Trainerless riders?

[cnvh]

Just curious, how many of you ride without a trainer? I'm not talking just-for-fun trail riders-- I mean those of you who show occasionally (or regularly) in your respective discipline.

Although I board at a pretty nice barn with 3 in-house trainers, I don't take lessons with any of them... I haven't taken lessons for about 3+ years. The reasons are mostly financial-- the budget is pretty tight and lessons are a luxury I just can't afford. But we HAVE been doing some local unrated schooling shows this year (the first time I've entered shows EVER) and we've been doing pretty well. Since I doubt my budget will ever accomodate anything beyond local unrated stuff, I'm not too concerned re: my trainerless status-- I don't have any upper-level ambitions and I really do just ride for fun. (I'm 34 years old, BTW, if that makes a difference.)

I will admit, however, that I pour over COTH like an addict and I observe other people's lessons as often as possible, just to absorb info. :)

So for those of you who are out there doing it solo, why have you chosen not to have a trainer? How do you work through problems? How do you gauge progress?

[mvp]

I was trainerless before moving to a new state, like, a minute ago.

I did it for two reasons. 1) lack of coin; 2) lack of trainers in my area that could help or were worth the coin I did have to spend. I was hell-bent on improving and training my horse, so I "cherry picked"-- taking lessons with dressage trainers and hauling in for help with H/J trainers (when I found someone good). Like you, I spent lots of time watching other people's lessons. But even better, I spent time thinking about how they applied (or not) to my own horse. I really enjoy being the manager, groom and trainer all in one.

The situation worked really well for my wallet and my horse. I also helped my mind and emotions. I knew I could develop a horse by myself, and I learned to really enjoy the process much more than the showing. I also went to shows by myself and dug that. I liked coming home with some ribbons and saying "Whatever happened, I made it happen and I didn't go broke doing it." I'm not sure I want to say, instead "I won a ton thanks primarily to trainer x."

The situation was not good for my equitation, however.

[indygirl2560]

Well I left my trainer after a show in April and haven't had a lesson since. Mainly, I am/was trainerless because of financial reasons and the trainer didn't have much more to offer me, esp. since I don't own a horse and just catch rode sale horses at the barn. Because I can't afford to own or lease an experienced horse, I train people's greenies. That way, I get my riding time and they get their horse trained or ridden for free(which also leads to nearly no show fees if I do show the greenie). Although, a few days ago I worked out a deal with a lady from my old barn (who's decided to go back to pro status and has her own barn at home) to where I can be a working student and get free lessons from her on her 3'6 jumper. Also, I can show her horse for zero fees except for classes and hauling if I say she's my trainer, so she can get her name out there.

Personally, if I feel I'm actually learning and progressing with my riding, then I like having a trainer. Otherwise, I don't see the point in paying someone $60+/hr to do things I can do on my own(no stirrup work, flat work, low jumping). I do think everyone needs someone on the ground to give pointers once in awhile though.

[cnvh]

I should add that I ride with a great group of adult riders with years and years of collective experience in a variety of disciplines, and we can all get pretty critical of each other from time to time-- in a good way, of course. :) God help you if you ask, "what am I doing wrong?" because you're guaranteed to get at least 2 or 3 rather blunt answers. I loff my trail-riding buddies. :)

[kellyb]

I'm trainerless. I am actually taking my first real lesson tomorrow :) Let's just say there was a lot of trial and error throughout my youth riding career :lol:

I am mainly going to brush up on my eq, I just really need to be yelled at! I have shown my whole life and while I haven't set the world on fire, I do get by just fine. If I worked with someone full time I would not have extra money for showing/etc.

[Not So Practical Horse(WO)man]

I'm 17, and havent had a trainer in years. I do go to a riding (eventing) camp every summer for 3 weeks but thats really just to improve dressage skills on someone who loves jumping a little too much hah!

I retrained my mare all by myself and had only one "hardcore breakthrough" lesson while I was doing that. Everything else was my own patience, time, and trial and error. There is no better learning experience out there than riding alone.

I am fully independent at horse shows(we do the jumpers) and at events. My dad helps a little but he's not a horsey person. Mainly, my mare adores him and will stand for him calmly while I eat or learn a course or go to the bathroom.

My equitation is not ruined, but I can contribute that to the fact that there is no way in hell anyone could equitate on my mare. So when I ride other horses, its still picture perfect back from when I did have a trainer :P

[DancingQueen]

I have in the past been on my own. I think it's very possible but requires a little more disciplin. Sometimes it's nice to be able to try your own theories. IMO you learn in a different way when you actually figure things out as opposed to doing what somebody else has already figured out for you.

