Hiring a Trainer

Hiring a horse trainer can be tricky, so I'm here to offer a few tips to help you wade through the murky waters of selecting the correct boarding school for your horse.

First of all, be sure that you and your horse are suitable for each other.
Trainers can't "fix" mis-matches (ie: bold horse/timid rider), nor can they alter a horse's basic personality or temperament.

What they CAN do is educate a horse within the parameters of his abilities, teach him to be more (or less) responsive to cues or stimuli, and hone the skills he needs to perform well in the discipline you've selected for him... period.

One of the biggest challenges many hard working and honest horse trainers face is convincing owners to have realistic expectations... so wake up from your Unicorn Dreams before trainer shopping if you want good results.
Sure there are plenty of trainers who will mollycoddle you and play into the unicorn dream... don't allow it, or you'll be sorry as your bank account dwindles and your horse fails to improve.

That said, if you've decided that your horse will benefit from some professional training, selecting the correct trainer for the job requires some homework and effort on your part; else you risk wasting your money on ineffective training.

Start by determining your goals... because that will dictate what strengths and experience you'll need in your trainer.
Whether your ambitions encompass jumping at A-rated shows, winning the Kentucky Derby, or just riding uneventfully through the woods at a walk, there are trainers suitable for assisting you in reaching your goals, and trainers who are not.

Obviously, you wouldn't send your reining prospect to a H/J trainer, nor your dressage mount to a trainer who specializes in barrel racing, right?
So take a little time to research your prospective trainer's background and experience in your chosen discipline, even if it isn't his primary area of expertise.

Let's assume you have a trail/pleasure horse who isn't all that much of a pleasure out in the woods.
You're fed up with his spookiness and inconsistant performance because you never really feel safe on him, but you do feel that the match is good... he simply needs more mileage over rough terrain, more exposure to wild animals, more confidence when something rustles in the bushes.

So you're shopping for a trainer.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:

1]  Find a trainer who shares your philosophies on basic care, riding, and horsemanship... otherwise you'll clash, and no one will benefit.

2]  Check his references (especially previous training clients).

3]  Ask him direct questions regarding his plans for your horse's training, and expect straightforward answers.  If you detect "Trainer Speak", let him know upfront that you are a realist, and desire open and honest communication in regards to the investment you're making in his horse training services.

4]  In the case of your trail horse, if his "training plan" doesn't include time and mileage spent in the woods trail riding, it's a waste, and you need to keep shopping trainers... you don't train "real-life" trail horses in an arena.
This line of thinking applies to whatever discipline you've chosen... training (at some point during its course) must address the horse's actual job.

5]  Inquire about owner participation, and also about riding instruction on your freshly trained horse... most hobbyist riders need lessons, and if you resist learning to ride better, you'll only screw-up your horse's training after he gets home.

6]  Visit the facility and pay close attention to the attitudes of the horses as well as their physical condition... are they friendly?
As you take your tour, keep a sharp eye for safety hazards and note cleanliness.  Pride of ownership in their stable is directly related to pride in their work.

Of course there are many questions to ask and things to consider, but I feel those are all important aspects to cover before committing to a trainer.

In addition, I prefer a trainer with a smaller stable that does his own riding and is personally involved with the horses on all levels.
In my experience, large training operations use *catch riders* who are students or hired hands... the horses get mileage, but they don't get the expertise of the actual trainer, which leaves some issues unresolved.

Unless I'm sending a show horse for "tweaking", I avoid show barns for pleasure or trail horses.
Believe me, the trainer at a large successful show barn is far too busy working with his "money horses" to be concerned about your nag... not to mention all the missed training days you'll be paying for because the trainer is at a show or out-of-town.

Hiring a trainer is easy... hiring the right trainer for you and your horse requires some work on your part, and isn't always so easy.
Just make sure the trainer "fits" what YOU and YOUR HORSE need, and that you are comfortable working with him to achieve the goals you've set, regardless of what they may be.     

DIY Video Trainers

 

 

Over the years, I've had a lot of people ask me why I never made a training video, and there's only one honest way to respond to that question:  with a hearty knee-slapping belly laugh, and telling the kidder what a hoot they are.  Too Funny.

 

I find it very difficult to respect DVD selling trainers.

They're packaging a set-in-stone method of horse training that they've had success with themselves, without considering the wide variety of horses and people who will be trying to mimic them.

 

I don't even understand how anyone can HAVE a "method".

I know I don't.

I have techniques I tend to use more often than others for certain horses and temperaments, but I can list at least 10 different ways to address just about any training issue... and I use them all depending on the circumstances.

 

Each horse I ever trained was an individual that required tweaking my approaches and responses accordingly... often during sessions and without any forethought.

The *correct method* is the one that works for the specific horse in question, and NOT something that can be recorded in a "how-to" video... because the dynamic is always evolving.

 

So I guess the #1 reason I never made a video is because I don't have a *method* of training that works universally for every horse and rider... and I don't believe anyone else does either.

 

Realistically, it is NOT POSSIBLE to instruct novices in training techniques via DVD for many reasons, and of course, I'm gonna throw a few of  'em out there.

 

1]  You don't hand a loaded gun to a 5 year old.

Since you don't know the age or basic horse experience of your viewers, you have to be very careful in regards to what information you share and what you withhold.

Let's face facts: Horses can be very dangerous if mishandled.

 

2]  You have no idea what *core issues* are present in your viewers' horses... things that must be recognized and corrected BEFORE the topic of the DVD can be effectively addressed.

For Example, as a video trainer, you make a trailer loading DVD... but unless you include cures for every ground issue in the book from not leading properly to being a sullen jackass, your video will fail to educate.

You know good and well that if these horses came to you in person for trailer training, you'd be teaching them some ground manners before you got them anywhere near a horse trailer.

