A beginner is a rider who has just started learning to ride and may have only had a few lessons or hours in the saddle. You should be starting to become comfortable on the back of a horse and you will be learning to stop and steer. You may have tried trotting but will be unbalanced in the saddle and may have needed assistance.

Beginner:

A novice rider will have started to build up a good amount of hours in the saddle. You should be able to stop and steer your horse in walk and will have started learning to trot. You should be able to trot unaided and understand what sitting trot and rising trot is. You may still be a bit unbalanced but you will be able to slow and steer your horse in trot. You may have had a canter but will be unbalanced and not confidently in control yet.

Novice:

You will be able to control your horse confidently in walk, trot and canter and feel balanced in all 3 gaits. You may be learning to hold a deeper seat and may have attempted some jumps. You should understand the concept of light seat and have experience and confidence riding outside of a school or arena. You will be building your confidence in controlling a horse in large open spaces.

Intermediate:

You will be able to control your horse confidently in walk, trot, canter and gallop. You will have experience and feel confident riding horses of different temperaments and sizes. You will be able to jump over decently big jumps and be able to hold a light seat for a relatively prolonged period of time. You will have experience hacking / trail riding and feel confident controlling your horse in large open spaces.

Advanced:

If you’re still unsure about your ability, please reach out to us and we can help you! We can’t stress enough how important it is that you accurately report your ability, largely for your sake but also for others. If you aren’t truthful and become a danger to the group, the guide you ride with may ground you or ask you to head home early and you won’t be given a refund or reimbursement.