Definition of Experienced Rider?

What would you say makes a

Beginner Rider?
Intermediate Rider?
Advanced/Experienced Rider?

I am just curious because alot of horse ads say they want a rider. I just got a horse I would say I am a beginner I have riden a horse before.

What did and time amount.
Trial ride in WI 1 hour
Rode renters horse 30 min
Rode again renters horse bareback 5 mins in a stall (i was very young)
I think that's it what would you think I am?

I wouldn't really consider those three things qualifications for a rider. In my experience those rental horse trail rides and sitting on a horse as a passenger is a far far cry from really "riding" one.

There's nothing wrong with that, we all have to start somewhere :)

Well I have no way to say if that's beginner or not, but that's what I would say? I'm kind of in the same boat. Lol I am going on a beach ride next Saturday, and the stable is going to ask if I'm a beginner, intermediate or advanced rider in order to match me with the right horse. I don't know if I should say beginner or intermediate.

I have ridden several ponies as a child.
I rode a 15.2hh horse when I was 8, and I also showed her in halter. I used to trade stall cleaning and grooming for lessons which lasted about 6 months.
I then started helping a neighbor with her horses at about 10. I rode their 13.3hh pony bareback and slid off several times. He was finicky and he never took over the situation so they said I had potential.
Then I rode their 16.0hh bareback as well with a halter and lead and had some good gallops. I did this for about a year.
I got my own horses when I was 13, but they were ponies and too small to ride. One of them went to a friend of mine who raises minis to learn how to drive and I rode her huge 17.hh horse maybe three times? I have had Anthem for about 2 years now and haven't ridden since I was 15. I'm 18 and still remember what its like, but I'm not sure how I rate, so I'm kinda where you are lucky2008. Sorry I kinda commandeered your thread, but I'm also curious where I stand on the horse riding skill scale.

I was never a passenger and the rental horse I meant by we had someone renting half of our barn and let us have a few rides.
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You are a beginner. You are a beginner until after a few years of riding. Can you correct horse, achieve a small level of contact, impulsion, balance? Can you ride a horse that bucks, or bolts. Can you ride a hot horse? Can you ride a spooky horse? Can you lunge a horse? Do you even have a proper riding position? Do you ride by pulling the reins or using your seat? Do you know what hyperflexion is? Do you know what bend is? Do you know what roundness is?...

Ok :) Still... a total of 1 hour and 35 minutes on the back of a horse isn't much to go on for worrying about how "experienced" you are. Your best bet is to take some lessons and you can ask the trainer to let you know where your strengths and weaknesses are and how you can improve on them.

Experience comes from experience (lol) and without one you can't be the other. It takes time and work and patience and a lot of different experiences but it's so much fun :)

That wouldn't even count. How can you ride a horse in a stall. So you sat on a horse's back without a saddle?

I'd say you're a beginner. An intermediat (i'd say, in general) is someone who can handle a horse pretty well for the most part. They are good at catching, saddling, making the horse walk, trot, lope, gallop as well as slow down & stop all on their own. They're also able to balance &keep their seat through all the paces.
An experienced rider would probably be someone who is good at handling many different horses of different experience levels in any situation, as well as being good at solving problems & training from both ground & saddle.
Not everyone knows everything, though, & there is always more to learn.
This is just an overal statement lol. Not a rule by any means.

SPhorsemanship- you seem like a really nice person.

I agree that sitting on a horse and not moving is not really riding, but lighten up a little. She's not claiming to be the best out there, she just wants to know where you think she stands. Beginner has the word "begin" in it. Meaning The start, the first, and you have to start somewhere, she had the courage to get on a horse which is a lot more than I can say for some people I know. Maybe not a spooky, hot, or bolting horse, but many who would they that hey are advanced riders never have either.