However, as you mentioned, others input is still important. The difference is that you can (and have to) decide yourself which advice to take and what will not work for you.
Books are a great tool and will most likely help you develop a "red thread" in your work. When I was on my own I had a few books that I read and checked in with almost every night. Anthony Paahlmans "training the showjumper" (I think that's what it's called in english) was one that I loved and red to the point where I even knew where the typos were!
Polling your peers in a forum like this could give you great advice on hard to find topics. Some of the people here knows a lot and would charge big $$ from a client but share here because they truly love what they do. Some don't know squat but has opinions anyways! Sometimes people have different solutions to the same problem. You have to pick what makes the most sense for you.

The key IMO is in developing a longterm plan and not accidentally hopping too much between different ways just because what you try doesn't show immediate results.\

It is also very nice to have a ballplank of sorts, a barnmate or a friend. I'm guessing you are allowed to jump by yourself where you board. Teaming up with a barnmate and setting jumps, for each other could be helpful. Even if you can't "lesson" each other (might get frowned upon) you'll have a ground person as will he/she and you can always talk it over at the pub later in the evening!

Also, even if you can't take regular lessons, saving up for a clinic or saving up for a couple of intense lessons with somebody at your barn (that might throw you a bone here and there even if you are practicing on your own) is not a bad idea. Even if you just sit in on a clinic with soembody good you'll probably get a lot of ideas that you can bring home. So will sitting in on lessons at the barn for that matter.

At shows it is very nice to have a ground person but most people will not mind if you shool over their jumps as long as you ask them if it's OK.

As long as you are happy and feel that you progress and learn, go for it. Many riders over here are too dependant on their trainer and can't function without them. Where I grew up you'd ship out for a lesson once a week during off season. If you went to a show over the weekend you could tell them about it and ask their advice the next time you lessoned. If you did privates they might even remember to ask you how you did if you told them you were going somewhere!
If you met your trainer at the show you might still have to walk the course by yourself. You might have to do your own warmup, they would give you pointers if you asked and talk to you about your trip if they saw you go. They'd help you if they could but if they didn't have the time, no big deal, you knew what to do.

I give you props for going at it alone. You will know when you are in over your head and need help, for the rest you'll figure it out!

[Lieslot]

Anyone trainerless because they are concerned their horses may not withstand the rigors of being pushed every lesson? Kind-a-like being the overly protective owner.
I guess this probably sounds a little pathetic. But both my horses have had health issues in the past, and eventhough they are sound & healthy I get so nervous about having to ask them too much when some days it's just not going well for them. And I never know when those days will be.

The days I can feel them move well underneath me, I'll work them thoroughly and think it's all coming together and be excited to move on, and hence be a little frustrated not having lessons so I have someone to help me through some issues that pop up.
However on those iffy days where even after a long warm-up I can just feel it's not going to come together today because of breathing issues or stifness etc, then I'm glad I'm not having lessons, coz there's no need to push them past the warm-up if it's not working out, I'll just get out of the ring, go for a little trailride and try again tomorrow.
Anybody else has this problem?
I often wonder whether I should just go and take lessons on a lesson horse instead.

I have to say I've lessoned with different people in the past and I still learn the most from reading, reading, reading. I've got a nice library of dressage books here and I've learned so much from that. It does get confusing however coz different type's of schools approach things in different ways. And often the theory is there, but I can't put it into practice. Also many books are great at describing the 'how' provided you have the perfectly started/schooled horse, very few books will describe what to do if the horse just doesn't get it.
I miss being at a boarding place and be able to watch others ride, that can teach you a lot too. Youtube is my friend, I wished there were more schooling rides to be found on there. Youtube is great when some owners video their problems rides and how they worked through it.

I'm also a bit lost with the word trainer. I wonder if this is because I grew up across the pond, where we'd be talking about an instructor. In the past I'd get a lesson, but I still felt it was my horse, my decision of how & what to achieve. I tend to find that here trainers take a lot of control of what goes on with the horse. They'll outline an exercise schedule, get involved in feedregimes, ideal turnout for the horse etc etc. You can correct me if I've got the latter wrong. It just seems like that to me, especially when you read about those barns, where you have to go onto the trainers schedule etc.

I could never do that, I love to be the one fully in charge of my horses, in all ways, including the way they get ridden, but I'm nevertheless fully aware I'm in need of a lot of help to iron out those crinkles, hence I should really be looking for more instruction.