Fugly Horse of the Day

Tips for identifying bad trainers

Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012 | Tags: FHOTD, Fugly Blog, Fugly Horse of the Day, how to identify bad trainers, responsible ownership | Category: Uncategorized

For reals this time!

Last week I featured a guest post with a title that just a few people thought was misleading.  Fortunately, that lead to my latest brilliant idea! (Hopefully that “brilliant” wasn’t sarcastic!)  I’ve compiled the tips you guys left in the comments on the original post below and will be putting it into a pdf for people to download, share, and basically whatever floats their boat.  But, before the grand compilation begins, is there anyone else who wants to share their horror stories or tips of what to look for and/or how to identify bad trainers?

Here’s what we’ve got so far (my apologies if there’s some overlap, I’ll edit before pdf-erizing):

1. Use a trainer reasonably close to home. Avoid sending your horse to a different state.
2. Ask about visitation. If trainers don’t let people on the property without an appointment (having specific ‘office hours’ is different), then it might hide a problem. I once saw a website that said ‘due to the nature of mule training, we don’t allow the public on the property’. Hrm….what are you hiding?
3. Watch the trainer work with a horse. (The same goes for lesson barns – never sign up for lessons without watching one, preferably with the same instructor).
4. Look at the horses. I always say that if horses are in an aisle with Dutch doors and you don’t get a ton of heads pop out when you walk down the aisle something’s wrong (unless they just got their grain, in which case they might be too greedy to bother saying hi ). The horses should not be underweight. One or two underweight horses might have a good explanation. A horse at our barn had colic surgery and lost 100 pounds over night! He looked awful for about a month before he put it all back on.
5. Look in the tack room. What kind of bits are hanging on the wall? What kind of ‘training aids’ are lying around? Is all the equipment in good condition and clean?
6. Ask the trainer to include a lesson or two for you with your horse. In the case of sending a horse to be started, this should be at the end before you take it home. If you’re doing discipline-specific training, will he or she give you a lesson a week? A lesson on one of their horses before yours is ready? This is really important…your trainer will teach the horse the way *they* ride, which might not be quite the same as the way *you* ride and you don’t want to end up with a confused horse.

-Jennifer R

I would also add that any trainer who shows any indication of discomfort being watched in action is a no go. A good trainer has faithful followers and isn’t concerned with his/her methods being viewed.

There should be few to no flattened ears, sullen expressions or horses tied uncomfortably high anywhere. There should be at least slight evidence of hay in the paddock/stall and there should be adequate turnout for every horse. If there’s only one or two outdoor paddocks and 50 horses – RUN.

Be specific about what you want or don’t want. If you only want your horse dumb-broke but safe, say so. If you want seamless transitions, expect to leave your horse there for at least 3 months.

If you have an aversion to any type of training device (draw reins, martingales, shanked bits, spurs, etc, be up front about it. Everyone has a different view on what is fair and just. Don’t assume anything.

Pop over unannounced. There should be no reason why you can’t show up during regular barn hours to see your horse. “Commercial” barns should be filled with happy, healthy horses and friendly, knowledgeable people. If you can only visit with notice, forget the place.

-blondemare

CHECK REFERENCES. And by the way it’s a really good idea to stroll the show barn aisles after 11 p.m. Just sayin’.That trainer who supposedly has even good references might just be trying something stupid and evil.

-Sunvalleysally

If you’re a newbie or an amateur rider who wants a trainer to start a colt, put some manners or a better handle on a horse, or take you both to a higher level, you have to do your homework about training and horsemanship. This should come from many sources, not only from one trainer who tells you this is how it’s done. Most of all, you need to become a horseman (one who knows and cares about horses and feels a deep responsibility to each individual horse), not just a rider (one who rides at some level) or a horse owner. Horsemen can spot another good horseman, and they can also spot a charlatan. Your goals for your horse’s training should include developing him in such a way that he becomes stronger, sounder, more supple, lasts longer and is happy in his work, not just competitively successful or an obedient slave. What you tell the trainer you want to achieve with your horse–and how you follow through on what you say–will help you separate the good trainers from the bad ones.

