Since I'm here to learn...

Hello everyone.

I have a couple of questions that I hope can be answered.

I would like to be a trainer, but I'm not entirely sure where I should start. I know of several colleges with degrees in Equestrian/Equine Sciences, but I won't be able to start at any of these places for at least two more years, considering my husband is in the Army and we'll be here, there and everywhere for a little while. Would it be a good idea for me to contact stables where I am and see if they need a hand, just to get a little more acquainted with the business? (I know my way around a barn, mind you, but the business side of it would be completely new to me! Plus, I'd really like to be around horses as much as possible. I don't get out to my family's barn enough. -_-;) I really just want to know what the best course of action would be to get a jump start on my schooling. Any ideas are welcome! Thanks!

that's what i would do. start from the bottom and work your way up. that way you would learn what it takes to run a place, and all thats involved.

The path to becoming a trainer is highly rewarding, but the main ingredient is education about horses. Read about them, volunteer at stables and theraputic riding centers, observe trainers working with horses whenever possible, read as many books and watch as many DVD's on horses and horse training as you can find

Having an education that focuses on working with horses certainly doesn't hurt and it sure would be fun, but to me nothing replaces experience when it comes to working with horses. Visit as many places as you can. Watch what they do. See what you like. Eventually you will discover things that you like more than others and then you can start focusing more in those areas. There are all different kinds of horse trainers out there. Some do it all while some specalize in certain areas. I personally love working with the youngsters. I find that they most rewarding and thats where my efforts go. But everyone has different tastes and talents and you get to find out yours! Good luck.

Start by getting certified....

This program you can do online and then once you and your husband get settled in one place for a period of time hook up with a barn in your area looking for a trainer. Or hook up with an established trainer that is willing to let you assist and maybe take on a few of their lessons while they watch and they can give you insite to your approach...

I found this site to be all online and the most affordable compaired to todays current horse whisperers who charge upwards of 15,000.00 for their training course.

http://www.horsecoursesonline.com/prof_desig.html

Start a portfolio of your history working with horses and teaching people to ride and your certifications to show your potential clients.

Goodness, I've never heard of 15,000 for a course. Why not just go to a university? If you are able to spend a lot of money, I recommend a university with a riding team. This offers a bachelors in Equine Management, Nutrition - whatever you choose, plus riding lessons with professionals.

In my opinion, I would prefer someone who was certified through an active program rather then an online one. It would seem that they were more involved. That's just my opinion and some may just not be able to do anything BUT an online course. There are several organizations to be certified through. I would eventually like to be certified by usdf, who I think has very high standards to be certified. I would take a usdf cert. trainer over an uncertified trainer for sure.

Anyway, there is also CHA - Certified Horsemanship Association http://www.cha-ahse.org/
ARIA - American Riding Instructors Assoc. http://www.riding-instructor.com/cer...ion/levels.php
NARHA - North American Riding for the Handicapped Assoc. - http://www.narha.org/
And in case you're interested! USDF - United States Dressage Federation - www.usdf.org
And for hopefully more to choose from:
http://www.ohorse.com/organizations/...ication/?reg=7

These organization require time, clinics, involvement and required hours of teaching before being approved. It doesn't mandate that you're a fantastic trainer if your certified, but it certainly showed you had the knowledge and time to pass the standards.