The horse trainer debate

[Etienne]

With so much focus on this forum on horse trainers in the last days - good and bad, I offer something to think about. When things go wrong and whichever guru you turn to for help, what happen when the horse return home?
Consider - these special trainers usually keep these problem horses in very special, controlled environment, with very strict routine, forage diet, no outside stimulae, no field time. Go back to the old management routines, put worried owner back in the saddle. I think the question is now answered.
And final question - is there a money back guarantee from problem horse trainers? Or does trainer just say 'the owner mess it up'?

 

[Orangehorse]

The trainer should help the owner to do the right thing. The Intelligent Horsemanship (Kelly Marks/Monty Roberts) visit the home and get the owner to work the horse.

 

[galaxy]

I think you've made some large assumptions.

1. I don't think that many people send their horses away to be "sorted out" if there's a problem in the grand scheme of things. Most people prefer the trainer to go to their home.

People who do have to send horse away....

2. I don't think that many professionals run under the routine that you outlined. Most do offer turnout.

3. Most people go and ride their horse and have some lessons on how to keep up the training.



4. there's never a guarantee with horses!

 

[Chavhorse]

Any responsible trainer will have a set number of sessions/lessons that the owner has to attend during the horses training period and also a "hand over period" of x weeks before the horse returns home.

My horse is in livery at my trainers yard so I have all that knowledge on hand and still have a weekly lesson with him. But with all the "training horses" he has a contract with the owner setting out;

What they want achieved
What he believes is feasible to achieve in the timescale
Number of sessions the owner must attend
Hand over period with number of hand over lessons

All the horses have turn out for the entire day in winter and 24/7 in summer and as far as routine is concerned they are simply absorbed into the normal yard routine....biggest thing is the yard is very relaxed.

Seems to work as he has lots of "thanks the horse is so much better" testimonials.

 

[TarrSteps]

All valid points above but there is also the aspect, what if the horse NEEDS different management to address the problem? If it does better on a different routine/feed/training program isn't that something the owner should take away and at least consider? Why should a horse, especially one showing signs of not being able to cope, have to do all the changing?

Now the rider being unsuitable for a horse . . . that's a bit trickier. A good instructor should be able to asses discuss the situation with the owner and help work toward a resolution, whether that involves instruction or some hard decision making.

 

[Chavhorse]

Now the rider being unsuitable for a horse . . . that's a bit trickier. A good instructor should be able to asses discuss the situation with the owner and help work toward a resolution, whether that involves instruction or some hard decision making.

Good point Tarr Steps and Jan has on a number of occasions had the "this will never be a match" conversation.

 

[JanetGeorge]

Consider - these special trainers usually keep these problem horses in very special, controlled environment, with very strict routine, forage diet, no outside stimulae, no field time. Go back to the old management routines, put worried owner back in the saddle. I think the question is now answered.
And final question - is there a money back guarantee from problem horse trainers? Or does trainer just say 'the owner mess it up'?

As others have said, you make some silly assumptions. I take a lot of problem horses for schooling and their 'routine' is very normal. They're stabled, worked daily, have a few hours turnout daily, get fed pretty 'normally' depending on their needs, and plenty of good haylage. I insist owners come to ride them at LEAST once (depending on distance as some horses come a long way) - preferably far more often - before they return home to ensure the owner is happy with what has been achieved and that they can follow up the work done.

I keep in touch with owners once horse goes home and give advice if necessary - but thankfully I've NEVER had the situation where a horse went downhill once he got home! However, if a horse DID go home and immediately start misbehaving, then I'd visit the horse at home and try to determine what the problem was. Some yards don't suit some horses as well as others - for all sorts of reasons.

I'd never just blame the client - after all, to stay in business in what is a 'competitive' profession, a trainer relies on his/her reputation and recommendations from happy horse owners!

 

[BBH]

I had a horse which people advised me to have shot because I bought him and got him home to find he was dangerous ( he was 5 stage vetted and tried 3 times, the vetting was carried out by the dealers vet who was eventually struck off but thats another story)

Anyway said horse went to Richard Maxwell for six weeks and he was rehabilitated. Coming home he came with a training plan to be followed and a lot of aftercare on the phone. A great result for me and horse.

Competitor / trainers are the worst IME for lack of planning, aftercare, follow on support. I was with a trainer once for about 15 months and in all that time he didn't once ring with an update or progress report. In fact he was caught out by his grooms for what the horse had been doing. His public personna is as a happy chappy, good all round guy. Behind the scenes a total knob.

Horses for courses as they say.

 

[Georgia68]

I recently sent my horse to a well known trainer for 2 weeks. I first asked the trainer to come out to look at my horse's aggression issues and there was a significant change in his behaviour, which was fantastic. So sent him off for a couple of weeks to work on his way of going, which was quite stiff and reluctant.

He's been back for a couple of weeks and the feeling is there really has been little to no change in him, perhaps if there had been more communication regarding his ongoing training this would be different. I had one lesson on him, which to be honest wasn't the fault of the trainer, but I was left with no real idea of what I should be doing with him on his return. There were no written notes, and limited verbal feedback. After his return, I also contacted them to discuss an issue with a saddle, was waiting for feedback and haven't heard a thing since. No phone call to check on how he is going and I now feel very awkward about contacting them.

There was some tension between the people who look after my horse and the trainer, but I would have thought that the trainer would have been able to see beyond this - It was a great deal of money for me and I feel I have been rather left out to dry.

So not a great experience so far.