They are sociable creatures and learn from their experiences. Some are more adept at learning than others. As you learn things about horses in general, it's always a good idea to remember that each new horse is an individual and may respond unexpectedly to your directions. The novice class is a safe place for new riders and horses to learn. Generally, any horse or rider that has earned three or more first places in a class for a given show rating may no longer compete as a novice.
Many amateurs are very accomplished riders.
The definition of amateur relates to the percentage or amount of income a competitor makes from horse-related activities. Amateur is not a rating of skill. As in amateur, the definition of professional relates to the percentage or amount of income a competitor makes from horse-related activities. As opposed to a closed or novice show, the open is open to all competitors who have earned three or more firsts in that class. Luckily shows are rated as well, so someone who has just graduated from novice at a local show level won't likely be competing against the national champion.