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Post by geeup on Dec 31, 2007 15:41:01 GMT 1
Ok what makes a good rider and can you tell by looking at them.
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Post by june on Dec 31, 2007 15:48:32 GMT 1
For me its can they improve the horse's way of going and can they do it ethically. Yes, you can tell by looking at them.
I watched a rider at the young dressage horse sale at Addington a couple of years ago. He absolutely transformed every horse he sat on. The riders showing off the horses were good riders too but this guy was exceptional. Horses that were merely pretty and nice movers looked like superstars the moment he got on. He was really quiet with the horses and sat in perfect balance moving with the horse and giving lots of praise and they clearly loved him.
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Post by bhpride on Dec 31, 2007 15:49:05 GMT 1
Consistent position at all times, invisible aids...a feeling of hatred and envy burning up inside you
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Post by geeup on Dec 31, 2007 16:00:19 GMT 1
I totally agree with both of you. Both those are excellent riders but what about good ones? Do good ones just appear to make it easy? What if you had to put your ability on a form? Is it possible to rate a rider say
1) sit to rising trot 2) jump without jabbing mouth 3) gallop bareback r4). rides a calm horse 5). sits with movement? 60. perfomrms flying change.
how do you rate riding compared with understanding horses?
are there speciific stages?
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Post by bhpride on Dec 31, 2007 16:16:20 GMT 1
I'd personally class a good Rider as the following:
1)Independent seat 2)Correct riding position through all paces, circles, changes of rein etc 3)Gentle, correct aids 4) Ability to jump well 5) Not jabbing the horse in the mouth 6) An gentle, firm rider when required that dosn't have a forceful or bad, blameful attitude towards the horse
I have someone to ride Tia now and then and she's all the above.
Understanding of the horse and doing fancy movements such as flying changes wouldn't come into with me.
Excellent riders are the next step up for me, those that understand how the horse works, lateral and how to improve the horses way of going etc.
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Post by wonkeydonkey on Dec 31, 2007 16:19:31 GMT 1
Good riding shouldn't be about rating the riding against understanding a horse, they should be linked - a good rider should be able to understand the horse (s) and ride in a way that compliments this. For me, it's a lot more than being able to ride in a text book position or being able to give the aids for a flying change.
I like June's description of being ethical to the horse - that sums it up really well.
They are stages - the BHS riding and care stages for example - but that for me, doesn't necessarily make a good rider. Ok, so if you get to stage 3/4 then yes, you may well be able to jump 3'6 xc on an unfamiliar horse. But, I know a lady that has done very well through the BHS stages, but I would't let her anywhere near my horse, as she shows little regard for why a horse is acting in a certain way - she just regards it as 'naughty'.
I'm not saying all riders who have BHS stages or similiar, are the same - but I'm trying to highlight why being a good rider (IMHO) can't be catergorised into 'yes, I can do X so therefore I am a good rider'
Conversely, I know another lady who purely hacks - but I want to be like her, I really, really do! She may not have the absolute text book position or be able to perform complicated lateral schooling movements, but she is so considerate & in tune with her horses that they all go beautifully for her & most importantly, want to do what they are asked by her. She is always asking herself 'why did my horse do that?' rather than 'well it's just naughty'
That, to me, is a good rider & good horseperson.
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Post by geeup on Dec 31, 2007 16:23:17 GMT 1
so for you a good rider is about a realtionship, I agree with this, but am still finding it hard to define.
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Post by geeup on Dec 31, 2007 16:24:21 GMT 1
so your good rider wonker donkey, you couldn't neccessarily tell by just looking, you have to know them more?
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Post by bhpride on Dec 31, 2007 16:30:31 GMT 1
Sorry to butt in but you have to know them more. It's no good having a rider that looks pretty whilst riding but will blame the horse, be whip-happy etc - that does not equal a good rider!
for example I have an accomplished rider on one of my youngsters many years a go and it was all FORCE, MAKE HER DO IT or else. So I wouldn't say she was any good for that reason. A good rider should always look at themselves and want to work with the horse, rather than against.
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Post by geeup on Dec 31, 2007 16:33:47 GMT 1
don't mind you butting in bhp at all.
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Post by bhpride on Dec 31, 2007 16:37:26 GMT 1
It's a combination of both: The right Attitude and good riding ability, if a persons got both they're a good rider.
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Post by june on Dec 31, 2007 16:41:59 GMT 1
You can tell a good rider from the way the horse goes and its attitude. If the horse is comfortable and the rider is in balance and moving with the horse then the horse looks happy and will do its job happily. It isn't really anything to do with textbook position as position can always be tweaked. One of my old riding instructors didn't have the classic riding position but had the ability to get the best out of every horse she sat on.
I don't think there are any excellent riders who aren't good horsemen but I do think there are good riders who aren't necessarily good horsemen. Those good riders can achieve lots from the saddle but may not have the extra skills required to form a true partnership with the horse which would make them into excellent riders. Its the difference between the horse being willing to work for the rider and wanting to work for the rider.
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Post by wonkeydonkey on Dec 31, 2007 16:44:52 GMT 1
I don't think there is one single definition of a good rider
In response to your Q - you can see that the rider I was talking is good rider. She sits quietly and is balanced with the horse, is light with their hands etc.
But if you wanted a definiton of how 'good' she was, as with anything it's relevant. If you were to put her and her horse in a sandschool and ask them to turn out dressage schooling movements, they'd be a bit lost and she would probably think turn on the forehand is a foreign movement! But, when opening gates out hacking - her horse yields beautifully.
If that makes sense?
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Post by kpick on Dec 31, 2007 16:51:55 GMT 1
I think a good rider, in my eyes are those willing to improve and learn to create a solid knowledge of what they do. Obviously, as well as that I think a light, efficient seat and hand, an ability to go with the horse, and to be able to work with the horse rather then against it. In my eyes, however, I don't think they have to be 100% position-perfect 100% of the time.
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Post by mags on Dec 31, 2007 17:58:21 GMT 1
To me a good rider is one who can get on different horses and have them happy and improve them at the same time
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