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? 

Real-World Saddle Fit

I haven't posted for a few days due to a recent death in my family.
That said, I'll turn today's discussion over to "Disgruntled Horse Trainer" as this is her area of expertise.

People... people... please stop making flimsy "saddle fit" excuses for your horse (and yourself) every time things go less than smoothly.
It simply gets tiresome after awhile.

Not a day goes by without my hearing of yet another rider blaming her horse's poor behavior on everything in the book EXCEPT the actual cause.

The popular excuse du-jour seems to be "saddle fit", and quite frankly, it's pretty worn out at this point in time.

I'm not saying there aren't "hard to fit" horses, but if there truly are as many horses that are difficult to fit a saddle to as people claim, then saddle makers need to completely rethink saddle design... because obviously there is a need.
I jest of course.

Saddle fit isn't rocket science (regardless of what many choose to believe), and MOST horses with halfway decent conformation are easily fitted with a saddle that affords them comfort and freedom of movement.
In my experience, only horses with SERIOUS conformational flaws (such as sway-backed or roach-backed) require specialized saddle fitting.
Unless your horse is a conformational disaster, if you think your horse is hard to fit for a saddle, you're drinking your bath water.
Once again, the problem is YOU... not the saddle.

Chew on this:
I trained Thoroughbred racehorses for 22 years, using ONE saddle for the entire barn (usually about 25 horses).

Additionally, I rode races for 22 years (jockeys use their own saddles for racing)... and of the thousands of mounts I rode in competition, I only had to borrow a saddle from a friend a couple of times to accomodate a hard-to-fit horse.

Perhaps a poor example, because most Thoroughbreds are comparable in conformation (making a saddle more universal), but the fact remains that these were the elite athletes of the equine world, competing for large sums of money; and as fact, the livlihoods and families of everyone involved from grooms, to trainers, to jockeys, depended solely on their performances.

Now, wouldn't it be stupid to saddle a racehorse with ill-fitting tack when the food on your table depended on him being able to give his best performance during competition?  Sure it would.

When I semi-retired to training trail horses for hobbyists, I was shocked to discover that SADDLE FIT was being blamed for every imaginable issue by the majority of my clients... a flimsy excuse (and not applicable) in almost every case.

In training hundreds of pleasure and trail horses, I had just 3 saddles that I regularly used... one a full-bar barrel, one a semi-bar barrel, and the other was a wide tree dressage saddle.
Using just those 3 saddles, I was able to comfortably fit a wide variety of breeds and sizes (from drafts to ponies), rode them hundreds of miles, and solved their undersaddle issues.
Now, wouldn't it be stupid (since my livlihood depended on good results) to train these horses in ill-fitting tack?
Of course it would.

The last thing any trainer wants to do is cause chiropractic issues or return a horse to its owner with unresolved problems, yet every professional trainer I know uses only a few different saddles to accomodate hundreds of horses... what does that tell you about your own "hard-to-fit" unicorn?
Correct... the problem is a figment of your imagination... another Unicorn Dream... your horse in reality, is not "hard to fit".
Once again, you're grabbing at straws to explain away poor behavior without placing blame on either you or your horse.

Yep, saddle fit was almost never an issue in all those years, and with all those horses... yet you have 5 saddles in your tackroom because Dobbin is "difficult to fit"?
Poppycock.
Get off it people... get REAL... you are using the saddle-fit excuse to validate problems you're having with your horse when the saddle isn't at fault.  (Look in the mirror to discover the true root of the problems).

This isn't to say I didn't run across some legitimate saddle fitting issues over the years with the riding horses, but except for a very few cases where the horse's conformation was absolutely horrid, the animals were never the "special case" their owners thought they were.

Over time, I became aware that owners claiming saddle fit issues with horses of decent conformation were using the excuse for one of two reasons:

1]  They feared their horse, and if they couldn't find a saddle to "fit" him properly, it relieved them of having to ride the beast.
Afterall, consideration for his back and chiropractic health validates the excuse, right? ... of course it does.
The *hole* in this excuse is that the owner/rider is lying to herself.

2]  They somehow associated owning a "difficult to fit" horse as a warped form of status symbol.  Peruse any horse forum and you'll be treated to endless posts regarding the woes of saddle fit, accompanied many times by extensive photo studies of horses with saddles that fit just fine.
How something that's actually RARE has turned into the widespread, popular topic it has become is mindboggling.
So I guess I'm saying the second reason people are overly worried about saddle-fit is simply because "it's cool" these days.

