What is your riding experience level ?

I've been riding for 6 years. I started out with western lessons for 2 years. I've done walk, trot, lope, and a bit of barrels, as well as trail riding and galloping. Then I took English equitation/hunter-jumper for 3 years. The first year and a half of my English lessons were just flat, walk, trot canter and then after that I started to do hunter-jumper. I'm not really sure how high I jumped, probably around 3ft at the max. We were taught leg-yielding, bending, flying lead changes, etc. A year ago I got Jubilee, my first horse. She is well trained in hunter-jumper and dressage. I have been primarily doing dressage with her. Right now its just low-level stuff, nothing major. Although I do hope to advance. I have also never shown.

I had this discussion with my instructor back home before I came to uni. I've only been riding for four months; we'd say I was safely an advanced beginner, but can't quite class me as intermediate or not because everyone has different standards for what 'intermediate' means.

I have ridden a variety of horses (though all would be considered calm and 'safe' by you guys) and I can:

- walk/trot/canter competently
- do basic leg yielding; I'm learning to get a good one rather than just any old one and was about to progress towards shoulder-ins
- I have not done much jumping yet; a course of four low cross-rails in trot is the most I've done

I have a good basic position and quiet seat, reasonably soft hands though I am working on keeping contact through transitions, I lean a bit when cantering round corners and I need to soften my elbows a bit more.

In western I have done barrels, poles, trail riding, flag and drill, western pleasure, but none of the cow stuff (altough I think it would be fun)

Our drill team is going to a national expo friday (wish us luck) but I don't know what I would consider myself skill wise.

Good luck to your drill team 4EverPainted!
I love your avatar by the way. My horses always try to eat the seat of my lawn mower

Dressage: I have schooled Grand Prix. Let me tell you, one of the most AMAZING feelings is riding bareback with just a halter and doing a piaffe and passage... VERY powerful, and what a neat feeling!

Jumping: Took my mare to 3'9" or 4'0", she couldn't go any higher, and haven't had a good jumping horse since. I'd like to see what Denny could do.

Equitation: I have always done well with any equitation show I've ever been in. Top 3 99% of the time.

Western: Have shown Western Pleasure and Barrels very successfully. Not as well versed in Western disciplines though.
I currently work with a man who owns many champion cutters and reiners... maybe I'll get to sit on one once ;)

I have competed at novice level (the second level in Australia) and trained to Elementary (3rd level). I trained the mare from a green bush basher, all by myself, and with very little instruction.

We jumped 1.2m while schooling and used to regularly compete at the 1m mark, occasionally 1.05 in second rounds. And schooled over 1* (and a few smaller 2*) cross country obsticals, however only ever competed in one introductory level event.
We have placed in lots of different showring classes at local shows. They are lower level shows, however still get very good riders (the people who do the curcuits for a living). And we have done quite well against them.

What is the highest dressage level dressage you have ridden.
>>Hard to say. I think that we have a little different rating here than you have and because I don't know your rating enough I can't compare them. I can still say that I've done a basic level and the lowest grade of easy level if it say something to you.

What height have you jumped.
>>I think something about 20cm. Lol. I haven't jump a lot.

I've ridden something around 7 years (taken lessons at a local riding stable once a week). But as you see I'm pretty dilettante.

I'm figuring you gotta have at least 30,000 miles on your butt

And you would think it would be flat by now! (lol)

lmao!!!!!