Does EVERYBODY have a trainer nowadays?

BroadfordQueen

BroadfordQueen

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Why is it that everybody who has arranged to come and see my two horses have said, "if I like her I will bring my trainer for a second viewing".
The mix of people is from 13yos (for my 14.2hh) and middle aged ladies (for my 15.2h!). Now I have a "trainer", but am I the only person who wouldn't bring her along to come and see a horse? Because I know when I am looking for horses for sale if I like the horse or not, and I don't think I could trust my trainer to say "buy it" if I didn't like it, or "don't buy it" if I was head over heals in love with it!
I'm not moaning, the last time I sold a pony they came to see him 3 times- once just the mother (so the daughter wasn't dissapointed if it wasn't right for her), once with mother and daughter, and once with mother daughter and trainer
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I was just wondering really, do you have a trainer and would you ask them to come with you when viewing horses?
 
Well, I have an "instructor" I suppose it sounds a bit posher to say trainer though
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And yes I would take her to view a horse with me, she knows how I ride, she knows what Im capable of, she knows what I want to achieve ect so baring in mind its very easy to "fall in love at first sight" having someone else to offer their opinion, someone that knows you well is invaluable. Horses aren't cheap and the last thing you want to do is pick the wrong one!!
 
If I was to get another horse, I would probably take 'the person that stands and yells at me and is far more knowledgable than me'
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Seems everyone calls their instructor a trainer nowadays *shrugs*
 
Not me personally, but daughter has a "trainer" which, it has to be said, is easier to type than "instructress". Buying a new horse I have sent pictures / videos to her for her opinion as she's the poor so and so who has to deal with teaching my daughter to ride it. She has come with us on one occasion but I think that's because she wanted a good look at the horse (I found it) in case it was suitable for someone else who was looking.
 
Do you trust your instructor with such a big decision as buying something so expensive? Do you not trust your own judgement? I have never *yet* bought a horse thats wrong for me, and I have had 8 ponies/horses, all bought without an instructor, and all have been perfect for me.
 
Well obviously your own judgement comes into it, but personally I have only had/have one horse, so I dont have the experience of buying ponies that maybe you have, so yes I would want someone more knowledgeable to come with me.
 
I wouldn't ask my regular 'trainer', no. I would however take with me, or go back with a very close friend who knows me and my riding inside out. She is very experienced and knowledgeable and I would take notice of her opinion.
 
I htink it's a good idea to take someone more knowledgeable along with you (unless you are experienced at buying and know what to look for. I remember when I went to look at a pony with my Dad, for the very first time. We turned up and they sat me on th epony and I walked it up and down the driveway. I thought it was great
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Then my instructor came with us for a second viewing.....she asked if we could ride the pony in the field (no maneges in those days). I took it in the field and it cleared off with me!
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Needless to say we didn't buy it! lol!

I wouldn't take someeone with me now, but I've bought/sold loads of horses so I've a pretty good idea what to look for I think.
 
I do have a trainer but i can only afford a lesson once a month - so for me no i would't take him with me as i trust my own judgment as to whether or not i like the horse and it is right for me, also i trust my vet to point out anything on the vetting that he is not happy with. Having said that a friend of of mine who is substantially better off than me and uses her trainer 2 x a week would always take her along for a second look if she liked it in the first place - but in all honestly who would really listen if we had fallen in love with a horse at the first try and was told by our 'trainer' not to buy it?????
 
I have a "trainer" which I suppose she really is seeing shes ridden Bad, Bur, Luhmuhlen ****s and more ***s Chats, Barb, Aachen etc than I will ever have hot dinners.. but shes more commonly known as a riding instructor!

I wouldnt take her to see a horse I would want to buy as we have different tastes, requirements etc and at the end of the day the horse is mine?

The only person id take with me would be my Mum as she has the best eye for a good horse ive ever come across!
and I havent had a badden yet!!
 
I have a trainer and an instructor
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There are times when I think my trainer missed her calling as an army drill instructor though...
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I think if I was buying the horse to progress in the field I was in then I would take them, otherwise no I'd go on what I thought and what the vetting said
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Is it just me or can you pretty much tell whether it's the one before you've even veiwed? I mean I certianly knew with Dermot and Spider just from the advert and speaking to the sellers, vewing just confirmed they had four legs. Let alone go back three od times...! I guess I don't spend huge amounts of money looking for THE ONE and am quite happy with problems and if it doesn't turn out to be for me more then happy to sell horse on to some one more suitable. I love buying, producing and selling though.

