Where would you find a instructor?

[nlk]

Ok so I posted this recently on a different forum and I got little help, mostly because all the younger girls wanted to tell me how to tach and train instead of answer my question:lol:

How do you find your trainers and instructors besides word of mouth. Where would be the first place you would look if you were to leave the one you are with right now...

Recently left a large barn where I worked for the owner and their clients, which means technically I had no clients and got paid by the barn itself. Even though I did the lessons, sowing, and training.

I also am not going to go convince all the people that were with me to up and leave, I can't do that to someone else's lively hood. If I have a old client say "hey I left I am moving my horse here come teach me I will but that's it. So I am really looking to build from scratch...Unless I get into a barn that has an established client base of boarders etc...

So where would you look and what would you look for.:D Thanks!

And

[HARROLDhasmyheart]

Well first of all I would look to see if my state or area has any online horse directory. As an example, California has both bayequest.com and socalequest.com, which are essentially giant equine directories--for everything from sales to trainers. Also, I would cruise around the area of my barn; often times there are a couple of barns in relatively close proximity to one another.

Other than that, I think word of mouth is huge...I know you may want to discount it but that could be difficult. Some of the BNTs don't even have a website or publicly listed contact info (or at least that's easy to access) simply because they are good enough and well known enough to not need it.

If you are trying to start out on your own, it would help to maybe train someone at a show? Perhaps you know of someone looking to go to a show that needs coaching there, but that may not have a regular trainer. Then you could advertise at the show?

Best of luck.

[nlk]

I have done shows and all that and I understand word of mouth is huge. My problem is more along the lines of finding independent people who might board at a barn but have no regular trainer. I would like to be that trainer! I could likely get a job working for someone else again but I don't know that I want to. So I guess I'm looking for options on being my own boss. Either managing my own business out of someones barn...or having those individual clients.

I agree that advertising at shows is huge! I will be catch riding this summer on some horses lined up already so that really should help. I think I am looking for just a few clients through the winter...

Thank you so much for the Internet tips I will try to find some exclusively to my state! And thanks for the encouragement!

[xponygirl92x]

If I am not going by word of mouth, I would either look at magazine ads, or I might go to some big shows, and watch the schooling rings, and see how certain trainers deal with their students, and if I find a trainer I like, I will either write down their name, and call them later, or go up and talk to them when their not so busy:)
Someone who puts the horses' health and well being before everything else.
My main things I look for, is someone who trains kindly, but will get after you if you need it.
A person with a clean reputation
I also need someone who either needs green beans schooled and shown, or just horses available for riding, since I am horseless:D

[HARROLDhasmyheart]

I have done shows and all that and I understand word of mouth is huge. My problem is more along the lines of finding independent people who might board at a barn but have no regular trainer. I would like to be that trainer! I could likely get a job working for someone else again but I don't know that I want to. So I guess I'm looking for options on being my own boss. Either managing my own business out of someones barn...or having those individual clients.

I agree that advertising at shows is huge! I will be catch riding this summer on some horses lined up already so that really should help. I think I am looking for just a few clients through the winter...

Thank you so much for the Internet tips I will try to find some exclusively to my state! And thanks for the encouragement!


Catch riding should definitely help you...it'll be getting your name and your riding abilities out in the show ring for potential clients to see. Also, I think just by mentioning your goals to pretty much anyone you know who rides, regardless of if they already have a trainer, might be worth a shot. You never know whose sister's cousin's father's adopted daughter is looking for a trainer, or maybe doesn't have the $$ to go to a BNT and is looking for something like you are offering.

Good luck :)

[galwaybay]

I would do a little researching on some of the barns in your area - see if they have in-house trainers, no trainers, or a a variety of trainers. There are some barns in my area which are mostly boarding barns but do allow different trainers to come in - as a result you might have just a dressage trainer there but no one to teach anyone H/J/Eq. So research those places, do up a brochure/flyer (basically a nicer resume) on yourself post it at those barn. i would also recommend any online directories or even if you have some publications you could advertise in -most of them have a trainers section or business card section where the cost is less than say a 1/4 page display ad.

Then i would hit any tack shops - as they often have a bulletin board = post your flyer/resume on that; and any other local shops that have a bulletin board. then the word of mouth will help.

If you left your other barn w/ no hard feelings - which it sounds like you have - that will also help - whatever you do do not say anything bad about anyone or any place - even if they deserve it...

[nlk]

I would do a little researching on some of the barns in your area - see if they have in-house trainers, no trainers, or a a variety of trainers. There are some barns in my area which are mostly boarding barns but do allow different trainers to come in - as a result you might have just a dressage trainer there but no one to teach anyone H/J/Eq. So research those places, do up a brochure/flyer (basically a nicer resume) on yourself post it at those barn. i would also recommend any online directories or even if you have some publications you could advertise in -most of them have a trainers section or business card section where the cost is less than say a 1/4 page display ad.

Then i would hit any tack shops - as they often have a bulletin board = post your flyer/resume on that; and any other local shops that have a bulletin board. then the word of mouth will help.

