Bashing Horse Trainers

This is for all you shyster Horse Trainers out there who make a living ripping-off your clients instead of working for your paychecks.
Line up... it's time to take your medicine.

But first, I have a question.
If you don't love horses, WHY do you choose to work with them?

The obvious answer of course is "for the money", but excepting the highest levels of race or show training, I know for a fact as a career trainer myself that there's no real money in working with hobby/pleasure horses... so there must be another reason.
Lack of other job skills maybe? 
I dunno... it seems to me like a trainer needs to be a horse lover to be good at their job though.

And what's with the dishonesty towards your clients?
Are you so lacking in common decency and ethics that you deliberately rip-off people who come to you for help with their horses? 
Or are you simply a compulsive liar?

How can you sleep at night knowing you prey on the inexperienced and gullible? 

I recently had a boarder mare come back from "training" whom I had known in the past as a gorgeous, dappled beauty with a sparkling eye and zest for life.  She was well-trained and rode great, a little forward at times, but always easily controlled and well behaved.

Her novice owner had approached me about training before sending her off to a "friend recommended" trainer, but after riding the nice mare a few times myself, I told her the animal was already excellently trained, and the only problem was that she was simply overmounted, and needed a less sensitive horse with considerably less "spirit"... this was a mis-match that was never going to work, given the rider's limited skills and timid personality.

Since this was an expensive horse, and summertime in Florida is no time to sell a horse at a decent price, I suggested that she simply wait until Fall, sell the mare, and purchase a more suitable horse for our next riding season.
Not liking my honest evaluation and answer, she insisted that the mare get unneeded TRAINING in an attempt to force the mismatch to work.

This is a common mode of thinking amongst the novice hobbyist crowd, but one which rarely works because a trainer cannot change a horse's basic personality or temperament... they can only modify or teach good behaviors.
A sensitive mount (regardless of how impeccably trained it is) cannot be transformed into a dull, semi-comatose horse unless they are starved or overworked into it... otherwise known as "breaking their spirit".  Just a fact.

Sooooo... the gist is that the mare's owner sent her to a "trainer" (ahem) up North in the mountains for the summer, hoping that the mare could be "calmed down" enough to be suitable for her.

Well, the horse returned home to board at my farm a few days ago after her 2 month course of (ahem again) training, bearing little resemblance to her former self.

Gaunt, dehydrated, covered in saddle sores, sore-backed, and LAME, she is a mere shadow of the gorgeous, healthy animal that left here just a couple of months ago. 
Her coat is not only dull, but falling out due to sweat-burned (and peeling) dry skin, and she has untreated saddle sores on both sides and down the length of her back.
She has pressure sores on her hocks from being kept on hard ground with no bedding. 
When you look into her eye, there's nothing there... she just blankly stares back.
She is so lame, she can barely walk, and has swelling/heat in 3 of 4 legs. 
She is painfully lean, and will take months of specialized feeding to get her healthy again.

This "horse trainer" should be HORSE WHIPPED!

I'm not letting the owner off the hook though... a little research done beforehand rather than blindly following advice given by a well meaning friend would have served her well.
Asking the right questions would have revealed the true nature of this "trainer" and her facility beforehand.

Turns out the friend who recommended this miserable excuse of a trainer was just old college pals with her... she had no real knowledge of whether the woman was actually a horseman or not... just knew she was in the horse business.
In reality, the stable was a hack barn and horse trader operation with about 40 rental/sales horses, not a bona fide training facility; and it's pretty obvious to anyone who didn't just fall off the turnip truck that this lovely, high quality, well trained mare spent the summer working as a hire-a-pony to any tourist in flip-flops and shorts who wanted to pay up to ride her. 
The saddle sores are fresh over old in layers... the poor mare wore an ill-fitting saddle all summer while toting (probably overweight) Joe Blow up and down the mountain. 
She's dog-lame... absolutely unrideable, and can barely walk without massive doses of Bute. 
She was obviously used hard on a rental hack-line, barely fed, and neglected.
Her "I'm already dead, so just shoot me now" expression tells the rest of the story... her spirit is all but broken, and she's "used-up".

I don't tolerate this very well... neither the trainer's dishonesty and disregard for the mare, nor the owner's lack of attention to detail before handing over her horse to someone she didn't personally know.

People... Research your trainers!
Even those who come on recommendation of a friend.
This shyster "trainer" charged the mare's owner for training board, and also made money renting her out to tourists.
Then when she was thin, crippled, and had lost her zest for life, she was returned to her owner as "trained". 
whatta racket.

But it's not just the hillbilly operations you need to keep an eye on, the other side of the coin is just as tarnished.

I had a trainer pal in the open jumper show world a few years ago, but had to dump him as a friend when we bashed heads over his dishonesty towards his clients.
For years, I had admired this man as an icon amongst the most elite show jumpers, and he was highly sought after by jumping enthusiasts from Canada to Florida.
His impressive farm and stables reeked of money, the horses were all healthy and impeccably groomed, and on the surface, the entire operation appeared to be based upon flawless horsemanship.

In reality, things were much different than they appeared.
Because of his popularity and show record, he took in far too many horses for training, and spent his days entertaining visiting clients while his student riders attempted to train the horses... often during their riding lessons.
He sold top-dollar horses ($50,000 to $200,000 range) to unsuspecting people knowing very well that the horse was nearing the end of its show career due to age or unsoundness... held them together for a few months with Bute, then while pretending that the arthritis (or whatever unsoundness) was a "new" condition or injury, advised the owners to buy a new horse (from him of course).
His training fees were sky-high, yet he never actually took an active part in any of the training.
I watched as he strung along one client for well over 6 months, collecting fees when he knew good and well that her horse lacked talent for jumping... but he never told her.
Basically, he wrung money out of his clients, and leaned on his previous fame while they recieved very little in return for the large checks they were writing.