 

3]  If you make another DVD instructing people how to resolve disrespectful ground manners, you'll end up either A} horrifying the unicorn huggers by actually correcting the disrespectful horse; or B} offering poison kool-aid in the form of irrational, unrealistic, and ineffective methods that are "unicorn hugger friendly" ... it's a no-win situation for both the horse and its owner.

Of course, with proper marketing,  you can become rich and famous... so there is a plus side.

 

4]  Every horse trainer worth the title knows that being capable of reading a horse's most subtle body language is the absolute KEY to success... and that accurately "reading" horses is an art, not a science. 

Now how do you teach THAT to your DVD viewers?

Body language from my horses always tells me when to apply pressure, when to back-off, and when to turn tail and run.... sometimes all three within the blink of an eye. 

 

5]  *Always leave yourself a way out*...  an experienced horseman tries to never be put into a compromising situation with a horse, or at least takes calculated risks.

A novice puts herself into all kinds of dangerous positions without ever even realizing it.

How do you protect the safety of your viewers when they don't realize the risks?

Yes, you sell them a stick that's a little longer than their horse's back leg (hopefully) to use along with your video.

Doesn't solve the basic problem though.

 

6]  You cannot teach someone to be a horse trainer until they have at least a grasp of the basic skills and a modicum of confidence in themselves.

Nervous people are ineffective horse trainers (unless the goal is to turn out a psychotic horse).

 

Puhleeze... with very few exceptions, these videos help no one but the seller of them.

In reality, some novice horse owners become more frustrated than they were before, some become mired in endless groundwork unsure of what to do next, and some are actually injured during "training".

A few people claim success, but their horses often indicate otherwise through their neurotic behaviors... I've seen many of them.

 

I find that most video clinicians assume a level of expertise in their viewers that doesn't exist... setting novices up to fail due to lack of basic skills that can only be learned one-on-one with a real-life instructor and plenty of practice.

 

 

 

I just fail to see the benefits of DIY training videos to those who purchase them the most and need instruction the most...

usually people who are intimidated by their horse, and/or grasping at straws to save the relationship by *bonding* with them during DIY training sessions.

 

With the exception of basic "how to" stuff, like how to saddle a horse properly, how to braid a mane, how to apply bandages (to themselves after their horse injures them), the typical horse owner simply cannot digest or utilize the information in training videos successfully because they have no core of knowledge or basic skills to build upon.

I can drive a car, but you certainly don't want me overhauling your motor... same thing.

 

Actually, these video clinicians are making DVDs that address horse training issues, when in reality, the average person usually needs training far more then her noble steed.

 

This is not to say that videos can't be helpful to intermediate or higher skill-level horse owners who merely need ideas or alternate methods to incorporate into their already existing program... these people are capable of selecting the tidbits of information that are useful to them and discarding the rest... but typically, these aren't the people buying the lion's share of the videos... frightened and frustrated minimally skilled novices ARE.

 

My advice:  Use your time and money wisely by investing in educating yourself with a real-life instructor rather than buying DVDs.

 

There it is... my opinion on training videos.

More harmful than helpful in the wrong hands, and that's usually where they're found.

 

*Trainer Speak* Exposed

When I first got my trainer's license, I had several professional trainers of various disciplines "clue me in" on a piece of information they claimed would insure success in my business.

Would you like to know what it was?
okie dokie... but remember... you asked.

They said "Always remember that clients are like mushrooms... keep 'em in the dark, and feed 'em shit".

I'm not kidding.
This was recited to me over and over again with variations of the wording, but always the same message... 'never be completely honest with a client, and always make things sound better than they actually are'.

Of course, they weren't speaking of directly telling lies to their training clients... but rather about withholding certain information, and *sugarcoating* the rest to keep it palatable to horse owners.

Rather than educate me, these words confused and infuriated me; especially since these weren't considered fly-by-night or shyster trainers, but rather were successful and sought-after professionals, many with stellar reputations.

It's "Trainer Speak"... and if you've ever sent your horse for training, you've probably been exposed to it.

A form of mollycoddling designed to keep your checkbook open, it works fabulously on unicorn lovers, and has put many a trainer into that brand new F-250 they've been dreaming about, sent their kids through college, and/or paid off the mortgage on the ranch.

Ultimately, by playing to the vanities of their clients, and telling them only what they want to hear, they build and maintain their training business using public relations as their primary tool rather than their actual horsemanship skills (even though many of them ARE accomplished horsemen).

An example of "trainer speak" is today's cartoon.
Rather than tell lard-ass that he's too fat for his small horse, the trainer chooses to dance around the berry bush, sacrificing the welfare of the horse to preserve the owner's fragile feelings.

Of course the trainer's goal is to get the rider more suitably mounted, but not until the client has ingested an enormous amount of ummmmm... fertilizer... and of course, contributed the down payment for that new F-250.

The rider will buy a new saddle, find it doesn't fit the horse, and FINALLY purchase the larger horse he needs; but not until he has spent a lot of money on new tack and equipment, trainer 'consultant' fees, and chiropractic work for Itty Bitty's sore back. 
ca-ching, ca-ching, ca-ching.

I never bought into the "trainer speak" method of doing business... I'm too ethical I guess.

The ability to recognize "trainer speak" and translate the jargon into plain English can save you heartache and a lot of money when dealing with professionals; and believe it or not, those with the best *bedside manner* are the ones to watch out for the most as they are the most fluent in the art of carefully wording bad news so that it sounds like good news.

Here's an excerpt from an actual email I recieved from a friend who (until very recently) had her rambunctious OTTB at a respected and popular H/J trainer's barn to be "reborn" as a show horse since his racing career ended.  He had been there 4 months when this email was sent to the owner.
The horse owner forwarded it to me, saying that she was confused by some of what the trainer was telling her, and asked me to add some clarity if possible.  
Can you recognize and decipher the "trainer speak"?

