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Days in Horse Country – Finding a Trainer
In an ideal world, horse owners would be able to train their
own horses. After all, most people
manage to train their own dogs. But
horse training is different in several ways, two of the most important being,
quite simply, that horses are a lot bigger than dogs, and you ride them.
If you have a young horse who needs to learn the ways of the saddle, or you are having issues with your horse and don’t know how to deal with them, you may need to get professional help.
Horse trainers spend every day working with horses and know how to deal with just about every equine personality out there. A trainer can do a lot to teach your horse the right way to behave and make him safe to ride.
So how do you find the right trainer for your horse? What criteria do you use to decide? These are important questions because a poor trainer can make your horse’s problems worse instead of better. It is also important to note that some countries don’t require that trainers have any kind of licensing or certification; like the United States. This can make choosing the right trainer in these jurisdictions even more difficult as there are no guidelines present to assist you with the selection process.
You can increase the odds of choosing the right person to
work with you horse if you follow these guidelines however;
- Ask for referrals. The best way to find a good trainer is to get details on how the person works and trains from clients. Ask the horse people you know, who trained their horses and how they liked their trainer. Check with your veterinarian, too. If you find a trainer who gets repeated good reviews, you are off to a good start.
- Find out if the trainer is certified. In many countries, horse trainers are certified or licensed. If you live in a country where this is the law, find out if the trainer you are interested in using is certified or licensed.
- Watch the trainer work. Spend some time watching the trainer work with horses and students to get a sense of whether or not you like the person’s style and way of handling mounts. If you like what you see, take a lesson or two on you horse with the trainer. A good trainer will give you lessons on your horse in addition to riding him.
Once you settle on a trainer, constantly evaluate the situation to make sure you see results. Ask the trainer up front how much time he or she needs to achieve your goals with the horse and hold the trainer to them.
Michael