Once again though, I can't let the owners completely off the hook, and in this case it seemed that some of this guy's clients really didn't care about the quality of his work, or the fact that they were getting ripped-off... all they cared about was the prestige of having their horse in the barn of this famous jump RIDER.
Yes, in reality, the guy had no talent for training... he was a champion jump-rider, but that's all he was... he lacked a "feel" for horses, and a trainer needs that.
He falsely billed himself as a trainer, when riding packers in the show ring was his true talent.

At any rate, the lesson here is to always scratch below the surface when hiring a trainer... even one recommmended by a friend, or one that has great success in his discipline.
What one person may be OK with, another might consider as poor horsemanship or even abusive treatment.

There ARE plenty of hardworking, honest trainers out there, but you must do your homework to find them... it's a shame, and it sux for sure... but you can separate the wheat from the chaff if you ask the right questions, and can see through the "trainer speak" to the truth.

We'll discuss specific questions you might ask a prospective trainer (and what answers you should expect) within a few days... as well as some tell-tale signs of dishonesty to watch for. 

I'll Be Nicer If You'll Be Smarter

I'm always so amused talking to Backyard Betsy (or Backyard Ben) about their horse for sale... they always wants to tell you a ton of crap you don't need to know, yet can barely answer the important questions (correctly).

I once had a guy tell me that he didn't even want to show me his horse for sale... (he felt it would be a waste of time for him I guess) because the animal was "too much horse" for a woman, and "needed" a male rider.
hahaha... but also frustrating sometimes... the critter fit all the criteria I was looking for as to breed, conformation, age, size etc... but that idiot predetermined that I couldn't handle the horse simply because I'm not a man.

puhleeze... I was a racehorse jockey for 22 years, and retrained "rogue" horses for 35+ years.
I'm quite confident that I can easily ride the horse.

Another one that gets me... "My horse won't allow anyone but me to ride him"... that one is so rediculous that I can barely stop myself from laughing in their faces when I hear it.

OMG... I won't even go into some of the off-the-wall comments some of my training clients have made about their horses... stuff that just proves they don't "get it"... but I've heard some real doozies over the years.

Does anyone else have any amusing (or rediculous) statements that people have made to you about their horses... you know, stuff that just makes you wonder if these morons are drinking their bathwater for breakfast?

If so, let me know, and I'll compile them into a post that might be fun to read... maybe make you chuckle, maybe make you wonder if some people are on drugs... but could be interesting fodder.

Safety First... Weighing In on Helmets

I'm all for taking a proactive stance on safety when working with horses... they are large, powerful animals with a highly developed flight instinct, and undoubtedly possess the potential to cause great harm when alarmed.

Assuming that I'm speaking to responsible ADULTS here, my belief is that each rider or handler of horses should incorporate whatever safety measures they feel are best for their skill level and peace of mind, and allow others the freedom to do the same.
  
Peruse any online horse forum, and you'll be treated to the Great Helmet Debate, which is pretty much just the two opposing sides yelling insults at each other, with both factions far too emotionally involved to make a thought-out, concise argument.

 If you can't enjoy your ride because you're worried about falling on your head, then by all means put on a helmet, quit worrying, and have fun.
By the same token, if you're not so inclined to make safety equipment part of your riding experience, that's fine too.
There's no need to inflict your personal opinion of helmet usage on anyone else... their situation and life isn't yours to control.

Personally, I weigh in on middle-ground about helmet usage.
I wore a helmet all day, every day, for 22 years in my job as a Jockey (and those were the old style Caliente helmets with no ventilation and very heavy by today's standards).
I don't mind wearing one, but I seldom do these days.

I don't give a rat's ass whether my riding pals wear helmets or not, and don't actually even notice who is or isn't during our rides.

Now, if one of my riding buddies were to randomly and routinely dive off her horse head-first putting her at high-risk of injury; then in the name of friendship, I'd speak up in favor of not only wearing a helmet, but also incorporating full body armor, air-bags, velcro...
whatever might help keep her safe.
Otherwise, I just don't care... take whatever safety measures (not just helmets) you feel are best for YOU, and allow me to do the same.

I fully understand and agree with those who have dependant children/families in taking all precautions they deem necessary to insure stability in their lives. They cannot and should not risk accidents, and a helmet is a good safety tool for anyone concerned about possible head injuries.

However, those same people seem to forget that not everyone shares the same worries and responsibilities... or wants to.

For example, when I decided to make the very dangerous sport of riding horse races my primary career, I knew that the risk of being injured or killed was elevated above that of someone with a desk job... so I made the conscious decision to never have children, nor be accountable to anyone but myself for my actions.
Just as then, if I were to crack my head open on a horse today, there'd be no one inconvenienced but myself.

I personally know people who cower throughout life recoiling in fear from every risk no matter how slight, so consumed with their anxiety that they never (in my opinion)  "live life to its fullest"... and I'm not talking about just riding horses here.
As an adrenaline junkie, I'm generally filled with pity towards them because it seems to me that they're missing half the fun of living... UNTIL they choose to lecture me on wearing a helmet when I ride a horse, and especially when they insinuate that a lack of education on the subject is the problem.

Believe me, I understand the risks and implications all too well.
No one rides racehorses for 22 years without being able to name at least a dozen close friends who are either dead or crippled for life.
That said, only one of my pals ever died from head injuries... her horse hit the rail during a race, catapulting her into the furlong pole head-first at about 40 mph, cracking her helmet like a egg, and her skull as well.
NONE of the jockeys I rode with at the track was ever condemned to riding a wheelchair for the rest of their lives by a head injury.
Spinal injuries (broken backs) accounted for most.
But hard to draw a comparison to the hobbyist rider (who often hits her head in a fall), because these riders were far above average in their skills... they were usually injured during the course of a gory accident, and not just because they slipped off their horse during a spook or something equally as mundane.

I can't speak for everyone of a no-fear personality type, but as for myself, I assure you that the risks I take are calculated... if the odds seem to be against me, I take the appropriate action to level the playing field (ie: safety gear).
If a horse is unbroke, known to perform triple back flips at random, or otherwise a *bad risk*, I'll strap on a helmet... otherwise, I have the confidence in my horsemanship skills to ride bare-headed.
MY choice, MY decision... and willing to accept any consequences.