***  "Skippy" is so beautiful and talented, thank you for the opportunity to work with him.  It has been a learning experience for both of us, and I look forward to the next stage of our journey together.
I would like to approach his training differently during the upcoming month however, as I feel we have rushed him into undersaddle work too quickly, and he needs time to relax and become more focused on his responses to my cues.
Lately, he has been a bit of a handful when asked to canter, and I've been forced to return to groundwork to resolve this issue amongst some other minor problems we're having.
Recently, he has lost some weight as well, and I've purchased a weight-gain supplement for him along with an all-natural calming supplement.
I'll attach copies of those invoices for you, and there's no rush to pay me back... you can add the cost to your next month's board & training check. 
I know that you were looking forward to coming out to ride him next week, and perhaps take him home, but at this point in time, it appears that we'll need to take him back to the round pen for awhile before restarting our undersaddle sessions again.
Skippy's talent and awesome beauty make him well worth the extra investment in time. ***

Let's see how well you did in reading between the lines.
What she was ACTUALLY saying:
 
*** "Skippy" is so beautiful and talented, thank you for the opportunity to work with him. It has been a learning experience for both of us, and I look forward to the next stage of our journey together.
"Buttering-Up" opening statement ... but there IS a clue to the fact that things aren't going well when she says 'it has been a learning experience for both of us'.
The main thing she has learned is that she's overmounted and outgunned on a racehorse.

I would like to approach his training differently during the upcoming month however, as I feel we have rushed him into undersaddle work too quickly, and he needs time to relax and become more focused on his responses to my cues.
Lately, he has been a bit of a handful when asked to canter, and I've been forced to return to groundwork to resolve this issue amongst some other minor problems we're having.
Translation:  'I'm scared to death of this horse and refuse to ride him anymore.  Because I can't control him, I'll be working him in the round pen from now til eternity... or at least as long as you're writing me checks.

Recently, he has lost some weight as well, and I've purchased a weight-gain supplement for him along with an all-natural calming supplement to help him adjust to his new lifestyle.
It's a shame how the racetrack ruins lovely horses like "Skippy".
This short paragraph is loaded with information...
In a desperate attempt to curb his "thoroughbredness",  she has either cut his grain back to the point where he's losing weight rapidly enough to concern her, OR she's running the weight off of him in the round pen trying to get him "tired enough" that she can ride him (probably riding in the round pen too).
At any rate, she's using supplements to control him rather than advancing his training... at the owner's expense.
The final sentence is nothing but a qualifier... a scam to divert owner attention away from herself.
By transfering blame for the horse's behavior to a previous trainer/situation/lifestyle, she tries to validate her own lack of progress.    

I'll attach copies of those invoices for you, and there's no rush to pay me back... you can add the cost to your next month's board & training check.
Decoded:  'Although these products are for MY benefit, you'll be paying for them... and I assume I've got you suckered in well enough with all this sugarcoating that you'll be a customer for a long time to come.'

I know that you were looking forward to coming out to ride him next week, and perhaps take him home, but at this point in time, it appears that we'll need to take him back to the round pen for awhile before restarting our undersaddle sessions again.
Skippy's talent and awesome beauty make him well worth the extra investment in time. ***
'Stay home... I don't want you poking around out here asking questions and finding out for yourself (by riding your horse) that I haven't accomplished a damned thing in the past 4 months.'
Followed by one last dose of sugar to keep the paychecks coming.

So there ya go... "Trainer Speak" deciphered into plain English.

So the question of the day from me is:
WHY is all that misleading and confusing poppycock from a trainer acceptable to horse owners?
I'm assuming it's because these sweet-mouthed trainers take the unpalatable and make it sound like dessert?

BTW...  on my recommendation, "Skippy" was promptly moved to a different training barn where he is now advancing acceptably in his education.  

*Dis* Speaks Out on Critiques

Hey, Disgruntled Horse Trainer here...
I'm not going to introduce myself every time I write, so just put it in your head right now that if you open this page and see bold blue print, it's (it is) me. 
Sorry for the (  ).. it's an inside joke, and she'll get it.

First on my bitch-list is that I see I'm being censored right off the bat.
The unicorn is certainly NOT calling anyone an *idiot*.

Well, well, well... I see *Helpful* has been leading you guys around the berry bush and just confusing everybody (that'd be me) with a bunch of list writing and other poppycock in an effort to "assist you" in determining the worthiness of your relationship with your horse.

File those stupid lists in the circular where they belong, and listen up:

I'm gonna tell you how to know where you stand with your horse quick and easy, just by answering a few simple questions.

1]  When you're with your horse, are you BOTH relaxed and comfortable deep in your "happy place"?

2]  While riding isn't mandatory, most people like doing it; so when you're riding your horse, are you grinning from ear to ear?

3]  If not, decide whether it's a personality clash, a training issue, or rider error.  (hint: most of the time the correct answer is obvious, but ignored).

If it's a personality clash (like the Hell Horse lives in your stable and you fear for your safety) sell...sell...SELL.
You can't fix personality clashes between horses and riders that involve FEAR.  Just about anything else, yeah, you can fix... but not that.

If you think it's a Training Issue and your horse is anything beyond fresh-broke green, skip over that and go directly to Rider Error, the #1 cause of all horse misbehavior, disrespect, and accidents involving riders.

Now be honest with yourself and get a Riding Instructor... one with several school horses, so you're riding a steady stream of different horses and not getting "too familiar" with any of them.  You don't learn to ride horses by riding the same horse all the time, plus you're paying her good money for the opportunity to ruin ALL of her horses... so demand it.

Try to stay off of your own horse until you know what you're doing in the saddle... he's messed-up enough already, or you would have answered "yes" to the #2 question above.

If fear of your horse is a lingering issue,  the problem can often be solved with a simple downgrade to something less *sporty*... you're overmounted.