Besides, if my 'trainer' told me it wasn't suitable I can bet you that within seconds said pony would be paid for and in the box, I don't like being told things like that and love proving people wrong.
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Well i have a riding instructor but i wouldn't take her. I would take my mum just to see what she thinks. I think it should always be the buyer decision not their trainer
 
We've bought 5 horses and never had an instructor come with us, in hind sight that was probably very stupid as i'm hardly experienced but i agree you know whether you like the horse or not. Main reason is the distance really, we've ended up travelling quite far to see horses and i'd feel guilty making my instructor take so much time out of her day to view horses with me when she's busy with her own life. I think it would also come down to the price of the horse, the most we've ever paid was 3.5k, if we had 7k to spend i think i'd be way more careful!
 
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otherwise no I'd go on what I thought and what the vetting said
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I took no one else other than the vet to see my horse because when it comes to big decisions, I rely on my own gut instinct. However, this is not advice I would ever give to anyone else.
 
I'm not at the stage where I'm going to be buying a horse yet (maybe in a few years when I've saved up) but I would defintely take someone more experienced than me with me - be it my riding instructor or a good friend of mine who used to run a riding school and compete. I might not drag them out to every horse I went to see but if there was one I fell in love with then I'd want them to have a look at it before I parted with my hard earned cash - they know me, how I ride and also they know more than me about buying horses - conformation, what to look for, things I might miss in my excitement, a second pair of eyes is always useful.
 
When I got my second proper horse my mum and sister went to see it first without me. The main reason being I was on holiday, we weren't in the market for buying one and they are very nosey and he sounded nice. Went back to see him with them for a second time and decided yes, dependant on vetting. Silly lady sellling horse failed to come and meet us for the vetting at a mid way point (a friends yard) so the vet went by himself to do it.

I would trust my own judgement on whether the horse was suited for me or not, and the vet on it physical capabilities and type (as he knows what kind of stuff we get up to!) Current horse is perfect!

Old horse I got even though I wasn't sure about him after my mum and sister saying how great he was, and I was too chicken to disagree! Cue 4 years of falling off - wish I had gone for the other one that I had liked and they hadn't instead!!

I don't have a regularly enough 'trainer' to bother taking one tbh, normally go with my mum and sister. But would ask my friends second opinion if they weren't there to give it
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I dont have an instructor/trainer but if I did I wouldnt take them to a viewing.
Out of all the horses we have bought the one we bought with the help of the intructor was the one that caused the most problems as the instructor kept saying how wonderful this horse was and how it will take my sister far. However this effected my sisters riding and as a result she felt too pressured into succeding and appeared to lose the enjoyment.

When I next buy a horse I will probably go back to who I got my first horse from and go to the sales in Ireland who sale over here to buy a nice young sport horse
 
It really is just language. No one in North America (yes, I know we're not there, just an example of how language changes) says "instructor" anymore unless they specifically mean someone who teaches a novices in a riding school.

"Coach" is for people who are showing/working at a higher level.

"Trainer" is usually for someone who works with the horse as well but sometimes it's used synonymously for "coach".

It's not snobbery, it's clarification.
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As to bringing someone to see a horse you're thinking of buying, all well and good for all you people with loads of experience, nothing but success, and horsey connections. (Did you all buy your first horse completely on your own, not even consulting your parents?) But for someone with limited experience what would you suggest? Just learning by making mistakes? MUCH easier to benefit from other people's past mistakes, if you ask me.
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Look at the horror stories of unsuitable horses on here almost every day! Perhaps some of those could have been avoided with a bit more professional input, saving a lot of heartache, pain, and money. Someone experienced knows what questions to ask, what tests to do, what problems might be bigger - or smaller - than they look. They can also "see the future" a bit more and possibly even predict a little more accurately how the horse will come on with work etc., because they've been there lots of times before.

