Choosing a Horse TrainerIn spite of the loudly rumbling of the engine and the clattering trailer, there is no muffling the voice of the nervous horse announcing his arrival. Filled with a strong mix of excitement and anxiety, you watch your new horse step down from the ramp. Before today, you’ve been living on the edge of the horse world, taking lessons and reading every book and magazine you can get your hands on. All that preparation has been in anticipation of this moment. Now that your horse is home, you might need some advice on how to deal with the basics of his daily care and handling. As a new rider to this horse, learning how to get the most out of his training, and making sure that he doesn’t forget what he already knows, would be helpful, too. A professional riding instructor is the person who will make sure you and your horse stay on the right track and help out anytime you want to improve your horsemanship or riding skills. To find the right instructor for you, watch while a lesson is being given by several different people. Then you can compare different teaching styles and find one that suits you. Don’t be immediately put off by someone who seems to have a rough manner. Sometimes it’s an advantage for a timid rider to work with a demanding coach to be pushed beyond the comfort zone. Whomever you choose should be able to effectively convey the concepts and ideas that you’ll need to progress. Also, look for someone whose expertise matches your needs. If you have a finished show horse and a weekly tune-up is all you need to keep you on top of your game, choose an instructor who has experience coaching students at your level of competition. Riding instruction is most often offered on a half-hour or hourly basis. You may have a choice of group or private lessons. Group lessons will be more affordable, but if you are looking for one-on-one attention, you’ll be better off with private. Average costs range from $25 or $30 for a half-hour or one hour group and $40 to $50 an hour for private. No matter what you want to get out of lessons, never compromise the safety of you and your horse. If you haven’t purchased your dream horse yet, many riding instructors provide lesson horses for their students. Unlike a riding instructor, a trainer is in the business to educate horses. Some trainers lead a double life and teach their clients as well as their clients’ horses, but they may not give riding lessons to outside students who don’t have their horse in training. If your horse isn’t performing to the best of his ability, or you and your horse need a coach to see you through the show season for competition, a professional horse trainer is right person for the job.
In spite of the drawbacks, no trainer can deny the addictive thrill of riding a well-trained horse with talent. The rewards are the greatest when it is the trainer who developed him along from the time he was an unstarted and gangly colt. There is also the sense of pride of watching your student take top honors, or having a moment of epiphany, or the simple pleasure of helping someone enjoy a more gratifying relationship with their horse. Most trainers have created a niche for themselves and focus in a certain area when working with horses, such as developing performance horses for the show ring. Some work with stock horses and the ranch-inspired events, such as reining, roping, working cow horse, or cutting. Other trainers enjoy riding gaited horses or train horses for English events such as dressage and jumping. Working with youth or adult amateur riders and their horses is enormously satisfying, as well. There are those who have a need for speed, and spend much of their time preparing for gymkhana events. There is as wide a range of trainers as there are different levels of competition. While some participate exclusively at the breed shows, some prefer local open and regional competition. There are trainers who never step foot in the show ring yet provide valuable services to the horse community. Many people need their young colts started under saddle or have their horse prepared to safely carry them out on trail. If your horse loses his way when it comes to coexisting in the world of humans, he’ll need a trainer with an empathetic nature and who specializes in equine behavior. If a particular trainer is a more of a people person, he or she may take the most pleasure when working with those who are looking for guidance on how to improve the relationship with their horse on their own. What you can expect when your horse is in training will be vary from trainer to trainer. Some offer full service packages which may include grooming, clipping, blanketing during the winter months, administering feed and supplements, a 4 to 6 day a week training schedule (depending on how much work the horse can handle at his current level of condition and experience) and may or may not include group or private lessons. Other programs leave the responsibility of daily care to the horses’ owners, allowing the trainer to focus all of his or her energy on the horses’ education. The affect that training will have on your pocketbook is determined by several factors. Some of those are regional in nature; however a good trainer will command a respectable rate no matter where his or her shingle is hanging. A trainer who has had considerable success in his or her field can command a higher price that someone who has not yet become established. Some top trainers in the industry charge $1000 to $2000 or more for their time and expertise and can take you and/or your horse to the highest level. At the more moderate level, training fees will average $300 to $600 per month. Some trainers have their business set up on their own property. In that case, board and training are usually combined and can run approximately $600 to $800 per month and up. If you are involved in working cow or cutting horse events, training will be more costly, because of the expense of maintaining cattle. To find a trainer who will fit your needs, start with your local yellow pages, regional equine industry publications (many of which are free and can be found in your local tack store), and search the internet. If you want to send your young horse to a top trainer for preparation for the futurities or to have him started under saddle, consult breed journals and attend horse shows where you can watch the trainers at work and see them at work. When you’ve narrowed down your list of possible candidates, it’s time to do research and ask questions. If the trainer is affiliated with a breed association, you can find out if they are a member in good standing. To find out if their training program is right for you, schedule a meeting with the trainer and ask questions such as these: How would you describe your training philosophy? Request references, past and present if possible. Ask around within the horse community, checking in at tack stores, etc., and gather information about a trainer’s reputation. Since not everyone gets along with everyone else, gather information from wide a variety of sources so that you can form a fair and well-informed opinion. Also, consider whether or not a particular trainer has a personality and methodology that is appropriate for your horse. If your horse is timid, a trainer who is fair but heavy handed may be intimidating, while a horse with a defiant streak may not progress nearly as well under the direction of someone with a lighter touch. Spend time being one of the many flies on the wall a trainer’s facility. In