i have a sticky sit. with my horse trainer?

Question

the lady who teaches me and my cousin to ride better is.... a bit of an air head i guess.. she talks about my cousin and i to each other when we're not there.. yes, a fully grown woman. she expects us to go over there everyday every week, and she has said this, to water, clean, brush, feed, etc her horses. now i wouldnt mind doing this since i lease one, but i dont have a full lease, so really its her job. but thats not the big deal. she has me riding a 5 year old not fully broke horse who is a big brat (even though i really like him) and this is my first year riding. we have never gotten through a lesson without him acting up and she expects me to show in the fair in a few weeks. is that kind of rediculous? also she has her farrier teaching my cousin how to jump and expected her to jump at fair. um NO. should i switch next year? i REALLY like 2 of the horses there.. also i was thinking of trying english next year and she doesnt teach that.. should i switch? please help meee!!!!!!!!!!

okay theres a little confusion. my cousin leases a DIFFERENT horse who is pretty much well behaved. and our instructor does teach her western, but the farrier is an amazing english rider and he helps her too. my horsie IS broke, its just that hes still young. the main problem is that she doesnt take anything seriousley. the other day we had a 4H meeting, and it wasnt really a clinic, and she brought my horse and another one, and didnt bring my cousins. no one even rode the other horse. my aunt COMPLETELY believes this is because my cousins horse hurt his foot a while before this and she blamed it on my cousin?? so.. its not really the horse thats the problem, its her needing to grow up. so..

and its NOT my cousins first year!! lol

Answer 1

Ok, I own two horses and have semi-trained three. I know that a green horse can be a bit of a, how do I put this, difficult to work with.

I understand where your trainer is coming from. Yes, if you lease a horse, the owner still owns it but you take full responsibility for it. Its basically a semi-ownership.

In a way I think your trainer is unfair. You have a green horse. As long as you are doing the right thing (Being patient and working on being progressive), then there shouldn't be a whole lot to worry about. She may yell and be a pain because you are riding a green horse therefore putting yourself in more danger.

I personally like western best. If you like to run fast and be comfortable then stick to the old fashiond western cantles. However if you should switch it is your personal choice. Untill you choose then do not burn bridges. You may not like english as much. I know I hate english riding. If your trainer does not teach english then yes look for another trainer to help you. You may find some one with more patience with not only you horse but also the rider.

Many trainers are...strict. They are liable for your safety and that can put them on edge. I know. My trainer is wacko with safety, which is probably a good thing.

Answer 2

I would urge you to switch trainers as soon as possible, for both your own and your cousin's safety. Your trainer sounds like an incompetent, dangerous idiot to me- and she has absolutely no business putting you, a green rider, up on an unbroken 5 year old horse. Someone is going to get hurt or KILLED, and I fear that that someone might just be YOU. I am also gravely concerned about this business of the farrier's teaching your cousin to jump. Since when is the farrier a trainer ? Most farriers I have ever met usually are not much in the way of riders themselves, let alone a good coach, and are certainly NOT a coach for a beginner rider. Another thing-leasing a horse DOES NOT make you a contracted employee of this so-called trainer. She needs to take responsiblity for her horses' care herself, and this includes riding and training the 5 year old. You are under absolutely NO obligation whatever to show that horse for this woman, and neither is your cousin. This woman can and should, go to the fair ALONE, without help from either of you two. If she protests, or threatens to cancel your lease ( which she may do if you tell her you're not going to ride for her at the fair, and you will be switching trainers as soon as your lease is up) then remind her that if she forces you to ride, and you get hurt as a result, then it's very likely that she will be facing a lawsuit from your parents and your aunt and uncle ( your cousin's mom and dad) for her continued behavior. She could also be found to be crimminally negligent- and this could mean fines and jail time for her. Whatever happens, DON'T give in or knuckle under to her- stand up for your rights and your cousin's rights, which include the right to be treated in a humane, safe manner and not forced to do anything beyond your ability level.

