Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Welcome to The Outside Course!

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customizing your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free.


Join our community!


If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features!

Username:   Password:
Add Reply
What level of rider are you?; how long have you ridden/how good ru?
Topic Started: Jan 16 2007, 04:24 PM (1,516 Views)
War Admiral
Member Avatar
"Sure doesn't LOOK like an ASB."
[ *  *  *  * ]
In terms of riding ability - I once was an 8 or thereabouts - did the big eq., junior hunters & jumpers on OTTBs that I trained myself - but honestly nowadays am about a 3 and on a bad day even a 1!! :P

Broken hip, pelvis & 4 vertebrae have pretty much done me in.

I am blessed with my current horses. Avery (+9 ringbone) is in the same boat as me. We both literally have days when neither one of us can make it to the end of the driveway and back at a decorous walk.... We just kinda look fondly at each other and say "OK, let's just go home and handgraze and eat cookies." Misery loffs company!! It's a strange thing, but somehow I do feel less sorry for myself b/c I have a grand old horse friend in the same boat who I know loffs me.

And Penny the Project Mare is like a gift from God b/c it doesn't physically *hurt* to ride her anywhere near as much as it does to ride Avery - very different conformation - plus, her issues are ones that I understand and can actually deal with, b/c all she really needs is groundwork and lots of walking and trotting by someone with training skills and very light hands. I can do thaaaaaaaaaaaat!!!
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
MayaTy02
Member Avatar
You're BANNED!
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
It's hard to judge based on your scale....I am definitely competent and currently ride with very little trainer assistance. But I'd say that as a junior I was at the top of my game, which means I was riding in Medal/Maclay and competitive at A shows and the finals (had a realistic shot at placing no matter the company). I was also IHSA high point rider for my region in college and went to Nationals, placing 6th in Open Equitation at Nationals...So what does that rank me, 8? maybe...and now after not riding for 15+ years, I'd say I'm more like a 6 as I am lacking in overall strength and out of practice jumping-wise.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Hazelnut
I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
[ *  *  * ]
OK, when I look at where I've been (a huntched up middle aged woman riding in the fetal position in response to the eventualities that may or may not occur :shoot: )...to where I am today... (sitting up straight and schooling with a purpose ) in only 6 short years...I am a damn miracle ;)

Rating:
effort: 10
how well do I ride?: 4
Improvement: off the scale :P

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
hoopoe
Member Avatar
Weanling
[ * ]
I have been riding, off and on for about 35 years.

The further I get in Dressage the more I don't know. Horses are great at keeping me humble. I hung up my jumping saddle long ago.

At home, I guess I am a 6.5 rider. In the show ring pretty much a 5, simply average. I am trying to make my QH into a 7 horse . I am my trainers ground person. I think I have a very good eye and many people, including senior judges have asked when I am going to go for my card. :brickwall:

challenging

As far as horsemanship I consider myself an 8. My weak spot is practical , hands on experience with 3 day and other endurance type horses. Strong point is lameness and medicine.

The nice thing about horsemanship is that there is always something more to be learned.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Ponybreeder
Member Avatar
Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Well now, interesting question. I do most of my riding from the in-gate these days, and I must say I never make a mistake. I can even see disaster coming well before it happens. I guess that makes me a "10". you can call me Bo
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Black Tack
Member Avatar
You're BANNED!
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
hoopoe
Jan 18 2007, 07:11 AM


The further I get in Dressage the more I don't know.

Boy do I ever agree with that statement !!