At least if someone takes a regular instructor that person - if they're half decent - knows what the rider is capable of and what might or might not cause a problem for him/her personally. Especially if the rider is new to buying/buying a type they're unfamiliar with. (I've occasionally gone with people to look at very green horses because that's what I know about. Sometimes I recognise things that someone used only to dealing with older horses might not see the same way.)

Also, buying horses is a MUCH more complicated procedure these days, especially in the UK. Different vettings, return policies, law suits . . . it's a mine field. I can see why many people want a little professional support for their decision.

What is surprising is that any professional is willing to give his/her opinion these days! It's much more "buyer beware" in North American, with very little scope for returning horses or making official complaints, so people are a little more inclined to figure an opinion is just an opinion and they better be sure.
 
I am my daughters trainer- (commmonly known as mum) - i know exactly what her capabilities are, I know what we are looking for and what we need to fit in with our other horses and our expectations for the pony....i think only me and her can make that decision. The vet will advise me on on any health/conformation issues that I may have missed, being pontentially blinded by a pretty grey or a palomino ( sold!)....other than that an expeinced frind. Will be looking for a new pony in Sproing - i intend to take son (armed with VC) for first viewings, then go back to see any I like, then arrange vettings for the potential ONE.
 
My "instructor" came with me to see the horse I had before Alisha. I had the horse less than a year and sold it on cos I didn't get on with it. I felt that my instructor chose the horse for me rather than letting me have my own opinion. I bought Jigsaw and Alisha by myself and I still have them, so in the future I would prob not take my instructor with me.
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I never have but I have run things by my instructor. Particularly conformation issues. EG I saw a horse going beautifully but it had a roach back. So ran that past my instructor. Similarly i saw a horse which was slightly pigeon toed.

I think it really depends on your instructor and their experience.
 
I dont take an instructor as such, but i will always take my mum or my sister with me.
Both like a different type of horse then me but both are extremely good at noticing little things.
My sister has a real eye for a horse. We went with a friend of ours to a local horse market. My sister spotted this horse that was almost an RSPCA case, was disgustingly filthy and covered in cuts and scrapes, she was insistant that there was a nice horse under there dispite the fact no one else could see it. to cut a long story short horse was bought by my friend, fattened up, is now undergoing some serious schooling and is going to be aimed at some HOYS qualifiers next year (large hack of large riding horse dependant on how he shapes up), some very very knowlegeable people have seen him since he was fattened up a bit and my friend has actualy had some massive offers on him.
 
hmmm I suppose two heads are better than one and I always think you should have two viewings when buying a horse so your totally sure etc and somone elses honest opinion (proving they are experienced more so than yourself) is always a good thing.

At the moment, my horse is my 'trainer'....so I dont think taking him to view another horse would wash down very well!
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Whilst have always made my own decisions think it is useful to take someone else knowledgeable with you - for example they may hear or see something you don't or whilst you are riding horse they can talk to the seller or someone else on the yard and it is amazing what can come out in that sort of informal chat rather than the sales pitch! Have lucked into buying two horses with amazing confirmation who have shown successfully at top level without any advice but if were looking again would possibly get a second opinion from as really have no idea. Normally comes down to do I like it and can I afford it - okay will buy! Have actually only ever bought 5 horses over a 25 year period so not a regular horse shopper.
 
I know what your saying and it does make be giggle sometimes that their doesnt seem to be any 'riding instuctors' these days only trainers. However, I would take a riding instructor along to the first viewing. It would mainly be to check over legs etc to save arranging a vetting if their was something really wrong!
 
Just to clarify, I don't mean that less experienced horse people should do it on their own! My horses are both competition horses, both adverts say that they need competent riders, so I'm talking more about experienced riders- but I like to hear the views of others too!

I'm not critisising either point of view, I am just genuinely interested. Obviously I have always gone to see horses with my mum who has a good eye for horses, so I would never need a trainer/instructor/coach (sorry trying to cover all bases
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). I asked mum if we would consider bringing my instructor when we go to look at some more expensive horses, and she said..."well, no, cos at the end of the day we will proberbly just igore what she says anyway, it's always the way!"!
I have also always had my horses vetted before buying, so wouldn't want to bring one along to check the horses confo, I would just ask my very trustworthy vet!
 
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