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Trainer Rant.

2K views 16 replies 8 participants last post by  franknbeans 
#1 ·
When I decided that I needed a trainer to help me with Cy, I never imagined the disappointment and difficulty I would have in actually finding a good reliable and NOT flakey trainer! I have been exploiting all of my assets trying to find a trainer that will work with both my horse and I. Most trainers just want to charge me $600+ and take my horse to their barn for a month, discluding me entirely from the training process. I have always believed that training a horse is just as important as training yourself. Not to mention the bonding that happens between horse and rider during training.
So FINALLY I find a couple that charges a surprisingly low rate of $10/hr with an emphasis on working with the owner on the property that the horse is at. I am sure you can imagine how happy I was to have found what I was looking for all along. This past Wednesday we set up an appointment for the trainers to meet Cy, but something came up and they couldn't make it. So we rescheduled for today, and they didn't show up! I called them and they didn't answer, I left a message and still nothing.
I just think that it is extremely unprofessional to flake out on a potential client like that, you know? I mean, in many ways when they would have come to meet Cy, it would have been similar to an interview. A time for them to convince me that they could help me and my horse. But alas... the the one thing that I was looking forward to all week isn't going to happen.
And on top of that, I have to continue my search for an appropriate trainer.

I am so bummed! :(
 
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#2 ·
Crappy! I hate when that happens, although I have found that it happens a lot. Have you looked into someone who can give you lessons rather than train your horse? How far along is Cy? If you have him under saddle you may be able to find someone who can give you lessons that are started at a green horse level. I did that with my mare and it worked really well, we weren't advanced enough to go in with the more experienced horses, but we took half hour lessons on our own and excelled quickly.

Just a thought...
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#3 ·
That would be a great idea, except my difficulties with Cy are far beyond lessons...
When I bought him last year he hated people, he had never been ridden or even brushed and didn't like people within like 10 feet of him (seriously). I slowly worked with him and got him use to me. I was able to brush him, massage him, halter him, lead him and even started ground work and a few under saddle exercises. He was progressing amazingly and then I went on vacation for two weeks and when I got back, he was a different horse entirely. It was as if all of our work had been reversed and he was the same horse I originally bought.
I was so dumbfounded and upset, and then I found out that the boarder I was keeping him with was heavily abusing him...
So now he has major trust issues and hates men and most other people, again. He still seems to trust me for the most part, but I can no longer halter him very easily and I can just forget saddling him. The last time I tried he kicked me so hard I was in the emergency room.
After that, I just lost all my confidence and I just don't know what to do...
 
#7 ·
Basically my ex boss wanted to get back into horse riding lessons because of her new project OTTB and she found this lady who had her own techniques of handling them on the ground (this OTTB was a handful) and so I began to take lessons with my horse and eventually we went from ground handling to riding without any tack, riding with no bridle, then riding with everything.

You need to find someone willing to teach you, instead of just after your money.

If you were in CO, I'd highly recommend her but alas you are not.

Talk with riding instructors and see what happens. Maybe make an ad and a random email to receive replies and see what comes up.
 
#6 ·
Yes, even though it may be above your head I do adree with sky that if you can get an instructor who can guide you and step in where needed that's the best option. If he is only trusting to you -however fragile that is, he will be most receptive to you and through you having an instructor he will learn to trust others. I know you're a long ways off, but the 7 parelli games are extremely effective in building trust and something to look at in the future. Anyways, goodluck!
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#8 ·
Thanks Kstinson!
I will look into those and maybe when I find a suitable trainer we can use them.
I am willing to have patience but there is also nothing I want more than to just be able to go on trail rides in the early boring and work on becoming a better rider.
 
#9 ·
I understand. One of my bestfriends lost a horse a couple years ago to EPM, she was given his full sister who was a huge handful. Once she got her undersaddle the mare would get stressed, I finally picked up on something because she said something like "I just want to runwalk and have it all together". I realized her horse was stressed because of her expectation as she was riding her like she should be broke. Once we figured that our she made huge advances.

You're not doing that, I know. But it sounds like he has some issues and one of the biggest things I can stress is keep a book, write down everything you did that day with him -what he responded to, what he didn't, what was new. You'll see the patterns, but also you can break down your goals "today I want to halter cy without him running away more than once" then the next day "I want to halter him without him running away and groom him with ease". If you make small goals that work towards a big end result you will find that you reach the big result faster as the horse doesn't sense any pressures that you are putting on yourself. Even keep a log in the horseforum journals on here -it is extremely beneficial :)
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#10 ·
FC, I'd be VERY careful about someone charging just $10/hour. I don't know a single trainer around my area (even those who just start) charging that little. Cheap is ALWAYS cheap for a reason unfortunately.

As for training as it is I had a great luck going with lessons once/week. I didn't have to send my horse to someone's barn for training, still we progressed tremendously with the great trainer I go to.
 
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#13 ·
FC, I'd be VERY careful about someone charging just $10/hour. I don't know a single trainer around my area (even those who just start) charging that little. Cheap is ALWAYS cheap for a reason unfortunately.
Was thinking the same thing. Whoever that was must not think much of their own abilities. Maybe never called back because they got spooked when they realized that they had to actually deliver.
 
#16 ·
Maybe having him go to a trainer for 30 days isnt a bad idea really. Someone who specializes in trust issues. You can always work with him after. That or you could always order CLINTON ANDERSON cd set that goes from step one on. You got him there once Im sure you can get him there again. Just be patient. I have never known any trainer that doesnt allow a owner to atleast come and watch.If they dont I would be a bit curious as to what is really going on.

I prefer my owners to be present and even interact in the training process. Nothing beats a well trained horse and owner.

Good Luck!

TRR
 
#17 ·
I agree totally that I would run from $10/hour. That said, lets think about this. Many trainers prefer to have a horse without the owner for 30-60 days. But, they should let the owner watch what they are doing in their sessions with the horse. The owner just needs to not interfere. AT ALL. I had my guy in 2 different training facilities (at different stages for different things) and each was $800+ per month, which was a BARGAIN. If you think about it, you are paying your board (at least $300/mo, and that is conservative) as well as your training, which is usually at least 1 hour 4 times a week=20 rides/mo minimum, is about $20-$25/ride. Pretty reasonable, if you ask me. And if you back it down to your $600/mo-that is pretty close to your $10/hour.

You get what you pay for. There is no better investment, IMO. I now have a guy who I consider safe to ride anywhere, which has done wonders for my enjoyment and confidence. That, IMO is priceless.:wink:
 
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