If you think you "love" your horse too much to sell him to a more suitable home where he'd be much happier while being ridden correctly, you deserve to bash your head against the wall trying to make the relationship "work".
Fearful riders/handlers make neurotic horses, and neurotic horses aren't anybody's partner.

If you just can't let go of the fear, face the fact that riding might not be your gig.  A mini with a cart might be the ticket, or just forget riding, and train your horse to do tricks.
I don't ride my personal horse (OTTB)... he's just my buddy.
Just be sure you have the right horse for the job.

Warning:  The best equine teachers for timid riders are often far from pretty, and for some reason seem to come in dull colors ... like brown.
They may be aged, or even slightly unsound.
But while they sometimes resemble Shrek more than Prince Charming, they bring a lot to the table in the way of safety and smarts.

Bringing in a Trainer to work with your horse is only applicable IF you are working to improve your riding skills, and aren't afraid of your horse... or if your horse is a greenie.
Trainers are teachers of horses... we can teach them to respond properly to cues, and solve behavior problems; but a trainer CANNOT resolve personality clashes, nor convince a horse to "like" it's owner.

In the case of personality mismatches, just sell him and find a better match... BOTH of you will be much happier with a different (more suitable) partner.

Remember: Horses want to know "what's in it for ME?", and toting a freaked-out, unbalanced rider isn't much incentive for good undersaddle behavior.

Quite Frankly, at least a third of the horses brought to me for trail training were just fine once they had a rider on their backs instead of a passenger.
Often, the acting out the owners described (wheeling, bucking, rearing, etc) never happened here, and was directed at THEM exclusively... the horse was retaliating in the only way he could against poor horsemanship, but was otherwise perfectly well trained when ridden correctly.

These same horses were usually beautiful, well-bred, and sensitive animals... NOT the attributes a novice needs whether she thinks she "wants" them or not.

I urge everyone to get a "been there, done that" starter horse.
They'll teach you what you need to know, and instill confidence.
You can always upgrade later on to a sportier model.

Final Factoid:  A very high percentage of people who refuse to "give up" on a mismatched relationship with their horse generally struggle to "make it work" for about 2 years before A]  They finally sell the horse and get the right one after spending thousand$ trying to solve unsolvable issues, and being miserable for two years while trying to enjoy their hobby.  OR  B]  Give up on horses entirely.

Why waste your time being unhappy in your hobby?
Doesn't make sense to me...   

 

Critiques Continued...

I've decided "Helpful Trainer" and "Disgruntled Trainer" (who shall post in bold blue for easy avoidance if you find her annoying) will co-write, and we'll see how that turns out as we go.

Let's get back to our horse & rider critiques...Hopefully you've had a chance to get your lists compiled over the past couple of days, and ready to use them to assist in determining how well matched you are to your horse.

Without seeing the two of you together, I can't offer the level of help I'd like to, but I know you can handle this assessment if you follow a few simple rules:

1] Think with your HEAD.. not with your heart.
2]  Be totally HONEST with yourself... even if it hurts.
3]  If you err, be sure to do so on the critical side... don't be too "soft" on Dobbin OR yourself, because it'll come back to bite you.

The best I can do is offer you an example using my own horse Fella... if I can rip myself and my most beloved horse to shreds, you can do the same.

I'll start with myself.
I'm a bold and confident handler/rider, and enjoy horses that pose a challenge (upside)... once they're no longer challenging to me, I tend to lose interest in them. (downside)
Horses that mirror my own temperament work best for me... if they're somewhat high-strung and aggressive, I like 'em.

Personally, I don't much care for "pocket ponies"... I already have a dog, and don't need one that weighs 1,000 pounds. 
I prefer businesslike horses with good work ethics and a somewhat aloof personality.

While they might be *cons* for some people, athleticism, energy, and a chip-on-the-shoulder attitude are all plusses for me, as it gives me common ground with my horse.
I don't care for wilting lilies.

My weak areas include quickly becoming bored with dull-witted horses, and allowing my own high-strung horse too much freedom to "be himself" in the form of unruly behavior.
Much of what I find amusing and charming about my Fella is, in reality, dangerous and inappropriate behavior... but I wouldn't change him for the world, and therefore I often don't correct him as I should (downside).

Make no mistake however... I have zero tolerance for disrespectfulness from Fella, and he knows that while I encourage his bad-ass attitude, there are well defined limits.
If he crosses the lines of respect, or behaves too dangerously, punishment is swift and severe.

Disgruntled:  I'll critique Fella now.
This horse is a little different from the typical, because he was specifically bred to race, and not for pleasure purposes... and he has never been ridden for pleasure.

He's nervous, high-strung, and teeters on the brink of insanity.
He doesn't tolerate bumbling or errors... at all... and although he's generally well behaved and friendly, he has a huge chip on his shoulder, and can easily erupt into temperamental fits if he's mishandled.

A strong will tempered with patience and finesse is what he demands from his handler/rider, and he will accept no less.

Fella has a cold, hard eye with a bit of a startled expression... a reflection of his temperament.
The eye of a horse looks directly into his soul, and is the most important thing to consider... his eye tells you everything you need to know about his personality and temperament.

Here's a photo of Fella at age 3... not a good "conformation shot", but shows clearly his primary conformational flaw, whereas a photo taken from the side would not.



Yes, he's somewhat cow-hocked, and stands too "close" behind.
My challenge was to transform this flaw into an asset to the horse at the racetrack... win races, and keep his hocks sound.

I had noticed in the past that most draft horses are cowhocked to a certain extent, with the ones which excel at pulling heavy loads in competition even moreso than the average draft.
In my mind, if that conformation was translating into POWER at the pulling events, it could easily work the same for a Thoroughbred leaving the starting gate... so Fella was trained to deliver an explosive burst of speed from the starting gate, making his "flawed" cow-hocked conformation an asset to his racing career rather than a detriment.

