Send your horse to a trainer...with you?

I know I don't have experience with sending horses to trainers since I don't have one yet, but I read a lot of posts about people sending their horses to trainers. So here's my question: I might just be a control freak, but I would like to be there WITH my horse and work WITH it. For one so I can see what they do and learn, but also to check on my horse. What are your thoughts on it and what are you reasons for you stand?

Sure, that's why it's called taking a lesson ;)

We have some friends who train horses for a living. They always prefer the owner to be there as much as possible. If the owner wants to be part of the training all the better. I think its great when a trainer wants the owner to be there. I would actually be a little leary of one that didn't want you there.

I worked with a trainer this summer than trained me and my horse.

My horse is in training now for a month, a refresher of sorts. I am lucky enough to have my trainer at the barn I board at AND she is a good friend. I call her to let her know when I am coming out and she saves his training for the hours I am there. I watch, ask questions, and get involved with bits and pieces. I think it is a great learning experience for me....and I know exactly what she is doing to get correct responses from him and I sometimes learn things that don't work as well.
My trainer encourages her clients to visit as much as possible and offers free lessons along with her training. I agree that any trainer who would not allow or want you to visit your horse is sketchy. It is your DUTY as an owner to look out for your horse's welfare!

Our riding teacher is a horse trainer. He usually keeps the horse for a month or two and gives the owners lessons too so that they know how to keep up the training.

Horses are huge creatures and they can kill you, even without trying. Unless you have a lot of experience training horses or have a bomb proof horse I think it's important to have your horse well trained. Of course, it's important for you to become well trained.

Very nicely put.I totally agree with everyone. That is why I would be there as much as possible You can never learn too much, so it will benefit both you and your horse even if you just sit there and watch what the trainer is doing.

Yeah. I agree with everyone that you should be there as much as you can. Both as you said to keep an eye on him and to see whats going on. I have a friend who is a horse trainer and he said that he would rather have the owner there because he can teach the owner along with the horse. It's no use for him to train a horse all these fancy things and then have him sent home with the owner who has no idea what they're doing (not saying you don't..just that's the "jist" of it). Because many people have different ways of doing things and different ways of telling the horse to do something. Signals can get crossed and someone can get hurt.

I think visitation should always be allowed...however I don't always recommend the owner riding the horse at the same time. If the horse is novice and the owner is novice they will just frustrate each other. Let the horse go get trained...watch all they want/ask all the questions they want...no riding...when the horse understands the concepts then put the owner up there.

The only time I leave my horse "alone" with my trainer is when I'm on vacation. I generally send him over there to get a refresher so he's not lazy while I'm away. I figure I'd have to pay board anyway. But I've known and worked for my trainer...so it's not like I don't know what she is doing.

I'm all for visitation with horses in training.

The only problem i've seen with visitors that don't know any better is if their angel horse "Johnny" goes out and has a bad day, and the trainer has to correct and ride through it, "Johnny's" mom throws a fit and can't understand why her little angel had it a little rough during the ride.

However, if you as a horse owner can understand that your horse will have bad days, and you can understand why things are done the way they are, well - there's no problem with you visiting on occasion