1. Interview horse trainers that fit your individual goals. Jane Cowgirl might have trained the last 5 world-champion reining horses but that won't help you if your goal is the three-day eventing arena.
2. Be open-minded. Tip #1 being said, if your event horse has holes in his basic education or you just purchased an untrained but incredibly talented three-day prospect from Europe, Jane Cowgirl might be a great fit IF she is well known for phenomenal foundation training she gives every horse.
3. Check credibility. Though the horse training profession is largely unregulated, research the trainer's professional credentials. What certifications does she hold? What organizations does she belong to? Ask for referrals. Read testimonials from happy customers. Find out what her previous clients think about her services.
4. Are the facilities adequate for your goals? If you're looking for a cutting trainer, expect to see cows. If you want your horse to jump courses, look for jumps!
5. Are the facilities safe? Bear in mind that you are visiting a working farm, not a static showplace. Tack may be hanging on hooks along the aisle or arena walls and cross-tie areas may show signs of recent use. Beware if the tack is lying in tangled heaps on the ground waiting to trip passing horses, or the grooming area is fetlock deep in dirt and hair! The overall sense should be neat, functional and orderly.
6. Watch the trainer work a horse. If anything happens that you don't understand or are uncomfortable with, ask the trainer about it.
7. Does the trainer consider the whole horse? Does she ask that the horse is up to date on vaccines, dental work and hoof care before the horse begins her training program? Do the horses on her farm show evidence of up-to-date health care? Many training issues are the direct result of physical imbalance or pain. A comprehensive training program addresses the whole horse: mind, body and emotions.
8. After the training session, ask yourself three questions. Is the horse calmer and more confident than when he began? Has he learned something new or progressed further along the path? Did the trainer stay calm and levelheaded through any dicey situations? If the answer to any of these is no, ask the trainer to explain... or interview another trainer.
9. What value does the trainer offer? Notice I said value offered, not price charged. Jane Cowgirl might charge more than lower-priced competitors but if she produces better results in a shorter time, or produces results that are meaningful to you, you have gotten better value for your money
10. Educate yourself. Your horse is going to school. Do you need to brush up on your own skills in order to keep up with him? Take some lessons, read some good books, audit a clinic with a top trainer in your discipline. Book a session with your trainer at the end of the program to make sure YOU are able to cue your horse's new skills.
11. Be responsible. You are your horse's spokesperson. He depends on you for everything. If at any point you feel like he is being mistreated or abused, remove him from the situation, no matter how many prizes hang on the trainer's wall.
Kirsten Lee produces extraordinary results for horses and riders!
Kirsten teaches and trains out of Almost Heaven Horse Source in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia. In addition, she freelances extensively. She freely shares nuggets from her trove of equestrian knowledge at http://www.wvhorsetrainer.com/ and her real-world training blog, http://www.natural-horse-training-methods.com/
Kirsten's versatility comes through her holistic approach blending Natural Horsemanship, Classical training principles, Centered Riding ™ techniques and biomechanics. When appropriate, use of clicker training further accelerates learning. With this powerful and harmonious fusion, Kirsten is able to pinpoint and solve training challenges, tailoring the solution to the individual horse and rider regardless of their experience, discipline or learning style
Kirsten continually improves her own skills and expands her knowledge. She is certified with the American Riding Instructors Program in Dressage and Three-Day Eventing. As a teenager she achieved the USPC's elite "A" rating in riding, horsemanship, and veterinary knowledge. She credits her effectiveness to her teachers and mentors, both horse and human, from Olympians to Cowboys; and to God, in whom all things are possible
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