THIS is what we're talking about when we discuss turning your horse's flaws into assets... his *cons* into *pros*.
Be flexible enough to work WITH your horse's less-than-perfect aspects rather than allowing any conformational shortcomings he may have work against you.

Post-legged horses are often good jumpers for example, but not so great for reining or barrel racing.
A horse with a straight shoulder can deliver rapid responses in directional changes, but lacks smoothness for pleasure riding.
Pleasure trail horses can have all kinds of conformation issues and still perform well (and stay sound) because they really don't work very hard. 

In short, if the rider is willing to work WITH conformational flaws, and make changes in their goals and expectations, they're no longer holding back the horse.

The combination of our temperaments, work ethics, and athleticism makes me and Fella a "perfect match" for each other, although most people wouldn't want to own a horse as rough and tough as Fella, and most horses would find me a demanding taskmaster.

The "match" is everything when it comes to enjoying your horse.
Sooooo... working from the lists you made, how well do you and your horse mesh?

Disgruntled Horse Trainer

I haven't written in a few days, the reason being that I seem to be at a crossroads of sorts, and due to inner conflict, I can't decide on a direction for my inane ramblings here.

On one hand, I want to be *Helpful Trainer*, and offer whatever assistance I can to anyone who might read and grasp my concepts; hopefully, they may include some of my helpful hints into improving their relationship with their horse.

On the other hand, my alter ego *Disgruntled Trainer* keeps whacking me upside my head as a reminder that HT is wasting her time writing helpful hints because (based upon 35+ years of experience) only horses learn... their people rarely do.

I'm not talking about people who send their youngsters for the basics, or competition horses sent for training in order to achieve their full potential and performance goals... these are the type of people I trained for during my primary career, and with very few exceptions, they "got it" and were delightful clients.  

No, I'm speaking of my semi-retirement gig training backyard trail and pleasure horses (aka: Magic Unicorns) for almost 13 years.
I was shocked at the disparity between my previous clients (who generally were knowledgable horsemen themselves), and my 'new breed' of client (mostly novice middle-aged women living in unicorn dreamland, who either cannot or will not learn).     

"Disgruntled" feels that "Helpful" is drinking her bathwater if she thinks she'll make any difference whatsoever by attempting to transfer knowledge to the typical backyard horse owner via the internet, when they've already proven in real-life that (except in a few cases) my efforts to educate them are mostly futile.
They just can't seem to let go of their little girl dreams and misconceptions about horses.
I mean, let's face facts... If the vast majority of people who actually sought me out, paid me money, and worked with me one-on-one in real life failed to absorb enough information to really make a difference, why should I expect any different here?

As you know, insanity is loosely defined as making the same mistake over and over again while expecting different results... making me certifiable for even attempting to educate equally insane horse owners when I know in advance that the exercise (statisically) will fail miserably.

Not in ALL cases of course, but the odds against success are high enough that it's disheartening and frustrating.

*Disgruntled* strongly feels that the unicorn dreamers need a reality check... and wants to shock them into the real-world by blowing the horse industry out of the water (or at least holding it's head under for awhile).... you cannot possibly imagine the things I've seen in my life as a horse professional.

Speaking as "Disgruntled", I've been publically called an egotistical braggart, a self-appointed know-it-all, a rude bitch, and much worse by thin-skinned people with their panties in a wad when I did nothing more than point out the TRUTH to them (nothing hurts fragile feelings worse than having the truth hit home).
Of course, my "truths" are just my opinions, but I feel I have good reason to be considered an expert in my field, and a credible source of sound information.

Did you marry, raise children, pursue a career outside of horses?

If so, I know nothing of your lifestyle.

While you were raising your family in suburbia and working 9 to 5, I was travelling the country and learning from thousands (yeah, thousands) of horses and their trainers, vets, farriers, riders, grooms, and stall-muckers... they ALL had good information to share.

My life's work has been a total devotion to learning as much about horses as I possibly could absorb from both the best and the worst in the business.
I've lived and breathed horses, and horses have been my ONLY passion in life.

I did it the old fashioned way too... I spent over 30 YEARS living in tackrooms and stables with the horses, sleeping on hay bales covered with horse blankets, seeing the USA from the windows of a horse van (and learning the different ways people keep horses according to their geographic locations).

Name a breed or discipline, and I've at least tried it.

I served years of apprenticeships, working outlandish hours (even on Christmas and other "holidays") under a variety of successful trainers (including 3 Hall of Famers), slowly working my way up the ladder in my primary career of racing until I had a successful stable, a good name, and a wealth of knowledge gleaned from practical hands-on experience.

I rode races as a jockey for 22 years, starting during a time when women were not welcome at the track and had to fight tooth and nail to survive... and yes, I mean it literally.
It taught me to not allow my feelings to be hurt just because some jerk cussed me out... or worse.     

I attended school part-time taking pre-vet animal science courses to improve my knowledge of how horses function physically, and served as a Vet Tech to one of my best friends in his all-equine practice for 12 years while also riding races and training a stable of racehorses.

I earned my certification as an Equine Nutritionist, and worked for 18 months as a consultant and developer for a regional feed manufacturer.

I earned my Trainer's License at a major California track at age 27... and getting a track trainer's license is totally different from a pleasure or show trainer, who aren't tested for their experience or knowledge, and need only to paint themselves a sign to be "in business". 
A licensed track trainer has to pass a series of 3 tests... oral, written, and practical... none of them easy.
I'm extremely proud of the fact that I was the very first person (male or female) to EVER pass those tests with 100% scores on EVERYTHING.  The stewards told me so. 
This means I outscored famous trainers such as Charlie Whittingham (who was one of my mentors).

Once I achieved the goal of attaining my trainer's license, I was a tri-license holder... the first person ever in the history of racing to simultaneously hold Owner, Trainer, and Jockey licenses (they actually had to rewrite a rule of racing to accomodate the new catagory).