I'm often annoyed by people who flatly state that "horses are unpredictible safety risks"... maybe for THEM they are, but in all honesty, after riding thousands of horses over a lifetime (many of them lunatics), I'm never *caught off guard* by anything a horse does... especially these basically unathletic trail riding horses I'm partial to in my retirement.
Horses can absolutely be catagorized by temperament as to how they will respond to stimuli, and to someone with a widely varied background in riding, they are very predictible and never surprising. 

Calculating my personal odds, the chances of me striking my head falling from a horse are very slim... the accident would have to be so freakish as to be improbable.
I seldom part ways with a horse unless he totally falls down flat on his face, and if he does, I'm athletic enough to jump (usually landing on my feet) as he goes down.
After showing open jumpers, riding racehorses, and retraining rogues for other people for so many years, there's pretty much nothing that the gaited riding horses I favor in the autumn of my life can do to shake me, and with their slow reaction times, I'm never "caught off guard" by anything they do... decreasing the odds of injury even more.
I've also never been "top heavy" as a rider.
If I'm going down, I always land rightside-up... maybe sitting on my butt, or on my knees, but never flat on my back, flat on my face, or head first... this is where athleticism in a rider comes into play as a safety feature...  and vaulting (or being catapulted) off dozens of ponies as a child teaches you to land on your feet and learn to fall correctly to avoid injury.

If you started riding later in life... wear a helmet!
You lack the early childhood experience on cranky ponies that it takes to make a rider who can commit to an impending fall without becoming tense... and stiffening up is what injures you.

If I have a horse bucking wildly, and I feel myself coming loose with no chance of saving myself, I simply  loosen-up and commit to my fall... which allows me to emerge unscathed.

Only one time in my entire career as a professional rider has wearing a helmet made a difference in whether I was injured or not.
1981... at Charles Town Track, as the jockey on Bin Growing.
Bin was a speedball, broke fast from the gates and was far in front of the pack when he went down, hurtling me into a rolling fall onto the track surface.
I did NOT hit my head when I landed, but my helmet proved useful as the other 9 horses trampled me... I took a few glancing blows to the head as they passed, even though I made myself the smallest target possible.
Had I not been run-over, wearing the helmet would have been moot for me, even in a sudden spill at a full run.

Sounds egotistical, right?
Damn right... but at the same time, I feel that my level of expertise in the saddle reduces my odds of accidental injury far below that of an average hobbyist rider.
And I'm willing to accept my personal odds, as they are favorable to me.

I'm not advocating that anyone throw away their helmet... to the contrary, I feel that MOST people should wear one, and that novices be helmeted not only in the saddle, but also on the ground.
I've seen beginners do some pretty stupid stuff (like holding a hoof up incorrectly for cleaning while putting their head under a horse so far that a swipe at a fly on the belly by a hind hoof could crack their head open)... and since they depend on luck more than skill, a helmet is a great idea.

Currently I ride with people who are accomplished horsemen and excellent riders... they all wear helmets *most* of the time.
We don't judge each other or try to control each other's choices in safety gear.
We HAVE FUN and don't focus on the stuff that is none of our business.
I'd like to see more riders adopt this attitude.

Why Horse Trainers Are Insane

 

This post is intended as clarification for Marie (and anyone else who might be wondering), as she brought up a seemingly valid point a few days ago in regards to my current reluctance to ride with people whose horsemanship skills are poor (or non-existant), while before my retirement from training horses I had strongly advocated rider education and skill development... makes me seem wishy-washy for sure.

These days I'll only ride with my peers, and here's why:

The most direct and honest reason is that as a trainer of backyard trail and pleasure horses, I was driven quite insane by my clients over the years.
Ultimately, my only defense to the madness of training horses for Backyard Betsy was to distance myself from it.   

I retired earlier than I had planned from a horse-training career I really enjoyed because I became so frustrated with horse owners who either could not (or would not) learn, that I couldn't continue.

The horses were never the problem, and I miss working with them... but quite frankly, although I had more than a few former clients who possessed the "can do" attitude to develop their horsemanship skills (and I'm proud of them), most were aggrevating at best, and it'll be a long time before I'm able to forget them and become sane again.  

After years spent at the track where horse trainers actually trained horses for people who were accomplished horsemen themselves, where everyone was an expert rider capable of following instructions, and logical thinking prevailed; in semi-retirement as a pleasure/trail horse trainer, I was shocked by my new genus of clientele. 
Backyard Betsy's outlandish and unpredictible emotional behavior was the norm, refusal to "try harder" or leave her comfort zone very common, and downright FEAR ruled the day.   
I was amazed by the high percentage of hobbyist riders who will hire a horse trainer when what they really need is a riding instructor (or a new hobby).
 
Generally, the problem isn't that they can't improve, but rather that they choose not to, and therefore remain stuck in their rut while blaming their own issues on the horse (who actually has no issues except those directly caused by his owner), and expecting people like me to "fix" it.
Overwhelmingly, they expect the horse to make all of the concessions in the relationship which is not only unreasonable, but also just plain unrealistic.

It's very nerve-wracking for a horse trainer to also provide services as a therapist, personal fitness trainer, and babysitter.

Time invested by a horse trainer in riding instruction for clients with horses "in training" is usually time that would be better spent cleaning your toilet.

Here's WHY:

Overwhelmingly, horses sent to trainers by hobbyist owner/riders are mature animals with a satisfactory amount of previous training for their jobs... they have simply been ruined by mishandling, spoiled rotten, and poorly ridden until they developed misbehaviors that alarmed the owner (when I say "alarmed", I mean scared the crap outta her).
As a trainer interested in creating harmony and understanding between horse and rider, I attempted to combine retraining of the horse with instruction for the rider so that she wouldn't destroy his training again in the future, and both would be happy.
bzzzzt... FYI... it rarely works.

