Tell Me About Your Experience With Trainers
Among the stories in Horse & Rider's near-future editorial lineup is one called "Is Your Trainer Making You Psycho?" The title alone indicates that the trainer/owner relationship isn't always a bed of the proverbial roses.
Which gets me to thinking: What kinds of experiences have you blogophiles had in sending your horses to trainers?
Were you satisfied with the results? With the care your horse received? With the communication you got from your trainer? With the whole experience?
Or...would you have anecdotes to contribute to the "Psycho" article instead?
Details, please--either way.
posted by Juli Thorson @ 11:11 AM
15 comments
15 Comments:
Oh, I love my trainer!!! She also happens to be who owns the stable where I board Doc and she gives me lessons as well.
Doc hadn't been ridden for almost a year when I got him, but he had been an endurance trail competitor prior to that. He had good foundational training-about 45days, but he needed a tune-up. So Amy has been working with him a couple times a week and he's responding well. She also teaches me along with him-to use draw reins and what not to allow him to do.
I value her extensive experience and her natural ability to work with horses with just the right combination of gentleness and firmness.
Even though she's so experienced and effective, there's absolutely no ego. It's so easy to respect her because she works hard to keep both her horses and her "people" happy.
Since I live out in the country, it took a long time to find a trainer who was willing to come to my farm. Evidently he had seen the Horse Whisperer because on the second lesson, my filly ran off, and he sat in my field the entire hour psyching her out, while she continued to graze unconcernedly. I paid him the $50, but never asked him back.
Let's see...I had a top ten in the world mare that I left with a trainer..came back to see who things were going to find her tongue cut nearly in half...no explanation....end of THAT career except as a broodmare. I had another trainer that developed a huge splint on my Pacific NW NWCC halter horse from lunging in small circles until the split popped out...surgery...lots of dollars and it came back again...then I had a wonderful trainer...who was so fabulous everyone should have such a human being showing and fitting their horses. He has since passed away...but memories remain strong that some people really do have a special way with horses AND people. God rest his soul. Trophies and memories, and buckles, oh my!
Most of my trainer stories are not good and unfortunately it was the same horse that went through them. I wrote about one incident on my blog in Are You a Good Advocate for Your Horse. Obviiously, I was not or my horse never would have been beaten to a pulp for halter.
The second incident was getting my stallion ready to show under saddle. I let a friend talk me into taking the horse to a trainer I didn't really believe could do the job. He fought with the horse all of the time. Was not only abusive with the horse, but me as well. I think I took it because I didn't have confidence in myself to do the work with the horse because he was my first stallion. It took me two years to "fix" what this guy did to my horse. The first time I put a full bridle into his mouth, just standing there with no one even on him or touching that bridle, the horse shook and broke out into a sweat.
You asked, so...I have had results at both ends of the spectrum. The best were unaltered horses I could ride and show when they came home. The worst was so bad I was ready to sell out an entire breeding program and quit my whole involvement with horses.
When the bad trainer left, I had 15 horses stalled and a pasture full of ready to pop broodmares. Several of the horses had been tailblocked to the point of scarring and my vet later told me the trainer had been in the habit of having every horse they hauled to the clinic, blocked. Not one of the two dozen employees they ran off in one calendar year, would come back. I foaled out and rebred 11 mares, cleaned stalls and sent 2 stallions out to trainers along with 3 or 4 prospects for six months without help. One of those trainers was on his way down and he took me for quite a few months worth of fees. The other helped me out and when I was ready, encouraged me to go back to the show pen where I accomplished enough to put the horror behind me.
Now, I trail ride and am starting the conversion of my property from breeding show horses to a boarding and lesson facility.
