When you send your horse for training...

[summerpony]

When you send your horse to a "reputable" trainer what do you expect? By reputable I mean a trainer who has a decent reputation, whose students do well in local rated horse shows, who seems to sell some niceish horses, who has ridden with some BNT's.

Do you expect the trainer to ride the horse each day of the week (however many days it's supposed to be) or do you expect the trainer to ride once or twice and a working student to ride the other days (supposedly under the supervision of the trainer which really means the trainer says "go walk/trot/canter this one" and never sees it being done). I admit that I don't have a lot of experience in the hunter/jumper world having only been at 2 different barns in the past 10 yrs, but I was surprised when I was told that no one actually expects the "trainer" to do all of the riding. What do you think?

[xQHDQ]

I think this all needs to come out when you first discuss sending the horse.

In reality, it is mostly the working students who ride the horses. The "trainer" only rides those horses he/she is showing. Usually the students ride the horse in front of the trainer about 50% of the time.

Personally, if I'm sending a horse for training, I want the trainer riding the horse at least some of the time - once a week versus 3 times per week for students. But then again, I have never sent a horse for training. When I've ridden with a trainer, she rode the horse once for every 3 times I rode.

Good question.

[lotc2005]

I currently work as an assistant trainer for a reputable trainer in Ohio. I am the only assistant and we do not have any working students. We currently have 10ish horses in training. On the weekends, the trainer is at shows approximately 75% of the time. In most cases, the trainer rides all training horses three or four days a week. The other two or three days I am responsible for lunging or possibly riding the training horses.

I think you just need to ask as many questions as possible when interviewing potential trainers. Don't be afraid to ask specifically how often your horse will be ridden by the trainer every week and if anyone else will be riding the horse. Additionally, you need to stay as involved as possible in your horses training and maintain communication with your trainer. Follow your gut, and if you are not completely satisfied with a trainer upon your initial interview, you need to continue looking until you find a trainer that suits you and makes you feel comfortable. The trainer that I work for is brutally honest with their clients in all situations, which makes the customers very happy and at ease with leaving their horses in our care.

[dghunter]

My first response was "if I'm spending *that* much money on training the trainer better be riding!" But then I remembered when my horse went to my trainer for a week and the assistant trainer rode him. That doesn't bother me in the least. I love the assistant trainer and have no problems with her riding him any time.

However, no working students on my horse period.

Things need to be spelled out in a contract is the most important thing here. If you want to make sure trainer is the only one riding the horse then ask. They may charge more but at least you know it's going to be done.

[Woodland]

If people are paying ME to ride/train their horse - then I am the only one - beside the owner of course - to do so. Anything else in "my" opinion is fraud. But every trainer is different.

I do not want to be painting a masterpiece and have someone change it into Elvis on black velvet - but I am super picky!