There's no way you can heal the mind of a neurotic, stressed-out horse while allowing it to be handled or ridden by the person who caused the damage in the first place... unless that person is willing and able to make serious changes.

It's extremely hard on a horse to be handled and ridden by a capable person for a month or two, regain his trust in people, and become a happy, mentally stable animal... and then return home to the madness that caused the damage in the first place.
He would have been better off never being sent for training at all than to stress and confuse him with on/off bad handling.

Even if the owner/rider is willing to improve and make changes, the challenge often proves to be too much, depending on how damaged the rider is.
Horses can almost always be cured of their issues... people not so much.

So as a trainer, let's say you're making great forward strides in "fixing" a horse, but every time you attempt to work the owner into the picture, she drops the proverbial ball.
She lacks comprehension or simply ignores instruction, subjects her horse to unwitting abuse, and ultimately, by the time her brief visit is concluded, the experience has left the horse severely set-back in his progress. 
It will take the trainer far longer to restore the horse to it's pre-client-visit state than it took for that person to undo 3 weeks of training.

So working with clients on their horses is often a vicious circle of good and bad handling/riding that is ultimately so stressful to a horse that he'd be better off mishandled all the time than being jacked around between the two styles.
Nothing is really accomplished except mental (if not physical) abuse to the horse.

Pleas to these people to get riding lessons are mostly ignored.
They are adamant that they learn to ride on their own horse, yet fail to recognize that their horse-in-training is currently in recovery from their poor riding.
They need several lessons a week from someone who specializes in riding instruction... on a stoic old schoolmaster... not an occaisional Saturday afternoon of driving their horse trainer (and their horse) insane with their inept skills and apparent inability to learn.     

My job description as a horse trainer (according to me) is that I am an *educator of horses*... teaching and refining performance in each horse according to his athleticism and talent, eliminating bad habits, and unfortuneately, sometimes even "dumbing them down" a bit to suit their riders abilities if the horse's previous training exceeds their rider's skill level.

It's extremely disheartening to take a talented and well trained horse and reduce him to a virtually non-responsive slug... yet I had to do this on many occaisions because the owners refused to work towards bettering themselves, and demanded that the horse be reconfigured to what they wanted him to be.
Every time I was forced by owners to reduce a beautifully trained horse with a wonderful understanding of discreet rider aids to one which would ignore all inadvertant miscues and respond only to a direct kick in the ribs or yank on the reins, a little bit of me died.
Although the owner was pleased, I always felt I had done the horse a disservice.

While every customer I had believed their own situation to be unique, they actually all fit neatly into catagories.

I had the "Brash Brenda" clients who yee-hawed their way down the trail on their freshly trained horse like a maniac, confusing the animal, and quickly undoing all of my hard work.
Brenda often demanded a quiet, safe, gentle and well seasoned trail mount from me, only to destroy that "mellow" training by (for example) barrel racing the horse on weekends under whip and spur. 
So much for that 30 days of my blood, sweat, and tears... the horse was ruined again within a few weeks of going home.
These people were generally quick to blame the trainer, when it was themselves who fried the horse's brain by riding like hellhounds.
(For the Record: I'm not against barrel racing when done correctly, but very few hobbyist riders actually train their horses for it, preferring instead to just haul-ass around the cans while goring their horse with Texas Stars, then yanking to a stop using a brutal bit... making it the perfect example of how to ruin a dependable trail horse).  

My "Nervous Nellie" clients required an excessive amount of hand-holding and encouragement; gals who often dissolved into tears while standing frozen on the mounting block with one foot in the stirrup, while their babysitter-safe horses waited patiently for them to either mount or chicken out.
Some didn't make it that far, and I sometimes burnt up half my day trying to console them as they sat sobbing at my picnic table trying to conjure up the courage to ride their horse.
These gals were very common.

"No-Win Nancy" surpassed Nellie in that she was so deeply frightened of her horse that any chance of successfully interacting with him was dismal at best.
Nancy routinely fit neatly into the catagory of the middle-aged horse lover who had dreamed of unicorns from childhood, but never had the chance to own one.
Nancy was almost always a complete novice.
She had never ridden a horse outside of a hire-a-pony situation, was slightly overweight, totally nonathletic, and had no clue. 
In her 50's, financially stable, with kids grown and gone, she had finally purchased the horse of her dreams... and I mean OF HER DREAMS.
The most common *dream horses* I recieved for training were either the Black Stallion or Trigger.

One time (and this is all true!), I actually had Nancy bring me a gorgeous, unbroke black Arabian stallion which was her very first ever horse... and even admitted to me that he was selected based solely upon the horse in the movie... she even had posters on her wall at home depicting him!
Needless to say, once she had him, she was intimidated by his size and strength, while he was empowered by his ability to frighten her... it was a no-win situation.

Other common no-win mismatches were the "color" riders.
Selecting horses without consideration for any other attributes except their haircoat, these unicorn dreamers often quickly discovered that "pretty is as pretty does" when it comes to horses.
A good horse is never a bad color... but a bad horse can be any color.

Generally as a rule, by the time these people sought professional help, they were so scared of their horses that they could never trust them again... fear gripped their core, and the only solution was to sell the mismatched horse, invest in riding lessons, and considering a severe "downgrade" to something more suitable when purchasing the next horse.

"Overmounted Olivia" seldom realized what the problem in her relationship with her horse actually was, even when clearly pointed out.
While her delusional mind pictured her horse of personal preference as an animal of spirit and sensitivity, her skills dictated a need for a much more laid-back and docile mount.
She was confident in her ability, while totally devoid of the same.
Usually heavy-handed and lacking the finesse required for a sensitive mount, she routinely demanded that her horse be made "less hot"... an impossible task for any trainer if the rider is bullish and unwilling to lighten-up.