My trainer is a godsend. I was re-entering horses so needed a confidence boost. She loves my gelding as much as I do and treats him like he is her own. He responds well to her. I have never found anything questionable when I showed up without warning. She is awesome. I wouldn't trust my horse with anyone else.
i do my own horse training now, and i owe my knowledge of proper training and experience to a BAD Trainer........when i first thought about sending my two and half yr. old, gelding qtr. horse to a trainer...(for reining patterns etc), i reserched several 'types' of facilities and available trainers...(cost wasn't necessarily an issue at the time)...i found a really nice facility that had a 'well-known' trainer willing to take him on....after discussing with him his training 'techniques' etc...he sounded like the ideal trainer and the time line for the results i wanted would be within an acceptable range......however----
after one week, i returned to check on my horse's progress....the trainer wasn't there, my horse was saddled, and tied with his head and neck turned to the left stirrup, standing in a 'chute' area, .... alone, with no one there to work with him!....i asked an 'attendant' how long he had been like that and he told me that he saw (the trainer) put him there about an hour ago!!
i immediately released him, removed the saddle, and as i was examining him, there were spur marks, (slashes of hair missing), the corners of his mouth were bleeding and sores around the ears...(not sure how they got there to this day).......
i waited for the trainer to return but after another hour went by, i just went back home, hitched up my trailer and returned to pick up my horse!!.......when i returned, about 2hrs later, the trainer was STILL not back from wherever he was...(which means my horse would have been left like that for over 3hours at least!)....
i loaded him up and we left....(i left (the trainer) a 'stern' note re the methods he uses to 'train' horses ..... i never heard back from him!
as i mentioned earlier, i'm doing my own training nowdays, with excellent results i might add, and i'm not soring or forcing the horse into submission!!...(i use a combination of P.P. and C.A. and C.C. methods for training with outstanding success so far)!......
i still see trainers today, however, using UGLY methods to force a horse to do what they want them to do and it's SO NOT necessary!
i am the kind of person that, if someone needed assistance with a problem horse, i would, (and have), travel to their location, (within reason of course)...and assist them, using the knowledge i have gained over the years, just so they wouldn't send their horse to one of the 'UGLY' trainers that are still out there!
don't get me wrong, there are MANY, MANY very good horse trainers as well, and more and more are using the so-called, 'resistance-free' training techniques available to everyone....unfortunately, from my experiences i still see WAY TOO MANY of the 'beat-em-into-submission methods still in effect......
so be VERY Selective when choosing a horse trainer....there are many things one can and should do before committing to anyone, but the most basic things i would suggest are: ask to watch him or her train a few horses..(at differing levels if possible)... watch his or her temperment with the horse, (ie, how patient are they?...do they get mad at the horse, (ever)....do they seem to get frustrated? do they seem 'pressed for time' etc......)...it won't take long to determine his or her personality and then you will be better able to judge if this is the kind of person you want to leave your horse with.
Trust your heart and if you don't feel that your horse is being treated well, then pack him up and leave!
This particular trainer never hosed down my horse after each daily lesson. My horse was covered in dried sweat and foam and she looked so depressed.
I foolishly listened to my trainer, who made me feel like I was overreacting. Afterall, she was a world champion and I was just a weekend racer.
So on my third weekend visit, I almost cried when I saw that my poor mare was completely raw in between her legs from the dried sweat and sand that was never hosed off. I washed her off and coated her heavily with Corona before my lesson. I knew she was extremely sore, but I didn't want to look stupid in front of everyone and I rode her anyway. I left the Corona with the trainer and asked her to please wash her and put Corona back on her after each lesson.
I was furious when I went back the next weekend and saw that the Corona had never been touched and my horse was wincing in pain as she walked.
I was shocked and furious that they would do that to an animal. I immediately loaded her into the trailer and never looked back. My poor horse suffered for weeks because I was too afraid to "look foolish" in front of all these girls that rode better than I did.
I eventually got up the nerve to try another trainer and I couldn't be happier with her. Each time I go visit (announced or not) my horse is clean, groomed and happily munching hay in her clean stall.