If you want to try English style riding, then by all means, do it !! It's a lot of fun, and there are lots of English sports to compete in out there. I'm a dressage rider and enthusiast myself, and I know how much fun that can be- and it's always a challenge, because there is always something new to learn and do. All of the equestrian sports in the Olympics are all English sports- the only international Western sport is Reining, and it only appears in the World Championships, not the Olympics. You should try them all out, as time and space allow you too- and I would attend some shows where you get a chance to see what each of them looks like. Read some books on the English sports as well- this will help you get a feel for what they are like. It's not for your trainer to decide what style you will ride all your life- that is up to you, and you alone. If she doesn't teach English, and you want to try it, you need to find someone else to take lessons from. Good luck to you, and I hope this helps.

Answer 3

you have had less than one year riding and you are on a 5 year old horse? excuse me?

you never put a beginner on a green horse as it is asking for trouble. the horse at that age and as inexperienced as it is, no disrespect to your ability, needs a experienced rider who knows how to handle youngsters which you clearly do not yet have the experience to do yet. the horse sounds like it is starting to dominate you and if you dont do something soon you are likely to have an accident or be put of riding completly.

personally i would suggest you go to a riding school who has your best interests and the horses at heart genuinly.

as for riding in the fair well if you cant get through a lesson without him acting up then you may have problems and it may get dangerous for you, i mean has the horse ever been to a show before or is it his first one? you will clearly be nervous and the horse will pick up on this and may play up as a result.

please stop leasing this horse which is clearly unsuitable for you and find a riding school that will teach you properly and safely how to control a horse

Answer 4

You should switch stables for sure. My trainer started me on the easiest horse in the world then worked me up to a more challenging horse. Whatever you do you should not show in the fair. You may fall off and get hurt because if he really is green he probably will spook at a crowd. Or maybe ask your trainer if you can switch horses. Or just plainly go to a different stable! She should now the consequences of a beginner rider on a green horse...

Answer 5

I think that you should switch cause she doesn't do things right. She cant put you on a 5 year old horse who is not fully broke especially when it is only your first year riding.And why is the farrier teaching your cousin how to ride???

Answer 6

SWITCH! Obviously she doesn't know what she is doing. Putting a beginer on a horse that isn't broken in yet! Tell her you won't show that horse and you will switch if she doesn't give you a horse that you can deal with. I could do a better job! Definately switch. She is using you to take care of her horses when you don't even have a full lease!

Answer 7

Switch! I have delt with these people and as far as I am concened they should not be allowed to have horses, let alone try to teach others!!! She obviously knows nothing herself and someone is going to be hurt. You are smart in thinking you need to switch and realizing that she has you doing things that you shouldn't be doing at this point in your riding. That is absolutely no way to build confidence and confidence is a HUGE part of being around and working with horses!!! Please switch as soon as possible!!! You sound very opeing and willing to learn, don't waste that! Some day you could be telling her how to do things, so finding a more reputible place to learn would definitely be in you best interest! Good Luck!!

Answer 8

I can't imagine why she's putting you up on a five-year-old your first year riding. You're paying her for lessons so you can learn to ride, not so you can teach her horse. If he's acting up every lesson, that's taking time away from your learning. There is a time to learn to deal with green horses and it is certainly not while you are still a green rider. I'm concerned that this is an unsafe situation for you and your cousin.

Answer 9

Absolutely freakin ridiculous. And dangerous. And stupid. And reckless. And really, really unprofessional.

Anybody can hang out a shingle and call themselves a trainer.
This lady is not a trainer.

Ask her if she has a state teacher's license, or liability insurance. Just for fun. And then run.

Unfortunately the horse world is filled with wack jobs like this one. Trust me, I've met too many. Something about horses attracts crazy, it seems. Find someone with their head screwed on straight!

Answer 10

The bottom line is if you're not comfortable with your trainer, you need to find a new one. Riding horses isn't a joke, it's not something you can mess around with. You need to become a confident rider on a horse before you can be expected to hop onto a horse who doesn't know what's expected of it.