*** News Flash: A trainer cannot change a horse's basic personality or temperament.
They can only condition behaviors.***

"Slippery Sally" had a butt made out of butter, and spent half her time falling off for no good reason, and mostly just sat there for the longest time pondering if she should ever try riding again.
5 miles out into the woods is NOT the place to decide to give up riding unless you're trying to piss off your trainer.
ugh... I hate hiking, yet I ended up walking home on foot from a trail ride with Sally on a fairly regular basis when she refused to remount her horse. (I couldn't very well ride home while Sally walked along miserable and/or crying, could I?)
Sally felt that I should be able to teach her horse to stay under her at all times despite the fact that she tended to just fall off out of the blue without the horse spooking or anything... no shit... she'd just get overbalanced to one side as she rode, and slip ever more to that side until she slid right off onto the ground.
I had a lot of riders like this.

I actually had a woman complain to me in a tone of blame when she fell off in this manner one time.
She slid off sideways, and the horse stopped within 2 steps as he had been trained (I knew going in that she was a horrible rider without a desire to improve, so I made sure he would stop when she fell off).
She irately insinuated that I wasn't doing my job, and demanded that I teach him to stop quicker... like before she fell off.
That doesn't even make sense... if I taught the horse to stop every time he felt her losing her balance (and before she fell off), they'd never get out of the barnyard... I might as well just teach him to never move.

Then there was "Freak-out Freda".
Freda was fine as long as everything went smoothly, but if something horrible happened (like a bunny sitting in the trail), she immediately gripped her reins white-knuckled and stiffened her entire body... alert to impending disaster although her horse had been totally unresponsive to Mr. Bunny.
Of course, Freda's response to "danger" was communicated to her horse through her body, while her continued vigilance and red-flag caution convinced him that although he couldn't detect any life-threatening monsters, they surely must be lurking nearby... and so the entire demeanor of both horse and rider were destroyed, with each reduced to frightened anticipation of... nothing.

I had a "Freda" freak-out and freeze so badly one time (for no good reason) that I had to loop my own reins over my saddle horn in order to use both hands trying to pry hers off her reins as she was actually cutting her young horse's mouth with her death grip.  No Lie.
She dug in with her legs and heels, and maintained that while simultaneously hauling back on the reins so hard her horse's head was buried in its chest.
Confused, the animal became agitated and began trying to bolt from the unrelenting pressure.
So we rode side-by-side together, me controlling my horse through only leg and seat while ponying her horse with one hand and trying to dislodge her frozen hands from the reins with the other... while also attempting to talk her into a state where she'd relax her legs and give her horse some relief.
It was brutal and scary for me as well as her, as her poor horse was close to a meltdown, and liable to do anything at that point.
Luckily, I was able to calm her down enough to ease-up a little, and I ended up ponying her all the way home.
It set back training for her horse by a good week.

An alarmingly high percentage of my student horses arrived here neurotic and distrustful due to a steady diet of mishandling at home, and some needed a vacation from their owners far more than they needed training.

Some needed no training at all, but the owners seldom accepted this evaluation, and insisted that training take place, even though I knew in advance that unless the owner changed her ways, nothing would be accomplished.

Overwhelmingly, resistance to change prevailed... I estimate that for every client I had who was eager to improve their skills, I had 10 who demanded that the horse be made to conform to their poor horsemanship... or who were so terrified of horses in general (and their horse in particular) that improvement was impossible.

Granted, working with those who dedicated themselves to the project and became capable riders was rewarding, however don't forget the impact of the other 10 who simply refused to try.
For myself, the satisfaction of assisting the few who "got it" failed to balance out the anguish of the majority who did not.

The things I saw them do to their horses piled onto my brain until I could no longer send my student horses home in good conscience as I knew that within weeks they'd once again be reduced to mental wrecks and displaying misbehaviors based solely on mishandling from their owners.
When it got to be so much that I was sickened with pity for the horses and resentment towards the offending owners, I quit.

I'm not the only horse trainer to quit my beloved job due to the stress of dealing with clueless clients... it's quite common... and any trainer who deals with Backyard Betsy can offer hundreds of horror stories.

And THAT is why I carefully select my riding buddies these days.
I no longer possess the patience to deal with this type of horse abuse... and won't... I figure the new generation of trainers can take over from here.

... at least until they are driven insane by those they are trying to help...  LOL

Horse Lesson #013

Take a look at the picture... Read the caption.
I found it on Facebook on one of the horsie "feel good" pages.
Whatta crock o' crap.
OK, I understand the statement is meant to be taken in the broadest interpretation of life itself (even though it says "horse lesson"), but I still can't wrap my brain around the concept.

It seems to me that you are ALWAYS better than someone else, and someone else is ALWAYS better than you... it only makes logical sense that if you work hard at something, you'll develop better skills than someone who doesn't apply themselves; and by the same token, someone with a natural aptitude for a vocation will progress faster and farther than someone who works hard, but lacks the inherent ability.
I think the statement actually devalues the time and efforts of those who strive to be "better than the rest" at whatever it is they choose to do. 

Sorry, but the statement simply doesn't make sense to me...
and in my opinion, if something doesn't make sense, it isn't true.

It makes me cringe to think that our society has become so mollified and insecure that we need constant positive reinforcement to prop-up our sense of self worth; and by catering to the weaknesses of the underachievers, we endorse the behavior... indeed, we celebrate it... while simultaneously making those who work hard to excel feel ashamed of their accomplishments because it's all but taboo to be "better" than anyone else.

The current adults in our society have been conditioned from childhood to being rewarded for everything and nothing; they expect accolades for every non-accomplishment they make, and shrink from recognizing people who strive for better and achieve success.
A "feel good" society of people propping each other up on flimsy pedestals of praise in an effort to boost their own sense of self-worth.  

How does all this ranting apply to horsemanship?

Well, I attended a competitive event not too long ago where I noticed that as riders were dismissed from the arena (sometimes after downright embarrassing performances), they were "awarded" a light blue ribbon.
Light Blue is "almost" BLUE... right?
These horses and adult riders had just FAILED a test... they neither deserved, nor should they have wanted a ribbon.
Yet by accepting a (light) blue ribbon, they successfully assisted in degrading the efforts of the horse and rider who put forth the winning performance, while feeling good about themselves when they should have felt the agony of defeat.
IMO... Since everyone was a "winner", those who were truly BEST weren't recognized as they should have been.

