Recommendations for trainers?

[JosieSt]

Hello. I'm toying with the idea of sending my somewhat excitable warmblood away to a trainer to see if a professional might be able to get him to the point of being safe to canter across open fields without bombing off and bucking with excitement (who knows... I dream of being able to do low level hunter trials with him one day... but first things first). I've lost my confidence with him and am questioning if he's the horse for me but totally love him so otherwise it just means I'll have to avoid riding in open country at anything more than a trot (which would also be gutting). But I've no idea if it's realistic to think that I might be able to pay someone to change my boy's excitable nature and, more importantly, if this is possible, I've no idea who to trust with him or how I'd know. Any thoughts or recommendations gratefully received. I'm based in the north west (Cumbria).

 

[JosieSt]

No one?

 

[VRIN]

TryJohn marsden - he's based at somerford. Josh Haynes rides for him and both are excellent. Great facilities at somerford too.

 

[Ossy2]

How much help do you actually have with the horse already? Sending away is great to get some schooling under their belts but what’s going to happen when the horse comes back and you revert to riding in the same way you have done and get nervous, unfortunately the horse is just going revert. Some horses just pootle along regardless of what’s happening on top of them and others do need to be ridden quite precisely. I’m not sure what your reaction is when he gets excited or bucks, our natural reaction is to take our legs off and pull back, but actually you should be keeping your legs on and pushing your hands forwards a little, that’s what a pro will do to overcome it, which is great if you are going to continue that. After sending him away You really need someone to work with you and your horse to keep it up.

I’m not familiar with your area, but for someone to send away too Andrew Grey who’s in Scotland is great at this kind of thing.