-OldGreyMare

if you are there and present at shows and while the horse is in training.. you at least have the chance to notice negative effects on your horse and have a chance to maybe not prevent.. but stop the problem. Even “certified” trainers blessed off by breed associations have their share of lemons. Even so, not everyone completely agrees on what is abuse and what is just a firm tactic. Drugging is not an advisable way to get results.. but from what I have seen in show circles that I was in.. the clients knew it if it was done.

-qhgirl

A line of heads hanging over stall doors, with bright curious eyes and relaxed lips, points to horses that aren’t worried about what is going to happen next. Watch the trainer work with two or three horses– are they all eager to be under saddle? When they screw up, does the trainer react with laughter? When a horse needs rebuked, does the trainer do this without excess violence or any degree of anger?

Watch the trainer as he talks to you, the client. Wander over close to a stall. Does he reach out and pet the horse next to him? Does he talk to his horses? Do his horses talk to him?

All of this should be in place. A trainer might fake being a horse lover, but if you seriously watch him (or her) work, you quickly realize how much of what you are seeing is staged. I recently saw a trainer post a picture of himself, riding his ‘cheap’ horse in a lake, wearing shorts and riding in a halter. Now THAT is a trainer I want to handle my horses. I called him on his obvious love for his horse, and he said, “You can’t train horses if you don’t love them.”

-Charm

Always ask for an ITEMIZED bill, if those types of things go on your board bill.

-Domdaisy

Take EVERY negative thing you hear and see into consideration. I could care less if the facilities are less than par, or that the tack is dirty (means its been used), or if the horses are all pastured. What I care about is TIME.

Is the trainer forcing a horse into a frame using martingales, draw reins, etc….? Or introducing true collection taking time to build the horses muscles. When the trainer goes into a field do the horses run away? Or come to him? Does the trainer allow visitation at anytime (within reason obviously)? Do you see him starting young horses with so much tack that you can’t tell which is which?

Its common sense people. The thing is most grade A trainers use abusive techniques to get from point A to point B, because if you do it properly it takes time, and time is money.

I would sooner use someone just getting started, that maybe takes a little more time, whose methods are less streamlined, but know my horse will not be abused and my horse will be worked as said.

-Shakirah

After owning and riding horse as a child and teenager, I, at the ripe age of 48, decided to start riding again. I took lessons from a local trainer and before I knew I was talked into buying a three year old, half Arab, GORGEOUS, mare that the trainer was excited about training and showing (on my dime). How stupid was I? Very! Over the course of the two years owning this horse I learned a lot, the hard way. The trainer did a good job getting my mare under saddle, she even made it to nationals and got a top ten (while I watched from the sidelines, checkbook in hand). Anyone, including me, should have known that this horse was a completely wrong fit for me. I am not that interested in showing and wanted a good all around horse for life that I could enjoy out on the trail as well as in the ring. My trainer knew that, yet here I was the proud owner of a young Afire Bey mare, ex halter champion, English Pleasure horse that had terrible ground manners and who I could not ride unless under supervision in the bull pen! Again, how stupid was I? Extremely!!!!! However, one learns fast from making mistakes. I learned that I wanted to be truly hands on with my own horse, working with the animal myself instead of the trainer doing that, or whatever unskilled farm hand they delegated care to. Sure, I need supervision and training from people who know their shit, but I am done with having a trainer give me permission touch or ride my horse. For the duration of my show pony experience I felt like a walking wallet whose sole purpose was to shell out dough so the trainer could further THEIR interests, and sometimes their interests were very counter to mine or what was best for the horse…enter more cash infusion for massive vet bills. Now I am the proud owner of a SOUND, well mannered, 7 year old Arab gelding. I moved him away from the previous trainer/toxic barn environment/life in a stall and put him into a pasture in a great facility run by people who can help me grow into the hands on horsewoman I want to be. I get more training from the professionals than my horse does. He’s broke…I’m a work in progress.

-Janalina

Even brief visitation can provide a pretty big picture of how the horse is being treated. Does it look nervous, scared, or angry? Is there any evidence of harsh handling such as welt or spur marks or crusty/scabbed lips? Does the horse seem head shy or overly evasive of the bit? If I came across a trainer that never allowed visitation then I would be suspicious and probably wouldn’t send my horse to them unless they had some pretty damn rock solid reviews.