Granted, on another day the order of finish might be different, but on that day, there was one rider who was the BEST, making them (at least for the moment) "better" than the rest, regardless of what Horse Lesson #013 claims.

Those clutching light-blue ribbons went home feeling good about themselves, able to disregard the fact that their poor performance was the direct result of a lack of preparation or skill, and with no real incentive to improve.... because even as losers, they were winners... and had a 29 cent strip of bling to prove it.

People... feeling defeated is a part of life that shouldn't be ignored or disregarded for it's value, although today's society seems to think it should be abolished.
Defeat builds character just as importantly as praise, and when you can identify your personal flaws and shortcomings it opens the door to making improvements.
Living in Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, recieving praise for no good reason, offers little real-life incentive for improvement.
After all, why strive to be better at anything if "no one is better than anyone else" regardless of how much effort is expended towards reaching a specific goal?

During my years at the track as a jockey and trainer, the lines were very clear... you were either a winner or a loser.
If you didn't win, the crowd let you know their opinion in no uncertain terms through insulting jeers, and sometimes a thrown paper cup or shredded tote-ticket.  
You don't hear much about racehorses that finish 2nd (or worse) because losing isn't rewarded.
As horsemen and riders, it made us more aware of our mistakes, and kept us focused on improvement; something I didn't see much of in my work with clients later as a trainer of trail horses.

I understand there's a world of difference between the highly motivated world of horse racing and the casual trail rider, but the two disciplines beg to be compared during todays discussion because so many trail riders have absolutely no desire to improve their skills or knowledge... they strive to no goals, and generally are satisfied with "passenger status", feeling that each time they manage to hang-on and make it through the woods in one piece, they are riders (winners).

bzzzzt... wrong.
How erroneous to assume that the riding abilities of these passengers are on a par with a capable and dedicated rider who actually applies good horsemanship skills to enhance her ride!
Yet, in accordance with Horse Lesson #013, the rider in control of her horse and enjoying her ride is no "better" than the mere passenger hanging on for dear life and hoping for the best.
Hogwash...  I don't know about YOU, but I do know which of the two I want as my riding buddy (and who I don't).

Regardless of the prevailing tone, the point of this tirade is to encourage, not discourage... if you suspect that you *may* be one of the majority of hobbyist riders who have settled into the false comfort zone of believing the words of Horse Lesson #013, you have a problem to solve, goals to set, and work to do.

Even if your set goal is only to be better in your own riding next week than you are this week, you'll be making forward strides in developing stronger character, improving your skills, and escaping the grasp of the very unrealistic "feel good about yourself regardless of how crappy you really are" poppycock that prevails today.

Get real... step up to the plate, identify your weaknesses, and work on turning them into strengths.
Horse Lesson #013 is a lie... you are always better than someone else, even if that "someone" is YOU... all you need to do is recognize it, climb down from your false "feel good" pedestal, and get to work on improvements. 

Boarding Stable Debate

The Great Boarding Stable Debate... an issue which shall most likely remain unresolved between barn owners and horse owners until the end of time.

Since this topic is best discussed by experts, I'd like to introduce (if you don't already know them) Annoyed Barn Owner (AB); and to offer counterpoint, Frustrated Horse Owner (FH).

I shall mediate as needed... hopefully not at all.

It's no secret that a myriad of differing opinions exists between horse owners and management at boarding facilities, but maybe by shedding some light on why each faction feels the way it does, we can reach some middle ground... or at least an understanding.
It's worth a try anyhow.

One point that everyone agrees upon is that a boarding facility MUST be a good match to a horse and it's owner (and vis versa), or the relationship will fail.
Boarders and Barn Owners need to at least share a basic philosophy of what constitutes good horse-keeping.
What is considered acceptable at one barn may be totally unacceptable at another, and ideally, management and customer should be in agreement of the care standard in order to be of benefit to the horse.

FH:  I'll jump in here and say that I've been boarding my horse for years, and haven't found a barn yet that can take care of my horse half as good as I can... I move Golden every 6 months or so because of that.
I pay good money for boarding, and expect my horse to recieve the level of care his specialness deserves... but barn owners have low standards, and treat him like "just another horse in the stable".  I wonder sometimes about people like AB. 

AB:  Well FH, the same can be said on my end... I try hard to screen my prospective boarders, but the nut cases always seem to slip through the cracks.
You people think your horse is the Golden Unicorn who should be the center of my attention at all times; you often give me lists of crap and nonsense that "must" be done in the way of unnecessary additional care, dictate specialized feeding programs that are nothing short of outlandish, or otherwise monopolize my time with frivolity when I have multiple horses in my care...  the Golden Unicorn is a fine animal, but he's not the only one in my barn, ya know... there are 12 additional unicorns here as well.
I'm sorry, but according to their owners, they're ALL special.
In reality, your horse IS just another horse to care for (as my own personal horse is)... and any barn owner who tells you different is a liar.   

No name calling thank you... please continue.

FH:  I just want a clean and safe environment for my horse where he is treated well and fed on a regular schedule.

AB:  Sounds reasonable to me...

FH:  I don't like coming out to see him and finding a broken fence board in his paddock that doesn't get fixed for a week.
I don't like discovering that he's still eating his breakfast at 9:30 am.
I don't like finding his stall dirty, his water bucket dry, and no hay.
If he's turned out, I hate it when he's standing in ankle-deep muck.
I shouldn't have to search for his halter, only to find it hanging on another horse's stall door.
The barn dogs are a health hazard.
My barn owner's kids leave toys everywhere.
The grass isn't mowed.
It's just a mess.

AB:  What kind of debate is this?
I agree completely... these are all inexcusable things you should reasonably not have to deal with from a reputable boarding facility.
What kind of "bargain barns" are you boarding at anyhow?

