANYTHING more than a beginner. Others, it takes many many YEARS of practice before cantering. Just because you are a beginner, doesnt mean your not a good rider. It just means your taking it slow, and your doing good. theres nothing to be ashamed of if your a begginer, so what if your just learning. If your doing it right, taking lessons, and doing the correct things, your good! I STILL consider myself a beginner because ive only been riding for a year! Although i can do everything from jumping, to galloping, iver ridden out a bucking horse(bareback!),I know how to correct my horses and yet Im still a beginner. . If those snobby girls come up to you again, just tell them how it is, You may have only ridden for 6 mths. and you may be a beginner, but your learning all the ropes the right way, and when your done, youll be a heck alot better than them.

Answer 5

In my book you are a beginner. You might not like the fact but it is the truth.

Agreed that just because someone can do an advanced movement dies not make them an advanced rider but just because you can do what you say you can does not make you an intermediate rider.



When you have ridden over 50 different horses and can do what you say you can on all of them, when you can begin to understand the finer points of riding and can start to improve a horse's way of going, when you can jump a course of 3 feet and when you have fallen off at least a dozen times - then and only then might you consider yourself to be an intermediate rider.

Answer 6

From what you have said, you come off as a beginner.



When people in ads say that their horse needs an intermediate rider, they either-

1. Know that their horse can be a bit difficult to handle, he might be a bit difficult to put the bridle on, might not lead 100% quietly, might not load well, could be fast under saddle, might shy, could buck once in a while from excitement, etc.

2. The seller could think that their precious baby has a lot of potential, and thus wants a intermediate/advanced rider to help them "reach their potential".

3. Just doesn't want their horse to go to a beginner home.



You have to think for yourself what level you are. In my book, any one under 18 is a beginner/ advanced beginner. I consider myself an advanced intermediate rider, and I ride Grand Prix tests in shows. But I couldn't train a horse fully to do Grand Prix movements, I can just work on the movement once it has been schooled a couple times. My trainer/boss wants me to master as much as I can, and then working on learning how to PROPERLY teach piaffe, passage and spanish walk.



So, on to you. What can you do besides ride the standard gaits? Anyone who has had 3 months of good riding can do all you have said you can do. Can you control a horse that has bolted? Can you ride a buck/ rear/ hissy fit and then get the horse back under control and continue working? Can you re-seat yourself after you have lost your balance/ stirrups/ reins? Do you feel comfortable lounging a horse? What about a crazy horse bucking and rearing on the lounge? Can you catch a horse that doesn't want to be caught out in pasture? Can you handle a horse that is freaking out on the end of a leadrope? Can you do basic first aid? What about more complex first aid? Do you know when a vet needs to be called? Can you tell when a horse is lame? Do you know how to feed? What about amounts of feed? Supplements? Can you deal with/ fix bad ground manners?

These are the things that truly determine the level of a horsewoman/man. More importantly, can you do all the above mentioned things while keeping a level head and not losing your patience?



If you said yes to almost all these questions, then you are an advanced beginner/ intermediate.



NOTHING EVER should EVER be determined by how long a person has been riding. How long you have been riding isn't worth horse ****. You could have ridden you whole life on half dead school horses, and that isn't real world riding experience.That reminds me, have you ever ridden a horse besides a school pony?



Just go see all horses that interest you. You will be able to tell almost right away if you can handle the horse. If you can't or you feel you are in danger, you can always just leave. I'm sure the seller would also express their concerns if they felt that you wouldn't be able to handle their horse.



So to summarize, I think you would be fine to look at horses that are both intermediate and beginner, however I would personally aim for finding a nice school master, that has done everything, and then you can have fun moving up the levels in your riding, and showing.



Also, don't listen to the barn bitches. They usually are just that. Believe in your abilities, and have fun horse shopping.