-Walking Hosses

Any trainer, especially a walking horse trainer, who relies on “secret” techniques that they “don’t want to share” is highly suspect. Their “private” techniques may be their own version of the stomach-turning naked cruelty

-OldGreyMare

1. “Checking references and checking facilities is no way to tell. ” Actually, I do think it is ONE WAY that you can try to figure out whether the place is right for you. Other clients opinions and the barn’s reputation will help you make a decision. No it won’t prevent all problems, but it is at least a start. You can cross off the places that look like tetanus breeding factories and the trainer that is “known” for his aggressive techniques (horse people are big gossips).

2.”This is even more true if you don’t know how to start a horse or how to finish a horse… end.of.story.” I will agree with you there, if you don’t know much about horses.. you will be a bigger sucker when it comes to a trainer lacking in the morals department. This will also apply when you take your car into the service station and the shifty mechanic inflates the repairs when you don’t know any better. Even certified mechanics can overcharge.

3.”Secondly, it always amazes me how many horse chicks want to blame the horse and the horse owner for what a trainer (who was hired BTW) did to the horse. Seriously girls you should take some critical thinking courses.” My response was clear that it was not the horse’s fault. However, I believe the owner has some responsibility to make their best effort to find a place that is safe for the animal. I also expect that they monitor the situation so they can get said horse out of it if things aren’t going as was agreed. The trainer is still WRONG for doing what they are doing, but I am not 100% letting the owner off the hook if there was something they could do (remove animal).

4.”While education does not guarantee that someone will be competent it certainly is a good place to start.” Education and experience are key.. but you can’t teach ethics and morals. There are certifications out there that trainers can get.. and I guarantee that among those certified trainers, there are some aces and some lemons.. So.. we are back to where we started aren’t we? There is “no way” to guarantee your horse isn’t at some risk when he is under the care of another person… all you can do is your best homework and monitor your horse for signs of trouble.

-qhgirl

I bought a show horse from someone who kept him at the trainers. I’d seen the trainer at shows, but didn’t really know him personally. I went to his barn to see the horse. Everything was in order, horses looked good, I saw him win alot at the shows and he seemed nice enough. After I bought the horse, people told me horror stories about him. Told me they were so glad I got the horse out of there because he was so mean and abusive to it. Goes to show you, you never know what goes on behind even the nicest of looking of doors!

-Ponykins

In my opinion, the best way for someone who doesn’t know what goes on behind the scenes is to look at the horses that have been sold from the barn they are looking at. Did that horse win a world championship, get sold for a ton of money then never make it into the showring? Does that trainer even have horses sold directly to smaller barns or people who show without trainers? How different does that “kid safe” horse look with a new trainer (even a big name)?

Those are the questions that you need to think about when you are considering a trainer. If you are worried, then your safest bet is to look for a trainer that will sell horses to anyone the horse is suitable for, even if that means a junior exhibitor who will taking the horse home over the winter. If your trainer insists that your extremely well trained show horse NEEDS to be in full training year round with them even though you have all the time in the world to take them home and know what you are doing, then take a closer look at what is going on with your horse.

If your trainer insists that your horse NEEDS this shot or that injection, get a second opinion, because a lot of the time it’s really not necessary. Does your trainer label trunks when you are at shows? Are there multiple trunks with nothing but medical supplies in them?

There are so many ways to spot a trainer who takes short cuts (or gives any horse a drug concoction whether they need it or not), you just have to keep an eye on what’s going on and be that owner who asks questions. What’s the worse they can do? Kick you out? Trust me, there are plenty of good trainers out there that would love to have you and aren’t as interested in robbing you blind.

-Trisha

————-

And here’s my contribution:

Just because one trainer is good for one horse, doesn’t mean it’ll be good for another horse.  Not all trainers adjust their methods according to your horses specific needs.  The best ones, of course, do.  But not all.  Nope, definitely not all.  If/when you talk to others looking for referrals, be sure to find out about their horse’s personality and any training obstacles they may have had to overcome and how the trainer worked through them.  I’ve found the best evidence of a good trainer, is anecdotal.

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