FH:  At $175 a month, I'd hardly call it a bargain AB.
I figure my horse eats about a bag of feed each week, so 4 bags a month is about $40; and maybe 3 or 4 bales of hay, so another $20... that's $60 a month.
So my barn owner is making $115 of pure profit off me every month just for tossing out some feed... easy money.
It's a small private barn, so my barn owner works a full-time "regular job" too.
I can't believe some of my friends pay $400 monthly to "pro" boarding stables for the same service... they aren't too smart sometimes.

AB:  Hold it right there FH... okayyyyy... that answers my question in regards to your boarding barn... it's an on-the-cheap backyard operation, probably not licensed or insured, and the experience level of the absentee owner might be open to additional debate since horse management isn't her primary career.
The few extra bucks she brings in from her boarders each month probably is used to support her own hobby horse habit.
I don't know where she's finding feed so cheap (or even if your numbers are accurate), and won't even go into that; but I will say that it costs me a lot more than that per month to provide feed, hay and any additional supplemental rations for each horse stabled here.
Plus your numbers are skewed... you didn't factor in the costs of insurance, taxes, licensing, maintenance of equipment and grounds, operating costs (such as gas for mowers), fencing supplies, reseeding pastures, etc... not to mention the many more liabilities that are associated with operating a farm.
Get Real.
You aren't at a bona-fide boarding stable... that's why you are paying so much less and getting so much less for your money.

FH:  I've boarded at "pro" barns before AB... too much drama and too many divas for my taste at those places.
Not to mention too expensive... and I didn't see where the level of care was that much better either.

AB:  Well, as far as boarding goes, I believe you get what you pay for FH... but you still have to do your homework.
I won't say there aren't shysters out there, sometimes the fancy barns are the worst offenders when it comes to gouging their clients...  but there ARE good pro barns too.
You sneer at your friends paying $400 per month, but consider that while your "barn owner" is toiling at her day-job behind a desk, your horse is left alone to colic, be accidently injured at her disaster area of a farm, or even be stolen by people who know she isn't around!  
Your friends' horses at the pro barn are under supervision... that peace of mind costs money.
You write as though you feel that barn owners make too much money, and you devalue their time and labor... would YOU perform heavy physical labor for the same rate of pay?
What value do you place on expertise and experience?
For example, the alert pro barn owner who quickly recognizes a health issue and addresses it can save you thousands of dollars in veterinary bills... is that attentiveness not worth a fair rate of pay?
How about working 7 days a week (including ALL holidays), never taking a vacation, and not going out to dinner because it will clash with feeding time for the horses?
If YOU were doing it, would it still be worth practically nothing?

FH:  I never really looked at it like that before...

AB:  I agreed totally with your complaints about unsafe and messy conditions FH, but us barn owners have our own problems with those things.
I carefully screen my prospective boarders, and it takes more than an open checkbook and a smile to keep your horse here... but I do get the occaisional boarder who simply cannot seem to follow the rules.
#1 on my list of aggrevations is boarders who don't respect my property.  Paying your board each month does NOT entitle you to trash my farm.
I have enough to do without raking up the manure you left at the washrack, or picking up the empty coke cans and candy wrappers you leave behind every single time you are here.
BTW... even though you may think you're entitled (or being clever), I DO NOTICE when my stock of fly spray, horse shampoo, and other misc supplies has gone down drastically after your visit.
Fixing the rails at my saddling area twice a week after your horse pulls back gets old too... can you please either teach him to tie, or stop trying to hard-tie him?
Oh yeah... and at least correct him once in awhile for digging holes in my yard and eating my flowers while you are hand-grazing him! (are you paying any attention to him at all?)
Leaving the tackroom fridge door open, not flushing the toilet, putting items into my septic system which it was never intended to handle, cleaning a year's worth of assorted trash out of your car and depositing it into my garbage bin (which I have to personally load and haul 13 miles to the closest landfill), leaving the water hose running for no reason (I have a well pump that you are helping to burn out, ya know)... plus a plethora of other minor, yet grinding annoyances and disrespectful practices, are all tiresome to deal with on a regular basis.
Of course, I try to weed out these people ASAP, but it's quite common for people to think that because they are PAYING, they can just run amok and everything will magically get cleaned or fixed as needed... even when the damage is due to them not giving a damn.
I have to live here... you don't.

FH:  I'll admit I *may* be guilty of a couple of those things.

AB:  After several years of careful revision of my clientele, I finally have the people and horses I want here at my farm... like-minded and capable riders who are truly friends as well as customers.  They treat my farm as if it were their own... as it should be.
Perhaps, rather than just assuming that all boarding barns are "out to rob you", you should explore your options more extensively.  
Be more specific when interviewing prospective barn owners about what you expect in return for your money, get guarantees in writing, and insist that they adhere to the covenants of the contract.
I can't think of anyone who ever got rich boarding horses.
Consider your finances and if you can increase your monthly boarding budget, do so... you can't expect people (especially ones with expertise in a certain field) to work for next-to-nothing.
You certainly can't expect them to maintain their farm if they don't earn enough to do so.
Don't expect A+ care unless you increase your boarding budget to a more realistic figure.

FH:  Valid points.
In return, I want some respect too... after all, I'm the customer here, and isn't the customer always right?

AB:  Mutual respect is essential, but you'll find that if you follow the cardinal rule of boarding (a shared philosophy of horsemanship between the parties), it will be a non-issue.
As for the customer always being right, I'll have to disagree beyond a certain point.
Since I'm signing a legal agreement that makes me the guarantor of your horse's health, and based upon my experience in caring for horses, I reserve the right to object when your decisions aren't in the best interests of your horse.
For example: If you decide on a whim to feed several different supplements that may clash or create an overload, it's my DUTY to speak up as your horse's advocate.
I have boarders who are excellent horsemen, but I also have boarders who are novices, and they often try to do "too much" in caring for their horses... sometimes to the detriment of the horse.
In short... if you don't trust the judgement of your barn owner, you're at the wrong barn.

FH:  well, maybe you have a point... but I'm not convinced.

And so the debate lives on...
 

What's In Your Feed Bag?