I could go on and on and on... but those are some of my basic qualifications... my (very abbreviated) "resume" so to speak. 

Am I an egotistical braggart blowing my own horn?
You bet your ass I am, but I believe I have earned the right through my blood, sweat, and tears... my singular lifelong dedication to becoming knowledgable about horses... not many can say that.

Unfortuneately, citing my merits tends to alienate people of fragile sensibilities, causing them to disregard me as a *blow hard*; when in actuality, my extensive profile along with a long list of successes should increase my credibility rather than diminish it.
At least it would for me... I guess I just don't understand people or how they think.

Many people don't want to hear of your education, experience, and success (things that prove your worthiness to speak with authority on a topic)... but being humble, and without them knowing your background and experience, what is their basis for choosing to believe that you know what you're doing? 

I believe that success in dealing with unicorn huggers relies on *sugarcoating* and *showmanship*... not on actual experience and knowledge.  

*** As an aside for comparison:
I read Clinton Anderson's "resume" not long ago.
Did you know he apprenticed under one guy for a few years, tried to start-up his own training biz (which failed), went back to work for that same guy again, and after a trip to the USA revealed how gullible the American people are, he finally began doing what he does best... public speaking and showmanship.
C.A. is a very talented horse trainer... probably one of the best out there today... but his knowledge and experience come from a single source (his sole mentor), and a singular riding discipline...not from a plethora of different trainers, methods, and disciplines.
Based upon this (and with all sexy cuteness aside), I'd have to rate him as a trainer of "average" practical experience.
His success comes from his SHOWMANSHIP and SALEMANSHIP more than any other factors. 

I believe that many of our most beloved clinicians and trainers also fit into this type of experience profile... they have one method, learned from one mentor, and it's all they know.

In contrast, I've meshed the teachings of many different trainers, horse breeds, and disciplines... and know there is NO ONE METHOD that is "best" for training horses.

"My Way" always works because I have no set-in-stone method... "my way" changes constantly according to the horse and the circumstances.

This is also why I never made videos, wrote books on training, or became a clinician... it realistically can't be done because a real horse trainer MUST be flexible and vary his or her methods as the individual horse requires.
You cannot teach novices to be horse trainers using videos and clinical settings that promote a singular "method" of horse handling... it just doesn't work.

I'm well aware of my flaws because I'm a REALIST who can critique myself as harshly as any of my detractors can... without getting my feelings hurt. 
I'm not particularily "people friendly", and have lousy communication skills.
I blow my own horn, brag endlessly, and annoy people to the point where they want to slap me... or worse.

BUT those who actually listen and absorb what I say, usually find themselves in a better place with their horses and their riding... even if they dislike me on a personal level.

So there it is...
"Helpful" is currently being shoved aside here by "Disgruntled", who thinks she has something of value to say, and demands to be heard.

"Helpful" fears that "Disgruntled" will alienate readers, but she's a sugar-coated wuss... 
"Disgruntled" told me so.

"D" actually has valuable information to share, but lacks the communication skills to convey it to people who are "fragile"... she believes in delivering information in the same manner it was delivered to her by her own mentors... straight-up, and with the chips falling where they may... no sugarcoating.

Separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak.

Sooooo... I'm considering allowing "D" to write from time to time, and hopefully she won't just take over and run "H" out of town, but we'll see.

If you have any objections to "D" speaking her mind, let me know, and I'll figure out a warning system to let you know when she's writing so you can skip reading that day... wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings, ya know.

Critique Your Horse

Today we're going to critique Dobbin in much the same way we assessed ourselves yesterday, using a "pros and cons" list to help us maintain a level head and realistic view of the big picture.

I know it's hard, but if you really want to know if your relationship with your horse is all it can be, this is essential. 

Depending on how mired you are in the Unicorn Dream, accurately assessing your horse could take anywhere from a few minutes to several days... if you need time to distance yourself from Dobbin and observe him with clarity, take that time... you don't want to make mistakes.
There's a possibility that if you're totally unable to "get real", you may not be capable of performing this step at all... which would make it all just a colossal waste of time.
In that case, I suggest hiring a trusted and honest equine professional for a one-time evaluation (should be less than $100). 

It's critical that emotions be kept under control, and that you think with your head and not your heart... or these lists you're making will be useless. 
The whole gist of the exercise is to give you a black & white listing of merits and shortcomings of both yourself and your horse to compare in order to determine suitability to each other... or if you don't currently own a horse, to give yourself a "head start" on selecting a horse that matches your needs and will be a good partner to you.

It's absolutely of the utmost importance that you be totally REALISTIC and HONEST.  Love cannot be involved!

If you can decipher a horse's body language and facial expressions, and have a working knowledge of decent conformation, you'll be way ahead of the game; but if you can't take a step back and observe Dobbin from the perspective of a disinterested third party, or are too new to horses to know them well, it'll take longer and be more difficult.
Please get a pro consultation if you're in doubt of your ability to critique your horse accurately.

OK, let's trot on down to the barn and rip your horse to shreds.

You're going to observe EVERYTHING about the horse from his general temperament to his potential athletic ability (or lack of it).

Hint: A quick way to get some insight into his attitude is vary your routine a little and see how he handles it.
For example: if you normally give him a treat upon arrival at the barn, withhold it... is he the same as always?  Is he annoyed with you?  Is he confused?
Did he lay his ears back when you failed to produce the treat?
Did he try mugging you for it by crowding?

Write this stuff down... pro or con as warrented.

Be sure you don't mistake disrespect from your horse for "love"...
although they're at opposite ends of the spectrum, they often appear quite similar on the surface.

Look him straight in the eye.  (I know some of those fancy clinicians discourage this, but I disagree with avoiding a horse's gaze)... a confident horse will stare back into your eyes with a soft, calm expression.
This trait goes in the "plus" column in bold letters.