I've only had one experience. I sent my two year old to a gentleman referred to me by a reining trainer. He was local and highly recommended in starting a colt the right way. This was a quiet colt, albeit slow legged, better suited to WP than reining. I have nothing to say except glowing references to this young man. I went to check on my colt and not only did he encourage me to do so, he wanted me to ride him to see what I thought. This on a two year old with less than 30 days! I'm, ahem, over 50 and had trepidations of doing so (the whole reason on sending a two year old to a trainer and not doing it myself!). I decided that I trusted that colt, having raised him. While he was a bit green, I liked what I felt. No bloody mouth, no marks on him. fat and happy. I went by several times unannounced and never found that colt wanting. I consider myself lucky. Don't hesitate to ask about methods and make SURE you check on your horse! If the trainer doesn't live nearby, find someone who'll check on them. Ultimately, their welfare is your responsibility!
I've had three really positive experiences with trainers. One is nationally known; a legend. Had my horse with him for not a really long period of time and the horse learned how to be a heeling horse. Whenever I dropped by there to see my gelding, he was a happy horse, truly enjoyed his training; the trainer liked him so much he tried to buy him more than once....first time I ever saw my horse with a "smile" on his face; he loves to work cattle.
My second experience was with a really stand up trainer...very kind and effective; Very pleasant to his students and kind to his horses. Very knowledgeable and was at every circuit with his amateur and youth students. His horses all do very well at QH circuits.
My third experience was with a cutting horse trainer; not as effective as the other two but pleasant to be around. He put the basics on my gelding.
The bad experiences.............
The "psycho" experience was with a dressage trainer who managed the barn where I boarded my horse. She was a nut case, long on conning people and short on any real dressage/horse knowledge. No doubt a bona fide dressage queen. Had a nasty disposition and we (the boarders) had to walk on eggs any time we were around her. Our horses were not adequately fed, losing weight and after my mare was subjected to that, I moved her.
Another experience with a trainer who was inclined not to ride horses as promised, slow to clean stalls, and if she left to judge a show or participate in a show she often times did not have bases covered on getting people to feed and clean stalls while she was gone. Got to be very old really quickly. I'd arrive to ride my horse and the horses had not been fed. Needless to say, I moved from there; got tired of her copping an attitude about her success in the show pen and watching her get testy with her students or their parents. I often wondered how customers could stick by a trainer when they're treated so poorly...but for some reason, they do.
The third "psycho" experience was with a barn manager who had very little horse experience, had more money than brains and was not "straight up" with boarders. A very disagreeable individual who lost many boarders en masse' because of her nasty attitude.
Pat Parelli calls trainers "professional predators" and some of these descriptions certainly match that label! I'm lucky to have a trainer who does Parelli Natural Horsemanship and my horse and I love the method and our trainer.
She looks after Trooper as if he was one of her own and thinks it's wonderful that I spoil him. At my previous barn I was always being chided for bringing treats and spending extra time grooming him (most people were on full service and let the grooms do all the work.)
But now we both get training that has helped us progress as a team. Having the right trainer makes all the difference!
The reason I train my own ranch ponies! It is fulfilling when someone ask me on a ride, "wow, who trained your horse, I've gotta get them!?" and I turn in the saddle and say, "you're looking at them...." oh but sorry, I only train my own, it's not a profession, I want personable, responsive horses that I know how "they have been trained." It may take me months or a year to get one solid, but I get a good mount everytime.
There's two sides to this story. I've horsed around a long time and had good and bad experiences with trainers... and they ALL would have been better had I been a more responsible owner.
By that, I mean discussing my expectations with the trainer and getting our relative commitments to each other IN WRITING. Most horse deals are still done on a handshake, and many go south not due to dishonesty, but due to poor communication.
I'm still surprised that people entrust their prized or pet horses to trainers with no discussion, no negotiation, no game plan. I have learned.
My best training experiences stem from my first ever real trainer when I was a kid. 30 years later, I am still delighted to call him my friend and it's mutual. He changed my life.
Second best lasted less than a month and was recent. I sent a young horse off to a top reining pro. He evaluated her, recognized some problems, and said I should bring her home. In the three weeks he had her, he and his staff were extremely professional, but also friendly and helpful, and my mare came home looking better than when she left. A consumate professional whose resume reflects that.