If you left your other barn w/ no hard feelings - which it sounds like you have - that will also help - whatever you do do not say anything bad about anyone or any place - even if they deserve it...

Oh, I'm a firm believer of not burning bridges especially in the industry;) I just decided I wanted more but I still love the place I worked at, It's where I was taught to ride!

Thanks to everyone for the great tips!

[galwaybay]

the other thing - are there any local riding clubs/associations that you can join as board/volunteer member - if you haven't already - that is also a great way to network.

[Queen Latisha]

Do research and ask other people about trainers in your area. Then go to horse shows and watch the different trainers and their clients.
You'll be amazed what you can find out, just hanging around the schooling ring.:D

[LaraNSpeedy]

It really depends on what you want to do. Do you want to have A level HJ riders or do you want to start a small club of riders at the low levels and work up?

I wanted to just work with kids and take them to HJ shows at a local level when I moved here and so I actually became the local 4H leader. DONT MOAN. Sure, 4H is not known for their riding. But I sort of am known now as the English riding part of the county - and I started with 4-5 girls who I really liked - they all wanted to ride HJ and only one had a horse at the time. Now all of those have a horse and my club is about 12 regular dedicated riders - with 2 more riders with horses here. So I have 6 riders and their horses and then 6 who have worked out deals to ride horses belonging to the other kids (we try not to have it be a lesson-horse thing - just a way for the horses and the riders to learn and experience more - it has to be a win-win thing).

Anyways - I have not advertised at all - I usually have to send people away because I have other things going on in my life and I want to keep this very small scale. TO me, I am just barely handling the demands of these 12 riders! But they go to shows all the time and they do very well - they all have fixer upper horses - diamonds in the rough and so we take the learning approach - learning to heal ulcers in a horse off the track - learning to retrain the mouth on an exfoxhunter - learning to make a Mustang into a HJ horse - which amazingly she is doing great - etc. These kids are in it for the learning not for the excessive showing and blue ribbons.

Anyways - I get a lot of young riders who just hear about me in 4H and that I teach English riding or they hear about me from the kids I already teach.

[kellyb]

I see if my breed/discipline organization website has a trainer referral first. I also look at ads in the back of their respective magazines. Then, visit local tack stores and check out the ads hung on the sales boards.

[bethechangexx]

Online definitely.. I use ridingresource.com -but it might not be exactly what you're looking for.
Some trainers in my area use craigslist.com and others have a website or list on virginiaequestrian.com. You could leave business cards on message boards around town (tack shops, grocery stores, etc)

[Serah]

When I moved to college I went to the local tack shop to refer me to a trainer.... I chose the first one out of location which was a BIG mistake, but I went back and gave them a little more background on my riding and goals, and they gave me a new list and told me I'd have to drive a little...


I guess what I'm saying is drop into your local tack shops... find out if any trainers are looking for instructors, and put up an ad that says you will teach on location and are willing to travel.

Getting in with the tack shop should be a wonderful place to start your word of mouth...

[Lauren!]

Fliers on the BB at the local tack shop, feed store, farm store, etc. This is actually how I found the person I hope to work with once the weather breaks here.

Local equestrian publications, or the newsletter of local horse-related associations. Try your area's dressage and combined training association newsletter... even if you're a h/j trainer, there might be some people looking for help with showjumping, or their h/j friends might be looking...

[Instant Karma]

If you are essentially looking for a barn to rent, and build a client base of your own, I would check out your local tack shop and their bulletin board. What about posting on craigslist? Seems to be the place to look and find anything lol.

Good luck in your pursuit of being your own boss:)

[nlk]

If you are essentially looking for a barn to rent, and build a client base of your own, I would check out your local tack shop and their bulletin board. What about posting on craigslist? Seems to be the place to look and find anything lol.

Good luck in your pursuit of being your own boss:)

Just post on craigs list tonight:winkgrin:

Thanks to everyone for the great tips! I have to get my flier finished so I can post it in some tack and feed stores too!

[Mollitor]

I deffinitly look at shows.
You can usually find some of the best trainers there :]

[DancingQueen]

Farriers and tack stores. They get around/see everybody.

[waldo]

I would use an online source. It just saves you time. Depending on where you are located...www.equestrianlist.com is a real good source for the PA, NJ, MD and DE areas. The cost to advertise is quite reasonable, they also have a calendar of events, local articles and a nice layout. I have a listing up there and I have gotten business from it. Good Luck.

[peco]

i agree with the above post about farriers. my farrier and i have become good friends and he is great at helping find/move ponies ect. he has referred me tons of business! also your vet,dentist, ect. you kind of have to get to know them first but they are great references when people are asking about trainers! another plus is just like the warm up ring has been mentioned as a way to know what is going on these people are in lot of horse places and know a lot of horse people. Not that you would take anyone's business or that i would suggest it but sometimes they know when clients are leavinig one place and looking for another as well! or when a farm is shutting down,loosing and instructor ect