If someone describes a horse as a bit green

[Annewilkinson]

how exactly would you interpret that?!

A novice I think

Young, inexperienced?

yes, a novice/unschooled pony. exactly how i would interpret it would depend on whom was saying it, and who to!

Not necessarily young (althought most would be) but definitely inexperienced and probably lacking schooling. It suggests not a novices ride.

Thanks
Going to view a potential share horse described as green to jump.
I'm a novice rider. I am not really bothered about jumping. Should this put me off?

It depends. If its been used as a happy hacker no that wouldn't bother me. But your priorities may change and you may want to do more jumping. Novice riders and green horses don't make a happy mix I find.

I interpret it as the horse not being experienced in whatever it is described as being 'green' in, not necessarily being young or difficult. E.g. a perfect happy hacker (even an older horse) could be 'green in the school' if it's not done much school work in its life. I would read ' green to jump' as a horse that hasn't done much jumping so would probably need an experienced rider to jump it to teach the basics. Wouldn't put me off in the slightest, expecially if you're not that bothered about jumping.

Thanks, not that bothered about jumping. There is another sharer who jumps the horse so the owner is happy for me to stick to schooling or hacking. The horse is about 8 or 9 so not a really young horse.
I was just very nervous about the fact the advert for the horse had the word "green" in it. I have been honest with the owner about the fact I am a novice and they still seem to think the horse is suitable for me.

Mine works at elementary level dressage but is green to jump. As in shes very tricky to jump and not consistent. Hope that helps!

horseylady would you say your horse is fine though as long as he is not jumping? Could a novice ride him, as long as not jumping?

Hi Anne, what are your riding goals? Do you just want to hack 1-2 times a week? Will you be taking lessons?

An 8-9 yr old horse who is described as green probably doesn't have a lot of training under its belt, and I don't think I would recommend it for a novice rider (despite what the owner says!). There is a saying in the horse world "green (rider) on green (horse) = black & blue (as in bruises). There are some stories out there of novice riders taking on green horses, and it works out OK, but there are so many more stories of novice riders taking on green horses who ruin their confidence. Don't let that be you.

Hope this helps.

Anne yes no problems with novice people riding her. They just wouldn't be able to jump her. She's just very difficult and very inconsistent.

Zazzles she is only described as green to jump and I'm not intending on jumping.

Would you expect an 8 year old horse to be green in other respects? As in what age does a horse generally stop being green? She was broken in as a 4 year old.

Her owner is a novice too but has lessons on her once or twice a week and has always had professional help since she brought the horse.

Ps I would have lessons on her once a week

If she is green to jump but not otherwise, and you don't want to jump I wouldn't think it a problem. My old horse was beautifully schooled but would run a mile the other way if faced with a 2ft cross pole. Anyone could ride a 20m circle on him but you would have to be very experienced and bloody determined to get him over a jump!

Roger - sounds like my mare!! I own one that will only jump in a school and one that will do anything but lol

Anne - age doesn't determine greenness (if there is such a term). The personality of the horse, what it has experienced and been asked to and people's expectations determine greenness.