Make a point of noticing EVERYTHING... this may take several sessions.
Every flick of an ear, shift of weight from one foot to another, swish of the tail, etc... means something, either pro or con... so stay alert to his body language as you go through your normal routine.

Conformationally, you need only to address the strengths and weaknesses that directly apply to the type of riding you do.

For example:  Those weak hocks are of little concern to a casual weekend trail rider, but are the kiss of death to a barrel racer.
Critique conformation according to discipline and your expectations for level of performance.

Mentally add to your lists as you ride... especially the *fun factor*.
If you're struggling to have fun, be sure it hits the "con" column.

Just be as thorough and complete as possible... even if it hurts.

Remember to be brutal... this is NOT your beloved Magic Unicorn... this is "just a horse" that you're assessing with the clarity of a realistic mind.
If you fail to do so, you won't be able to determine whether the match is truly a good one or not.

A bad match NEVER really "works".
Sure, on the surface, these mismatch unions may appear to be just fine, but the *connection* isn't there... I'm speaking of the bond of trust that makes a horse your partner instead of simply a form of transportation.

A vast majority of my trail training clients came to me with mismatched horses, and many of them had invested years of effort into "making it work"... to no avail.
In typical cases, the owners arrived here severely lacking confidence in both themselves and their horses, and more often than not, the horse was clearly in charge.

Those horse owners who were able to make changes within themselves to solve disparities between themselves and their horses had moderate success in "forcing" the relationship to work over time, but it required a dedication most people don't possess.

Others found the best solution to be finding a more suitable home for the horse, and purchasing a horse that better matched what they wanted and needed.     

As you go over the lists of your own qualities compared with those of your horse, ask yourself this question:
Would I buy this horse again?

... and before you answer, be sure you are THINKING clearly.
Forget all of the *cute* things he's done, and how much you adore those long eyelashes... focus on the real-life aspects.. the things that really matter!

A good *match* is essential to success and having fun with horses.
Bear that in mind when you compare your lists... and remember:
BE REAL.

Critique Yourself

Before you can accurately and realistically determine the qualities you're seeking in a horse, you must begin by taking a good look at yourself.

Step up to your mirror, look yourself dead in the eye, and say
"I enjoy riding my horse"... while maintaining a straight face.
If you burst into laughter (or dissolve into tears), you know you are a stinkin' liar.
Try again, this time interjecting whatever random descriptive term that seems appropriate.  (for example)  "I am afraid of my horse".
Keep doing this until you discover the phrase that best describes your relationship with your horse... and write it down.

Next, take a blank sheet of paper, divide it into two columns, and write "pros" and "cons" at the top.  
Now, list your strengths and weaknesses in the appropriate columns using the keen eye and nit-picky cattiness you'd normally reserve for critiqueing someone else who isn't you.

For example, in your "pros" column, you might list such things as your unflappable confidence, your stellar balance, your feather-light hands on the reins, etc.
Now throw that list away and start over... this time being realistic and honest in your assessment.

You cannot possibly make an accurate determination of what qualities you NEED in a horse (as opposed to what you think you WANT) unless you're willing to be painfully honest about yourself.
So stop telling yourself lies.

Sure, in your younger days, you might have been a champion show jumper (for example), but if you're now in your 50's and fear grips your heart when faced with an 18 inch crossrail, you're NOT that rider anymore.

Next step is to honestly answer this question:

If I'm faced with either A} getting bucked off, or B} a loss of control (such as having a horse run off with me)... which do I fear most?

EVERYONE must answer, because ALL riders fall into one of these two catagories... even those who *have no fear*.

I myself have never been *afraid* of a horse in my life, yet I fall into catagory {A}... I hate hitting the dirt more than I hate losing control of basics such as steering and brakes.
This means that I'm better suited to a sensitive horse who may resort to his "flight response" under pressure than I am to a less-sensitive one who tends to use his "fight response" (such as throwing a buck) when aggrevated.

The reality is that if you and your horse aren't temperamentally suited to each other, the relationship will be difficult to maintain, even if it doesn't fail miserably.

Once you believe that you've been totally realistic and honest with yourself, and listed your pros and cons accurately, stash your lists in a safe place (for future reference), and make a new sheet with the same heading labels.

Now trot yourself down to the barn, because you're going to take the same hard-line approach to evaluating your horse (which will actually be easier than critiqueing yourself).

Next:  How to critique your horse like a pro... and what the results mean in terms of suitability to your purposes, and the odds of long-term success in your relationship with him.  





  

   

The Hard Part... Getting a Fresh Start with Your Horse

Now that we have a more realistic vision of our Unicorns, and hopefully recognize that they are indeed actually HORSES (which require an entirely different approach from unicorns if we're to be successful with them), we can move forward.

First of all, if you have read this mess from the beginning, you understand that this is a dicey area for me to comment on with any great authority because I have a difficult time relating to the subject matter... communicating with horses has always come easily to me, but I realize that isn't the case for many people.
Yet communication is tantamount to success.

I don't even know if it's possible to instruct anyone in "how-to" REALLY understand horses if they weren't born with the ability to do so naturally... but let's give it a try.

For starters, if you're planning to improve your relationship with your horse and want to be able to associate his body language and demeanor with what makes him happy, and what annoys him to no end, you realistically must accept that no one else can do this for you.

You can't send him off to a trainer for this particular aspect...
Having a horse desire your company and want to be your partner is strictly DIY.

A trainer can teach your horse to respond correctly to cues and solve behavior issues, but they cannot convince a horse who doesn't want to partner with you to accept you into his inner circle.

A few years back, I had a horse with some minor disrespect/behavior issues come in for training, and when his conversion into a good citizen was complete, his owner joined me for several sessions in order to be able to maintain his new and improved attitude.

After having her observe me as I rode him, I dismounted and demonstrated his recently acquired voice commands, a couple of which were to stay in place as I walked away from him... then to join me when he was cued to do so.