Answer 7

Any time I see someone ask "Am I an intermediate rider? I can jump 2'6" fences" the answer is almost always NO, you are still a beginner. If you can list all the things you know about riding then you are still a beginner. It doesn't matter how long you've been riding, what matters if your skill level, and skill isn't "I can get the horse to canter and stay on over fences"



You are an intermediate rider when you start improving the horse every time you ride it. To do that you have to give proper cues, not just with your hands, but also with your seat, legs, heels, etc. You have to have a good, balanced seat. You have to be able to feel what the horse is about to do and get the horse what you want it to do.

Answer 8

I consider a beginner somebody with no or very little experience riding. An advanced-beginner is somebody who is comfortable at a walk and trot and may have begun cantering. An intermediate rider is somebody who is comfortable at the walk, trot, and canter, and might be doing some jumping. An advanced-intermediate rider is somebody who is comfortable at the walk, trot, canter, and jumping. I think the difference between and intermediate and an advanced rider is an advanced rider knows what to do when there horse spooks and is able to recognize their own riding mistakes and fix them.

Answer 9

You can't post the canter, lol.



You're a beginner. If you can't take the honest truth, then too bad, don't ask a question.



You get 3 points for picking a BA, you don't lose points. You're a whiny brat, you know that? get an attitude check. Not everything goes your way.



You can walk, trot, canter, you can jump and you can stop your horse. Can you do lateral work? How about managing and extending/collecting the horse's gait? counting strides? Tell distances? Can you tell if a horse needs a vet's attention?



Youre beginner.

Answer 10

thats sort of a tricky one. In a way you're still a beginner because you havn't been riding long but I'd say if you can do all the stuff you say you can do, you could EASILY handle an intermediate horse. I would call you an intermidiate to be fair. Or maybe an advanced begginer? GOD, i hate snobby girls like that !:@.

The difference is basically a beginner doesn't know as much general stuff about horses, can't ride as well etc.

Also, can I just say- you must be a naturally amazing rider if you've reached jumping in just 6 months! WOW.!

Well done!

anyway, hope I helped:)

Answer 11

Sorry, I have to agree with Fennec. You are still a beginner, only because you don't have much experience. And just because your saying those things doesn't mean you can do them well... those are just words to us. We are not your trainers. We are just random people on the internet giving our opinion. If you don't like it, and your just going to give all the answer you don't like a thumbs down, then why are you asking us? We are being honest.



Maybe try posting a video of you riding? We will never know for sure without actually seeing what you do when you ride. Just try not to get offended by all the opinions on here. Horse people are the most opinionated people you will ever meet. And since they're over the internet, they can be a lot more bold and tend to grow a pair since your not talking face to face.



Bottom line is, in my opinion, I think your still a beginner. But don't be offended by it, we all start somewhere. You have plenty of room to grow! Good luck!



******EDIT******



You know what? Your being the snob. Just because we aren't stroking your ego doesn't mean we're wrong. Why the hell did you ask this question if your just going to say we're wrong? Your just making yourself look stupid right now. Those girls are right, honestly. You definitely have a beginner attitude, that's for sure. Grow up!

Answer 12

Begginer :)

All that in six months sounds a little... well, " inaccurate"

If you have to ask some random people over the internet what you status is, then your a beginner.

Of course you can learn ALOT in six months, but, not enough to be anymore than a begginer or an advanced begginer.

Although you may be able to do all that stuff, dosen't mean you can do it very well and i'm assuming in 6 months you can't.

I'm not trying to be to harsh :)

Keep riding, good luck :)

Answer 13

I would say you are definitely a beginner.



EDIT: Sorry to hurt your ego kid. There is no " mixed answers" almost every one of us said beginner and, if you can't handle the truth than don't ask the question. You are a beginner without a doubt

Answer 14

If you have to ask this then you are no more than an advanced beginner. You may be able to do all those things, but are they done right? How are we supposed to know?

Answer 15

I would still say you are a beginner - I think your ego is bigger then your riding experience.

Answer 16

You are still a beginner. They aren't being snobby--they're telling the truth.