Your concerns about Sporthorse Trainers
How much trust do you have in people and places that could train your Sporthorses? |
What's the main reason you don't send your horse away for training?
| Michaela | Because I want to be able to ride the horse myself and make it go well myself, not have someone else school/train it up, then when he comes back to me, all is good whilst "under the spell" of trainer, then slowly reverts back over time! |
| Sylvia | Generally money and travelling costs and few will start a draft horse anyway. |
| Cathie | Because I probably need more training than the horse |
| Emily | I like to have my horse trained just how I like it and I cant be supervising and tweaking what a trainers doing all the time |
| Lee | Because I trust the way in which I train my horses and get lessons when I run into any problems. |
| Toni | I haven’t needed to as I do my own |
| Holly | I would want to have very detailed information about their training methods before i sent my horse anywhere to make sure the horse would be treated acceptably. |
| Sara | Lack of trust that the horse will be treated well and kindly, it may just be another number and handled by somebody sour / tired or just "in it" for the money. |
| Judy | I do it myself |
| Francell | I dont have enough money |
| Serena | Dont want to be without my horse for too long- and cost. |
| Leanne | I'm scared he won't get the training he requires, that i can do a better job, and that my high standards of care won't be continued whilst he's away. Any training my horse does i want it to be with me so that i can learn with him. |
| Rowan | Reluctance to have them exposed to potentially conflicting training methods |
| Stacey | Fear that it won't be cared for in the manner I believe they should, they may be just another horse for a trainer but for me they represent my hopes and dreams. |
| Mike | I'll do it myself, thanks |
| Anon | The inconvenience of time, expense and travelling without knowing what the positive outcome could be |
| Gab | Often there is a flat rate for training which is usually expensive. If you have done a lot of work on a horse and it just needs finishing, it would be good to have a cheaper rate. Conflicting training methods may be used too. |
| Tracey | Still in two minds - would be prepared to send him away but also want to learn with him so continuity with the trainer would be a must. Silly - but I have formed a close bond - I wouldn't want someone else to occupy that space. |
| Karin | The journey of the learning together is the fun... not receiving the perfect (or near to) horse back ! I want to come and stay on the same page (level) as my horse |
If you did send your horse away for training what would be your biggest concern about the way your horse behaves AFTER it's training programme has finished?
| Michaela | How long he takes to revert back to past behaviours that needed the training in the first place |
| Sylvia | That I do not get the time to follow on and keep the education going same applies for starting a horse in trying to get time and consistency to keep them going while working full time. |
| Cathie | My biggest concern would be that I might not necessarily push the same buttons and not get the same results. |
| Emily | We sent our very valuable stallion away to be started. The trainer refused to use the specially designed & traditional tack, wouldn't work him in the right outline and he still doesn't move right which is not only a very bad look for a new breed but means we wasted a lot of money on something I could do better myself. If u send a trainer a "special case" they should be prepared to do a little research or at least watch a couple DVD's on the breed that u have even supplied. If they aren't then they should outright say so instead of misleading you and messing with your horse. |
| Lee | That I hadn't understood the principles/training that it had been given so that I could carry on the training at home. . |
| Toni | I have always found that the one starting the horse, really has the easiest job. Its the follow up work that is important. My main concern would be that who ever takes on that horse is capable of taking on a youngster. My main concern would be that the person that has started the horse has the responsibility that the horse has gone on to the right rider etc. And they still stay involved to make sure the horse and rider are o.k. |
| Holly | If the horse improved then it would be due to it being ridden differently to how i had been riding it, therefore i would need to have lessons with the training rider to make sure i was doing the same things, otherwise the money i spent would have been a total waste of time. |
| Sara | Having a horse returned spoilt and its good nature ruined. Having mistakes made that impact on the horses soundness and trust. |
| Nicolette | They arrive home with more naughty habits than when they left, eg funny with their feet |
| Judy | I was shown methods in which it has been trained so I can follow on in the same vein. |
| Franchell | If i trusted where i was sending my horse(and i would not send her if i did not trust where she was going) then i would probably be happy with the way she behaved when she returned. |
| Serena | I would be concerned that if I wasn’t involved in the training I wouldn’t be able to maintain the training and they would revert back to old ways. |
| Leanne | That he will have been rushed, worked too hard or pushed beyond his capabilities or bullied, so will be nervous, lacking in confidence, and no longer want to do his job, ie stopping, running out. I'd also be worried he'd be injured. |
| Rowan | Confusion/lack of trust |
| Stacey | That some of the behaviour has been altered by managing its lifestyle in a manner which I couldn't replicate when it gets home - eg. I don't have the option of yarding my horse |
| Mike | He'll come back unhappy,sore. not as before... worse |
| Anon | No change/it won't respond to me like it would during the training programme |
| Gab | Upon return to the original environment behaviours/habits may return. Training is usually essential for both horse and rider together and their interactions with each other. Diet/supplement advice is important too. |
| Tracey | I would worry that I couldn't continue the training with the same level of competence - that would be my biggest worry. |
| Karin | 'Too many chefs might spoil the dish' - means: The horse will learn to respond to the aids of the pro, and then has to adapt to me doing it slightly differently - high probability that the result is not so flash. Also, I need to learn the same topic as my horse - so why not doing it together in the first place ? |
Please tell us of any other reason why you’re wary of sending your horse away for training?
| Michaela | I'd prefer to take part in a week long clinic with my horse rather than actually send him away for training, I want to learn as he learns. |
| Sylvia | Sent one young horse away for training /agistment locally and it came back seriously underweight |
| Cathie | Maybe I am just too precious. I think the world of my horse and want to learn with him - every step of the way. |
| Lee | That it wouldn't be cared for/handled 24/7 by a very experienced person but rather by a lesser experienced person (e.g. someone who works for the experienced person) |
| Toni | I think there will come the time to send them to another trainer, but at least I know that if I do it myself I know what has been done, and any problems I have the history in my head, not relying on someone else’s |
| Sara | Unfortunately also the cost as you do not want to get it done poorly on the cheap but many horse people are not rich as horses take a fair amount of money to just maintain. |
| Nicollette | Some trainers seem to work to the dollar not the requirements of the job. |
| Judy | Not many trainers I trust enough with my horses, I'm afraid. |
| Franchell | I have sent my horses away before ( only for leases) and they have always come back with poor manners or thin or wary of people. I like to be able to see what is happening with my horse at all times, i get scared of the unknown. |
| Serena | I think I need training as well! |
| Leanne | That the horse i sent won't be the horse i get back, and not because he's better, but worse. |
| Rowan | Quality of care/feeding/covering regimen may not be what I would expect |
| Stacey | I can't see what goes on all the time.... |
| Mike | That they won't treat my horse like they treat their own horse.. |
| Gab | Conflicting training methods may be used. Horse may not be cared for as I would care for it. Expensive. Need lessons together as well. |
| Tracey | I have done a lot of the work with my boy myself - it has just taken me a bit longer than professionals would take. For example, he would not lunge and was afraid to wear a cover but is happy with those tasks now. Maybe it has been better for me to have done it myself in the long run. However, now I think I have done the initial ground work and he is in good health - he is probably ready to learn a bit more more quickly and would benefit from professional schooling. |