I'm not sayin' that under the highest levels of performance a saddle with a slight *tweak* towards affording a wider range of motion or comfort won't have an effect... sure it will... especially at the upper levels of showing and eventing where even the slightest advantage makes a difference between winning and losing. 
BUT for the average trail rider moseying through the woods on a Saturday afternoon, such a high refinement in saddle fit is of almost no benefit, because the horse is never asked for a level of athleticism beyond that which any typical saddle can deliver while remaining comfortable for him.

From my experience, discomfort for the horse from "poor" saddle fit (and the accompanying unruly behavior) usually falls into the following catagory:
Overweight or Unbalanced Rider.

*** WARNING***  If your itty-bitty feelings are easily hurt, stop reading here, and continue buying saddles in a lame attempt to fix a non-existant problem.  If you can handle the truth, and are truly committed to having a realistic relationship with your horse, read on...

The #1 saddle fit issue that causes back pain for horses is NOT really saddle fit... it is OBESE or UNBALANCED riders on saddles that fit the horse just fine with a lighter or better balanced rider.
Riding isn't traditionally a hobby of unathletic people... look back at really old photos, and you'll rarely see unfit or grossly overweight people on horseback.
By contrast, as Americans have become an overweight society, being overweight has become not only acceptable, but has actually become *normalized*.

Am I against overweight people riding horses?
NO... but I do feel there are considerations (and in some cases sacrifices in preferred saddle style they should make) to avoid damaging their horses. 

How does this have anything to do with saddle fit?
I'll tell ya...
Do you know that a horse properly fitted with a suitable saddle is directly affected by the weight distribution of his rider?
Yes, a 130 pound rider causes little or no distortion of a saddle, while a 230 pound rider can actually slightly spread a saddle tree simply by taking a seat.
This applies to lightweight, synthetic Western saddles ... and even moreso to English saddles.

English is more of a problem with heavy riders than Western because of the difference in the support mechanism, they are much more likely to *bridge* or cause severe pressure points... especially if the rider is not only overweight but unbalanced as well.

Many of my overweight clients had no idea that their saddle fit issues were merely them not allowing for the "mash down" from their weight of the entire saddle towards their horse's spines, and the accompanying *pinch* at the shoulder, pressure just ahead of the loin, etc.

In other words, the horse was already properly "fitted" to his saddle, and was FINE with me on him (120 pounds)... but when the 200+ pound owner mounted, the entire "fit" of the saddle changed, causing discomfort to the horse.  

Face the Facts... Riding was originally something that slim, athletic people did, and if you're obese (I'm not talking about just a few pounds of extra flab here), you're going to have to make a few sacrifices on your end in favor of the comfort of your horse saddlewise.

I don't care if you used to be the Queen of Dressage Riders in your twenties, and have the photos of 98 pound you to prove it.
Now middle-aged and weighing in at 198 pounds, you're NOT that rider anymore... get real.

Your saddle needs have changed.
Regardless of your love for riding English, it's time to look at saddles that offer a more heavy-duty tree that covers a broader area on the horse than any English saddle can offer... same goes for lightweight or synthetic Western saddles.
This will eliminate tree spread and pressure points by distributing your weight more evenly and correctly.

This isn't to say you *must* ride Western... there are a variety of cross-over saddles that offer the support your horse needs to carry you comfortably... and are comfortable for you as well.
In short... as a rule, the heavier you are, the more substantial your saddle needs to be to retain it's integrity once you are seated.

I was able to convey this to some of my overweight clients, and overall, they were astounded to discover that a simple change to a saddle that accomodated their weight better made all the difference in the world to their horse's back... and ended their saddle fit woes.
Once they accepted the reality of the effect an overweight rider has on the saddle and horse's back, and switched to a saddle that was kinder to the horse in it's basic styling, their problems were solved... WITHOUT "custom-made" or gimmicky saddles.
The HORSE wasn't the root of the problem or difficult to fit in the first place...  the overweight RIDER was the problem.

Same applies to treeless saddles... they should NEVER be used by 200+ pound riders as they cause too much stress to a horse's back without a tree to properly distribute the load.

So there it is...
Saddle Fit isn't the complicated quest many people believe it to be... it's simply common-sense.

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...