During the 1990s, I was stabled at the track with 25 head of horses, all doing well in their races and looking great... but I had a nagging feeling that *maybe* they weren't being fed quite right.

Sure, my feedroom was stocked with the best feed available for racehorses (I know it was, because it came in a glossy bag with full-color racers on the front and cost a lot).
I had buckets of supplements and herbal remedies, blood builder tonics, probiotics, prebiotics, and every biotic in between. 
Potions, lotions, and notions... all promising to make my horses healthier, happier, stronger, bigger, shinier, and faster.

HOGWASH.
What I had was a large collection of urine enhancers that had a far more profound mental effect on ME than physical effect on my horses.

I walked around with the peace of mind of those who don't know better... thinking I was really on-the-ball in keeping my horses at their optimum health with all those pricey products.

The horses however, backed out of their feedtubs and became finicky eaters.  They peed excessively trying to expel the overload, and their manure and urine had a strong smell.

The Problem?
ME, of course... I had not yet evolved into a realistic horsekeeper, and was buying into every sales pitch the feed companies offered without knowing whether I was doing right or wrong.
I was doing WRONG... and OVERFEEDING my Thoroughbred Racehorses.

I decided the best way to wise-up was to educate myself, so I took a course in Equine Nutrition at the local college and became a certified nutritionist.
We covered the major livestock animals, and I was amazed to learn that in comparison to many other classes of farm animals, horses have a relatively low need for supplemental nutrition beyond roughage. 

It was a real eye-opener to discover what a horse's nutritional requirements really are (much lower than you'd probably guess!)
I recommend taking this course to every horse owner, but that's not where this story is going.

It just so happens that I was also dating the guy who supplied most of the feed at the track, and through him, I managed to land a part-time job as a consultant for the regional mill, while still having time for my racing duties.

This well-known and respected mill facility had the capabilities to produce not only various horse feeds, but also a line of popular supplements and holistic remedies.

Well, the very first day I worked there, somebody stomped on my rose colored glasses.... and I wised-up.

Do You Know:

That even at the best of mills, practices prevail that are intended solely to assist you in parting ways with your hard-earned money?

One of the most common and effective methods of increasing sales is to redesign the bag, even though the feed itself stays the same. 
The fancy packaging "upgrades" the product in the minds of customers, especially if it features a full-color photo of a horse glowing with good health.
Subliminal marketing at it's best.

I'm all in favor of "fixed formula" feeds, but even those aren't above reproach.
Let's say the price of Oats goes up.
The mill keeps the "fixed formula" of 15% oats, but switches from a "heavy oat" to the more economical "light oat" or "oat screenings".... yes, there are several grades of oats used in milling feeds.
The formula remains "fixed", but the nutritional level has dropped because light oats are more fibrous, and offer reduced energy and calories in comparison to the plump, heavy oats.
Just one simple example of how the formula can remain "fixed" while nutritional value downgrades.

Another ploy that works well is catering to whatever the current "fad" is... 
When I worked at the mill, the *high fat* craze had just begun, so we jumped on the bandwagon and developed a new line of feeds (actually simply the old recipes with boosted fat content) that became our top sellers, even though our "elite" formula (at 12% fat) actually contained more fat than a horse can utilize... FYI:  10% is the highest fat content tolerated by a horse, and anything above that is wasted (not to mention stressful to a horse's vital organs to expel the excess).

As that fad waned, and the new "low starch/high fiber" craze began, feed manufacturers were delighted... replacing expensive grains in feed formulas with much cheaper fiber sources was money in the bank.
At our mill, profits soared as sales of our new low-starch/high-fiber "Designer Feeds" went through the roof, fueled by horse owners who didn't realize that they could accomplish the same end goal simply by feeding more roughage (ie: HAY), and less packaged feed.
All the manufacturer was doing was cutting back the amount of actual grain in the bag, and replacing it with ingredients such as ground hay, oat hulls, and fibrous by-products... fillers... cheap to manufacture, but priced well above our other more traditional feeds that were actually more expensive to make.
People tend to equate price with quality, so we increased the prices on these *fad feeds* accordingly, even though Bang For The Buck had actually decreased.

The Beet Pulp fad (which has cooled a bit now) is another good example.
Beet Pulp is very cheap to purchase in bulk... simply replacing 8% of our grain content with beet pulp saved the mill thousands of dollars weekly, plus we could charge more per bag for this new "designer feed"!
All that was needed was a splashy declaration on the bag; *Now with added Beet Pulp!* in bold red letters, and it flew off the shelves.

We manufactured *specialty* racehorse feeds with a rediculously high water soluable vitamin content to please the track trainers who thought they knew how to read a feed tag (but really didn't).
The horses peed most of it away as overkill.
By the way, did you know that it costs a feed mill about $3 to enrich a TON of horse feed with the vitamins and minerals that are considered optimum for equine health?  Yes... $3 a Ton.

In REALITY, none of these *designer feeds* were superior to the traditional feeds... but they appealed to people who wanted to be on the cutting edge of fad feeding their horses (and willing to pay the greatly inflated prices), even though the benefits simply weren't there for the average horse.

I'm not going to attempt to educate you here on the nutritional needs of horses... but I will say that most horses do not require a *designer feed*, and in some cases these fad feeds can be detrimental to more than your pocketbook... especially if you are feeding other supplements along with them.
People worry about vitamin/mineral deficiencies, but seem to forget that the pendulum swings both ways.

In my case (with my racehorses), I discovered that I could dial-back my feeding program to a level that was much more cost-effective and simple, eliminate most supplements, and by "downgrading" my feeding program to a more realistic level, I actually boosted the health of my horses.
Since they were no longer stressing their kidneys and other vital organs in an attempt to expel the overload of nutrients,  their manure and urine lost the strong aroma... the stalls were easier to clean, and my barn smelled better too!  
All Good.

Now, if I was unknowingly overfeeding Thoroughbred Racehorses with these fancy feeds, just imagine your own lightly ridden Dobbin, and what his nutritional requirements really are.
Makes you think, huh?