Horse question?

what levels of riders are there? and what do you have to do to become each one, i.e and experienced rider, or intermedete?


and how many times do you have to get a horse's teeth floated? and how much does that usually cost each time, I know it depends where you are and who does it, but how much does it cost you? thanks!!

Horse question?
Most people just ride. There is no set level. Generally the terms go beginner, intermediate, then experienced. However what one person calls an experienced someone else would call an intermediate, and still another person would call a beginner.





As far as teeth floating it depends on the horse and the situation (feeds, how the horse is fed, etc.) My pasture horses generally never need their teeth floated. Stalled horses need it more often.





Cost? It has been too long. I think our vet charged $20 but she is VERY inexpensive since she is into veterinary medicine strictly for the animals and not really for the money. That is why she is the most used vet in the area (and the most respected).





I caution you where the Amish are concerned. Yes they are good with horses. They also tend to be hard on them. They use them a LOT. Such horses wear out before other horses. Literally. So watch buying a horse from them. Most are honest, some are not. It will probably be well trained. However, it may be worn out and have a foot in the grave. Just because a person is Amish does not mean they are honest. They may be, but know your horses or take someone with you before setting your sights on a particular horse. Of course that last statement is true regardless of where you get a horse. There is a reason for the phrase 'Buyer Beware'!
Reply:Michigan: Arabians, Standard breads, Clydesdale's.





I've had horses all my life. Although we have Arabs now, I would say the novice rider start with the Standard bred. They are calm and slower, the Arab is not for the new by, they are high spirited and ready to go before mounted.





Go out to your county rodeos this summer and watch the 4H rodeos and others, see what's going on, ask questions.


See if your area has a Sheriffs Posse, they can answer a lot of questions.





Keep in mind, Horses are big pets, they eat a lot, they take a lot of care and, expences I'm afraid. Vet bills are high, you always have a vet out, there are always tests for one thing or the other.


My daughter has a rescue ranch, she just got a beautiful Standard Bred that has been well fed and taken care of but, the lady kept her as a pasture pet, she was a good rider at one time but has been ignored. The women was thrown off after she got the horse and, never rode her after that. My daughter got her after four years. The husband was going to shot her, the horse not the wife.





This horse is worth maybe 1500 dollars now, when she's trained right for barrells, 3000.00





As horses get older they need their teeth floated sooner, some ? we have a old Grandma that's 33. She gets hers floated twice a year but, we think this is her last year. She's a big pet, a gentle grandma for the babies to sit on only while she eats but, she's feeling her age, limping, bleeding teeth, getting skinny, she's showing her age. We;ll miss her.





Look first, I plead with you, don't jump into something and then be sorry, and, when buying a horse, get someone that knows horses or, your going to get stung.


If you have any Amish in your area, ask them, they are the best of horseman, they live with them.
Reply:Levels of riding depend on the person you talk to. One person might think someone who can walk/trot/canter is still a novice while another might think it means someone is an intermediate rider.





There are many different levels in horse shows as well, from local shows to breed shows to money classes, nationals, etc.





How long it takes each person to get there depends on the person, their abilities and their horses.





As an example, I started taking riding lessons at the same time as my step-sister. She rode 'push button' ponies that went along and did whatever asked without hesitation. I rode thoroughbreds right off the track, green - recently started - horses and as a result I had to develop more balance and confidence in my abilities. I also trained young horses and gained more knowledge of how to train horses. In the end, I was a better rider than my sister because of this. It was not innate ability, but the horses we rode.





It also matters if you ride one horse all the time or many - you get more experience from riding many horses. Shows will give you a different kind of experience but you may be limited in level by the abilities of your horse.





So, basically, this is not a question that can be answered easily. There is a lot to it, but keep asking and you can gain more knowledge about horses and riding.





Oh, and I live just south of 'Amish country' Pennsylvania - horrible horsemen. I would not take anything they say and every horse bought from them has never been trained well.
Reply:I'd say there are four levels of riding. Novice, or beginner, intermediate, advanced, expert! All the different styles of riding are based on the same principals, seat, legs, hand, arms; where they are placed and which cue you use to get the response needed. There are also the levels of training the horse has had, you can't do dressge on an Amish buggy horse without a lot of work, besides the horse may not be built to do the kind of work you want it to do. There are tons of options in the horse world. Getting started with a freind or relatives horse is a good way to go. They know you and can help you learn what you need to get started. Ask lots of questions, read books, but most of the learning will be "hands on", handling or riding. As for the teeth, my vet has told me to not float the teeth more than every two years, unless the horse shows signs of a problem (undigested food


in the manure, pain while chewing), as floating is filing down of the tooth and that's all the tooth they have for life. With horses living longer he feels it's best to keep the tooth it's natural length as long as possible. Have fun! Horses are addicting!
Reply:There is no official place that scores riders abilities and assigns levels. However, there are beginner riders, intermediate, experienced and expert. The terms are self explanatory but can mean different things to different people. I would say that a beginner is just that, learning how to balance, steer and stop a horse. An intermediate rider knows the basics and control a horse in most situations but still has alot to learn. An experienced rider can competently ride and control most horses in most situations. An expert rider to me would be a professional, such as an experience horse trainer and can ride horses in almost any discipline. Stacey Westfall is an expert rider.





I get my horses' teeth floated at least once a year - if needed. I pay $65.00 for the actual floating and another $40 for the drugs to keep the horse doped up while he is doing it.
Reply:A horse needs its teeth floated once a year, possibly twice a year if they are older. The teeth are continuously growing and the jaw movement when chewing can cause sharp points in the back teeth that need to be filed off so that they do not cut into the tongue or cheek. This is the same for all horses whether they live in a stall or out in the pasture. I pay $100 per horse for a regular floating from the equine dentist that comes to my farm. It's extra $ if incisor work is needed, or a tooth needs to be pulled.

Broken Teeth