Your Riding Experience
Mozambique Horse Safari cater to all levels of riders from beginners to advanced tailoring each ride to suit. One of the first questions you will be asked at the stables is your riding experience and horse preference, it helps us in choosing a horse that suits your ability, size and experience.
Safety is extremely important to us, and with years of experience we are very confident in our ability to judge in a very short space of time if you can ride well enough to control horses that we have worked with for years. If you are not sure of your riding ability it is better to err on the side of caution.
To help you out we have listed the different levels of riding experience below. In addition to your feedback riders will be assessed in our riding ring before we leave the stables.
Beginner
A rider with little or no experience lacking proficiency in basic groundwork skills such as catching, leading, grooming or tacking a horse. A beginner’s experience is likely limited to walking on a trail ride or one or two beginner lessons. Beginner riders have not yet learned the ability to correctly guide the horse with their aids.
Novice
A novice rider will have had some experience with horses. They may have grown up around horses or taken several lessons. This rider can mount and walk off unassisted. They know the basics on how to ask the horse to move forward, turn and stop. They may also be able to even trot or canter on a very smooth, well trained horse. A novice rider will generally not know how to saddle and bridle a horse by themselves.
Intermediate
An intermediate rider can catch, halter, groom, saddle and bridle a horse by themselves. In the saddle their seat is secure, can trot without bouncing and are comfortable in a slow canter on a gentle, well trained horse. An intermediate rider does not apply unintentional aids to the horse when they lose balance or become unseated.
Advanced
An experienced rider will ride regularly each week and have had years of riding instruction. Most advanced riders have ridden in their childhood and competed successfully. They will ride with an independent seat, have soft hands and ability to work with horses of any age and background comfortably,
Professional
A professional rider is making their living in the equine world either competing, training or educating. They will have a deep understanding of horse behaviour and ability to handle a green horse in open country.