Worst training experience was dating a has-been pro who abused my horse... and I let him. They were a terrible mis-match and my heart was in the middle. The horse lost that contest initially, and I am still ashamed I put a horse's safety below my unmet emotional needs.
All in the past- enjoying low-maintenance horses and low-impact riding. All the training time, money, and drama have taken their toll.
I have had mostly good experiences with my trainer. I have seen many clients come and go through his barn and I can attribute 98% of the client/trainer trouble I have seen to lack of communication in amount and depth. Every horse owner needs to be the lead in the trainer/client communication tree.
You cannot sit back and expect your trainer to call you whenever your horse twitches. NOR can they read minds. Call your trainer for updates yourself, if they don't answer KEEP CALLING. Go down and visit your horse on a frequent bases. Its hard to put a horse on the back burner when its owner is constantly stopping by. I know of folks who have waited weeks for a trainer to call back. I ask "Have you called again?" They answer "no" or "once or twice". Tell you what, if my trainer didn't return the first couple of my calls (after giving them time to do so) - I would be calling once every half hour until they picked up the phone. I wouldn't sit back and think that I shouldn't have to keep call (and you shouldn't) I would keep at. Not everyone checks messages, or their caller ID so I just keep calling.
Expectations need to be clear - trainers can't read minds, if you need help at a show say so if you need more help after that SAY SO. If they are doing something that you disagree with, confront them and back up your statement with intent. And give them a chance. All of the trainers I know are very welling to work with clients with their likes or dislikes or whatever the case maybe - just treat them as business partners not friends and use that as a bases of how thing should go.
If you are not in agreement with their program and you and the trainer cannot agree on how to move forward they may recommend someone's else program for you or it may just be time for you to say thanks but no thanks.
You can't make a trainer into "your" perfect version of a trainer. They are who they are. Their customer relation skills are usually set and defined by the time you get there, they usually have a belief in their program - if you like them and the results you may also have to deal with their faults as people for the venture to continue- if you can't except those faults then its time to move on. Hanging in their when you can't except those faults make yourself misserable your misserabe and fellow clients misserable. Do everyone a favor and move on, there will be some trainer out there that will work better for you.
This is a two level answer or thought from me. We have so many very wealthy people involved with horses these days. People who are used to investing a lot of money in their chosen discipline, and expecting immediate results. People who no longer ride all the time, people who keep their horses with trainers in a state other than where they live, people who schedule their riding like they schedule an appointment at the hair salon. In a nutshell, people who don't live and breathe horses 24/7. In the defense of trainers, the pressure must be intense to keep producing winner after winner, especially with riders who basically know very little about horses and riding in general. That said, if the owners don't have the knowledge of what is going on with their animals, how can they police the trainers? After all, it is their money that is buying the horses and paying the monthly training expenses. I could never figure out how successful people could turn into such wimps when dealing with their trainers. Maybe it is because they don't have the knowledge to talk on the same level as the trainer, or they think that because they have hired someone, all will be taken care of. I have always trained my own horses, so have avoided this problem. However, my daughter has trained at barns where you just didn't show up to see your horse without an appointment, you were not allowed to haul your own horses to a show, etc. She became disatisfied with what went on, and left training for another career in the animal field. This leads me to my second thought. Where does someone go to buy a sound, suitable, show mount (in my case, reining) without securing the services of a trainer? If 85% of reining horses have had "tail adjustments" of some type, who can you trust? At my age, I am no longer willing to buy a 2 yr old, or a prospect. I am looking for a solid, very well broke horse, one that I can keep going just with a couple of lessons, here & there. Plus, I have my own barn & acreage, so there is no need to board my horse out. I guess it all boils down to the fact that I just don't want to get involved with the trainer/owner relationship. I want to ride my horses, show when & where I want to, etc., without answering to someone that in effect, I'm employing!
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