Even though I take lessons every two weeks, ride and audit clinics often and read all the time, I feel like I am slowly going backwards :sigh: There's just so much more for me to learn ! But that's ok, it's about the journey :psycho:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
equusrocks
Member Avatar
Magical Leopluridon
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
On most days I think I'm average. About a 5 I guess. I can jump wee things, up to 3', on some horses it makes me nervous though. Most of the training on my horse I've done myself, started him w/t, sent him for training in the canter department. Has basic canter and with the help of a good instructor, we're working on better balance, simple changes, and flying changes. We have the simple ones down pat. The flying ones, a little more challenging. Also started him o/f with the instructor. It's a great sense of accomplishment doing it yourself, but I wish I had more horses to ride!! I think then, I might feel like a more capable rider.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Holsteiner
Member Avatar
Schooling
[ *  * ]
:lol: All depends on which discipline i'm doing....I'm probably best at foxhunting and paces...2nd would be sidesaddle, then would come my hunter/jumper shows and then dressage. Of course, my rating changes on any given day as well depending on which way the wind is blowing! :innocent:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
twhrider13
Member Avatar
We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
[ *  *  *  * ]
I give myself a 7 or an 8 at what I do, showing TWHs. Now, if I tried to do WP, or dressage, or H/J, or eventing, or something, I'm betting it'd be more like a 1. :lol:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
boosma47
We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
[ *  *  *  * ]
Once, perhaps a 7, when I was a kid, riding anything, showing H/J and Medals and Maclays, hunting, xc and dressage.

55 years of riding, with some time off, and things are going downhill in so many areas. Now, on a good day, flat about 6, jump - 4, dressage - 5. Nerve issues have alot to do with slip, and inconsistency.

And there are days when it all comes back to me, and I fly, thinking I can do it all again :clap:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
hoopoe
Member Avatar
Weanling
[ * ]
Dressage is a progressive series of setbacks

:rolleyes: :argh:
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Hazelnut
I Visited Candy Mountain and All I Got Was This Lousy Incision
[ *  *  * ]
hoopoe
Jan 18 2007, 08:21 PM
Dressage is a progressive series of setbacks

:rolleyes: :argh:

Ain't that the sad truth.

But its those little glimmers of understanding, the one ride where the horse says, yeah I know exactly what you want and I am here to try for you and it "all seems to click" that keep us coming back. :candle:

On the glutton for punishment scale as it relates to horses...I am well over a 10
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
EasterEgg
Member Avatar
Schooling
[ *  * ]
At the moment I'd say I was a 2-3 :lol:

I just don't get the chance to ride much these days unfortunately.

I would say that in the past (ages 15 - 23 ish) I was a 7-8. I competed my pony in PC open events (your prelim level) and showjumped her up to 3'6". I also hunted a lot every winter.

She was boarded at an eventing/showjumping/breaking & schooling yard where I spent every waking moment when I wasn't at school. I was lucky enough to get the chance to ride so many different horses, from advanced eventers and grade A showjumpers to dressage schoolmasters to youngsters of every size & shape. We also had a lot of 'problem' horses in for re-education. I used to get on anything and everything - riding 5 horses a day was pretty standard. At one point I think we had about 15 event horses on the yard, prelim level and above... I absolutely loved doing the fitness work.

I was also able to go along as a groom to events and big shows, and learned loads about treating injuries and re-habbing horses from working on the yard.

Most recently I've become involved in stewarding at pony shows. I really enjoy it and have learned so much from the judges (I'm a ring steward so I stand in the ring with the judge and do the scoring - kind of like a dressage scribe). I'm looking into taking the judges exam at some point in the future.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Painted Lady
Member Avatar
Shunnnnn the unbeliever. Shunnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
[ *  *  *  *  * ]
Wow, there is quite a bit of experience on this board and and I was intrested to see in how many disciplines. Most excellent. :clap:

But its official, I'm one of the few newbies on this board in the horse world. Try not to laugh in the future when you read all my dumb questions. I'm sure there will be a few. ;)

I have to say though, that as a rider, my favorite thing is that we never stop learning. Some days its frustrating and you wanna :brickwall: for the things you don't know. But at the same time, it never gets boring, there is always something else added to the mix, a new lesson whether taught by a kind instructor or a haughty horse. There is always something new. Love it love it love it.

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
boosma47
We're on a bridge, Chaaaaaaaaarlie!
[ *  *  *  * ]
Painted Lady, that's the beauty of this sport, that we never stop learning. I often half-jokingly say that my horses have taught me much more than I ever wanted to know.

After so many years, I still eagerly seek to learn something new. May it continue so!!

Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
Go to Next Page
« Previous Topic · The Barn Aisle · Next Topic »
Add Reply