Eager to try this herself, his owner was delighted with his newfound work ethic and performance while riding him. 
She grinned ear-to-ear when she dismounted and he stayed firmly in place awaiting further instructions... then was devastated when (on her cue to come to her) he proceeded to walk directly over to ME.

"You STOLE my horse!" she wailed nearly in tears.

No, I did NOT... what I did was provide her horse with the structure, consistancy, and understanding which he craved...
HE DECIDED to partner with me, not the other way around.

Her wishy-washy approach to his daily handling had only confused and annoyed him... while my straightforward and no-nonsense approach was something he understood and appreciated.
My common-sense *code of conduct* was clear and reasonable to the mind of a horse, and he embraced the simplicity of doing the right thing because I made it easy for him to determine what was *right*, and what was *wrong* through my consistancy in his handling.

Yes, SHE was the *cookie lady* who demonstrated her love for him in a thousand ways; but was so erratic in her actions and responses to him, that he chose to distance himself from her emotionally... and over time had become disrespectful of her because she never assumed the role of a leader he could depend upon and trust with his life.

Although I never fed him a single cookie, and was adamant about my position as the Alpha in our little herd of two, I was a benign ruler who understood his thought processes and used his dependancy on my leadership to my advantage... and therefore he eagerly CHOSE to become a subordinate in my "herd".

But you can't just "flip a switch" like turning on a light to get this... 
The rules and regulations you set must be both FAIR and EQUITABLE to the horse (remember he wants to know "what's in it for ME?")

You can't buy a horse's love with treats... you CAN achieve that goal only through consistantly fair treatment along with an insistance on unwavering compliance and respect.

The starting point is OBSERVATION... and it's a factor that cannot be skipped or taken lightly.

In my next installment, we'll discuss the basics of REALISTICALLY observing and evaluating your horse's temperament and how to "get into his brain"... the preliminary baby-steps towards achieving a healthy relationship that offers both you and your horse the rewards you are each seeking.   

 
         

Wake Up Call

OK, enough with the metaphors and touchy-feely recitations... it's time to wake-up and smell the coffee.
Let's leave the Magic Unicorn Dreams to the little children where they belong, and take a realistic, adult look at horses.

As I previously said, Horses don't want to be Magic Unicorns.
They want owners, riders, trainers, and barn managers who understand them and use COMMON SENSE in their handling.

Most horses have just one basic question when it comes to their relationship with humans, and that is:
"What's in it for ME?"

What they WANT from their relationships with people is simple.
Food, care, and handling based upon common sense are the top three... with everything else falling farther down the ladder of priorities.

They respond best to consistant, uniform handling wherein they understand the parameters of the relationship with their people, and have clearly defined rules and terms of engagement.
They hate being kept guessing... playing mind games is not on their list of favorite things.

Basically, most horses prefer to live in a rut of mundane routine where nothing much changes, and they know exactly what to expect from their humans without surprises... in fact, they thrive on it.

They like their people to provide the confidence they lack by nature due to their prey status; and to combine that cool, calm, and collected handling with compassion and patience.

When their handlers are all of the above, horses respond in kind; automatically eliminating many of the problems nervous, inconsistant handling tends to produce... including neurotic behaviors, stable vices, undersaddle misbehaviors... etc.

Horses dislike inconsistancy probably above all else... if they never know what to expect from you, it keeps them in an agitative state, as it disrupts the sense of peace that "living in a rut" brings to their lives... and some of the more sensitive horses actually develop physical issues (such as ulcers) when their lives are in a constant state of disruption.

If you lack confidence, become nervous under pressure, or lose your temper trying to deal with your horse, he will become a mirror to that behavior from you and become the same over time.
Horses (unlike most people) are great readers of body language, and will pick-up on a nervous handler/rider immediately.

Example: (and we all know someone like this)...
The rider who is always looking ahead on the trail for "scary stuff", and through her own fear of a "spook", relentlessly reassures her horse by nervously petting and attempting to "keep him calm" by speaking to him in a frightened, shaky voice when he sees nothing at all to be afraid of in the first place...  she will, in time, teach her horse to be a spooky, timid mount through her own timidity.

Now take the very same horse and place a confident rider on his back for a ride through the woods.
Without the quivering hand on the reins, the "reassurance" coming from a source that's obviously frightened, and the micro-management every time he turns his head to look at a bunny, the horse becomes calm and stops looking for danger where there is none.
Happy and self-assured by his calm rider, he delivers a fabulous ride to her and actually enjoys himself too... making going out for a ride a good thing in his mind, rather than something to dread.   

When I was training Trail Horses, people often asked just exactly HOW "despooking" on the trail was done.
The answer is simple.

I merely trail rode the horse, doing my best to insure that every ride was a GOOD RIDE...  hundreds of miles of exposure with a cool, calm, and collected rider who was never flustered or nervous regardless of how the horse reacted to stimuli.
No *corrections* for honest spooking... just uniformity and reassurance from a CALM rider.
The results were amazing.

Of course all that chatter above is just one example of how a handler or rider affects a horse's psyche either for good or bad through our daily interactions with them... and how a horse's mental state bears on his performance over any other factor.

The challenge lies not within the horse, but with the handler/rider.
If you can bring realism and common sense into your relationship with your horse, you can overcome his fears, and in turn he will help you overcome your own.

If you're nervous around your horse, you're probably asking just HOW to accomplish this... and well, we'll get to that later... but for now, start by promising your horse to make a sincere attempt to understand him, and to make changes in yourself as needed to provide him with the consistancy and common sense handling he needs to understand and trust YOU.

It's the root and basis for all good horse/owner partnerships... and everything that follows is built on that foundation.

It's time to put your magic unicorn in his stable and move forward with building a better relationship with your real-life HORSE... I guarantee you that ultimately, you'll both be much happier when you really understand each other.

Next time... How to get started towards that goal.