fact, while it may seem rude, showing up unannounced may give you more insight into what’s really happening at a training barn. Watching how the horses are being worked and handled. Also take note of their condition and attitudes before you make your decision. Once you’ve chosen a trainer, being a good client will make the training experience go more smoothly for both you and your horse. For example: - Be clear about what your objectives are. Discuss with your trainer what are, or are not, reasonable expectations.Ask your trainer to help you set goals for you and your horse. - Abide by your trainer’s recommendations. You are paying for his or her expertise. If you don’t follow the rules, you’ll disrupt the training process. - Arrive on time for appointments. If you are taking a lesson, have your horse turned out or lunged if necessary and warmed up under saddle before your session begins. - Pay your bills on time. Training is hard work. Paying promptly shows respect for the work your trainer is doing. Also, keep up with shoeing and vet bills to ensure that there is no delay when your horse needs care. - Consider purchasing mortality and medical/surgical insurance. Even under the best care, accidents do happen. Having medical coverage will be a huge relief if your horse becomes injured or needs surgery. You can give your trainer the power to make these decisions in you absence. - Respect your trainer’s time. If you have chosen a good trainer he or she is or will become busy. Unless it’s a pressing matter, avoid cornering your trainer in the midst of the workday for idle chit-chat or a lengthy conversation. Instead, make an appointment at you and trainer’s convenience. - Allow your trainer the time and autonomy to the job you hired him or her to do. Training isn’t a day-to-day venture. Living creatures progress according to their own schedule. Accept that your horse may not improve as quickly as you like. Appreciate a trainer who is willing to allow your horse to develop at his own pace without pushing it beyond its physical and mental capabilities. When dealing with youngsters in particular, be prepared for to growing pains to create occasional setbacks. Don’t become an absentee owner. Unfortunately, not all trainers are created equal. Some may not be as professional as they first appear. Take responsibility for your horse’s well-being. Make sure that your horse is being properly cared for and that you are receiving the services that you’re paying for. While there are as many training methods as there are snowflakes, there is never a valid excuse for abusing an animal. A bleeding mouth, spur holes gouged into a belly, running a horse down until complete exhaustion, and withholding food or water are unacceptable practices. If your horse’s condition or behavior deteriorates over the course of time under his trainer’s care, take a close look into the situation and make changes when necessary. Educate yourself so that you know what a well-conditioned horse should and shouldn’t look like and what behavior is to be expected for a horse in a training environment. Over training or a workload that is inappropriate for your horse’s conformation, age, or current physical condition of can cause muscle strain and excessive wear and tear of the joints. Occasionally pull your horse out of his stall and watch him trot. His stride should be even with each foot hitting the ground with the same force. His head should be relatively steady, without an uneven bobbing motion. Feel your horse’s legs for the type of swelling or excessive heat in a foot or joint that can indicate that your horse’s body is responding to stress or injury. By all means, don’t assume that your trainer is overworking your horse if he becomes sore. All horses are prone to taking a bad step during a training session or in turn out and get hurt. However, if problems persist or become chronic, discuss the matter with your trainer or seek the advice of a veterinarian. Your horse’s emotional well-being should be considered as well. All horses have their bad days, but for the most part, training shouldn’t have a profound affect on your horse’s temperament. If your horse was a puppy dog when you turned him over to the trainer, and now he lunges with bared teeth when you approach his stall, listen to what he’s telling you. Excessive bucking, rearing, or bolting are signs that your horse may be reacting to discomfort, fear, or confusion, especially if this behavior is atypical and persistent. Unusual nervousness or aggression while being groomed, led, and/or saddled, or neurotic behavior in the stall such as weaving, cribbing, or pacing are your horse’s way of saying that he’s not able to manage his current level of stress. Anticipate that there will be a getting-to-know you period during which your trainer and your horse get to know each other and develop a working relationship. Be reasonable about your horse’s behavior at this time. For example, if your horse was spoiled when he arrived at the training barn, it’s likely that he’ll rebel against having someone telling him what to do. If that’s the case, his attitude will quickly return to normal, and he’ll be more respectful, once he adjusts. Anytime you have a question or concern, never hesitate to discuss it with your trainer. Just because you are uncomfortable about the decisions your trainer has made, it doesn’t mean that they are the wrong ones for you and/or your horse. Become educated about training methods and horse behavior so that you can voice an informed opinion. The decision to spend time and money on your horse’s education is a worthwhile investment on both a personal and financial level. It is immensely rewarding to see your horse evolve in front your eyes. With a trainer, his level of performance is likely to reach heights that you never knew were possible. As his attains greater levels of success, his value will increase should you ever wish to put him on the market. When you choose your trainer and get to work, you too will find that you progress much farther that would have without the guidance and tutelage of a qualified coach. Many of the relationships developed between owners and trainers last for many years, if not lifetimes. Your trainer will become an integral part of you life, another person besides yourself who wants the best for you and your horse and is committed to helping you achieve your goals. Your trainer will be there to answer your questions, hear your concerns, lend a shoulder when things aren’t going well, give you a push to achieve more, and praise you for a job well done. When you find the right trainer, respect and cherish the relationship. You will enjoy the challenge of learning and the experience of a new world of horsemanship. -Dale Rudin
Return to Horse Training Articles Page
|
Horse trainers are unique individuals. They prefer to work in an office that isn’t obscured by cubical walls or ventilated with canned air. They don’t mind long days and hard work. While some days are idyllic, work goes on when the sun is broiling or the winter bitter. There are no sick days, no company-paid insurance, nor overtime. What draws a person into the horse business isn’t fame or fortune. It is a true labor of love. Back strain, pulled muscles, and aching joints are an accepted part of the territory. Life is put on hold if a horse in the barn is colicking or needs special attention. Weekends are frequently spent at horse shows. Evenings are for phone calls and catching up on paperwork and few would have it any other way.
