Send off to Trainer? free Training=great horse.. Delima???

[sugarsgal]

So my dad asked me today about sending Sugar off to a trainer He said "since you won't sell her and buy something well trainer, a done all horse. Why don't you send Sugar to trainer for 1 month" On him

I know this trainer is Great and Sugar would come back 100% broke and kid safe but I have the jitters of following through with it. I know this guy is awsome and well known but some methods he uses I do not agree with. He can be really hard on the horse and with Sugars past ailments I'm afraid some of his methods won't be so great for her.

for example: Someone told me that trainer put food and water in stall and tyed horse up at the other end of stall (out of reach of) for the night That may kill my horse who has history of colic. The other was tying to a large tractor tire for hours to teach the horse to stand still, Sugar would probably get herself in a pickle as she is accident pron.

I know rumors are rumors but I feel this guy could do wonders on brushing up her manors and bombproofing her. He does traffic riding, rides to the beach, through trails and water etc. Sugar is already broke but green so he isn't breaking her just her bad habits. SO maybe it would be different with her??

I'm going to call him this week after I get home from the trailer and talk with him to see how he would train her. Maybe once I talk to him I'll fell better about it.

Besides FREE training, Would you all pass it up?? Ya I'm 33 and still Daddy's girl

But then I have an on site trainer and I don't want to hurt her or make bad blood. If I send Sugar out to this guy, My daughter will start lessons with her when Sugar comes back. This trainer has made good progress but I could only afford 2 days per week but I think this other guy would make a huge difference. I don't know what to do.

[gbarmranch]

Talk to the trainer, explain the illnesses Sugar has had, and go from there. If you feel comfortable with him after that, send her; if not,, see if your dad would pay for a different trainer that has gentler methods..

Good luck!

[sugarsgal]

See I think it's more me making excusses then anything She is my only horse and she is like my child. I guess from reading other posts that this is a normal feeling to have? But yes the sickness thing is playing a huge part in my decission. I know Sugar has been better for at least 6 months now, but it's still a worry.

[donna]

I think we ALL consider our horses our children, so that is a normal reaction. I am still kicking myself for a trainer I used last summer...they kept my mare, my love, my home raised baby, in a dusty stall too much, and she came home with heaves. Did I go check on her while training?...yes, many times, and I rode her...she is prone to allergies in the summer, so I chalked her runny nose up to that. I feel SO guilty for being too trusting and ignorant to realize what was happening. So, if you don't like the rumored methods used by this trainer, I agree with talking to the trainer about it, and see what the response is. ...you will be looking your horse in the face for many years, so you sure don't want to feel guilty about anything you subjected her to as part of training.
Good luck!

[Carri]

I can certainly understand being nervous about it.
Talk to the trainer, and get a feel for him, personally, irregardless of rumors, and explain to him what methods you would like used with your horse.
Also, talk to your current trainer, and if you explain to her that Dad has agreed to pay, but has put a stipulation on which trainer to use, I am sure she will understand! Our trainer does not have time to do 30 day intense trainings, so he has someone else do that when he needs it. I am sure she will be fine with it, especially if she understands that it is a good opportunity that your Dad is paying for!

[JoAnne]

I would be very explicit in talking with the trainer. go in person if possible. tell him about the water/food ( that you heard of it, anyway, be specific if he says that is a technique he uses, that you don't want it done. stipulate you want the right to drop in and visit. if he refuses or has an attitude, I'd pass. perhaps ask your dad if the offer would be good for another trainer, perhaps interview a couple.

[sugarsgal]

The reason why my dad chose this trainer is because the way the horses come back- Very broke and behaved. With my hip and back problems I can't afford another fall. I'm sure he'd pay for a different trainer but this trainer is so far the only one that takes the horse every where, not just worked in a pen of arena.

Being a small town we don't have much for trainers here unless you ship your horse 2 to 3 hours away. That I will not do.

I think I'll see if I can meet up with him this weekend and have a talk. Do you think he'd take offence to me asking about the rumors though?

[shorty45177]

Talk to the trainer, but also remember, even though your mare is already green broke, 30 days does not equal a bomb proof horse. I don't care how good the trainer is. I have trained a lot of horses in the past and worked for some very well known trainers. All of them agree you don't get a bombproof horse in 30 days. It all depends on the horse. If you do decide to send you mare to this trainer, make sure you talk to him, visit her regularly and ride her while she is there. Tell him what goals you have for her, he should be able to tell you where he can have her in 30 days. Just don't get your hopes up that she will come back perfect as in most cases it's impossible.

[championhorse]

True, you never know where a horse will be in 30 days. Some do better than others.

I would say send her to the trainers. Sounds like you have some issues with her, and its free training. If you could check on her when you want, I would voice my concerns to the trainer, and then let him do what he does.

I have tied a horse up all day long let them off at night to eat and so forth and tied them back up for the entire next day. I would take them water during the day, I'll tell you what the horse stands tied and patient now, I don't see where that is cruel at all. As long as you keep an eye on it, and make sure the horse doesn't get caught up, I don't see anything wrong with that.

Remember that horses are in TRAINING at a trainers, thats what helps them to have better behavior. As long as he isn't beating them, and making their mouths bloody, using spurs too harshly, I don't see much wrong with the two methods you mentioned. If he has gets good feedback, I would give it a try.

And some trainers even let you come out and watch them work your horses, so you can see whats going on, that might be a good option for you, if your worried.

[Horses&Soccer]

Talk, ask, listen. If you're not 100% comfortable with this guy, don't do it. If you find a different trainer will Dad still pay? Mine is at a trainer now, I wasn't really crazy about the way he got her to load into the trailer, but after he got her into it the first time she seemed happy enough to do what he wanted her to do. As to the rumors, if he really values his reputation he should want to know, and if they are true he should have a viable explanation. He should also be willing to change his methods for any animal with a health issue. You don't take a 40 yo man off the couch and make him run a mile either.

[sheri7785]

Personally I would be very skeptical. Any trainer who can say that a horse will be kid broke and safe after only 30 days is what I would call a wonder trainer. It takes time and consistency to get a horse that well broke. It's not a 30 day thing. Some horses get it that fast others take much much longer. If someone guarantees me that I wouldn't go to them. I literally tell the owners of the horses that I work with that the horse will be that way when it is. I do not make guarantees I can't keep 100% of the time. My only guarantee is that I will do my best with each horse.

[ARSPSB]

This is just my two cents but if your not comfortable with the trainer then go with what your mind is telling you. I wouldnt send my horse to someone that I dont like the way he does things. You seem to think that it will affect your horse negatively. So why do that even if its free?

[Slim Pikkens]

Perhaps this fellows techniques aren't as bad as what you've heard. Ugly rumors often get started when money is involved. One fellow took a dangerously spoiled horse and turned him into a child safe horse. Some would say his tactics are harsh, but there were no beatings or abuse. The horse had a big bag of tricks that required a gutsy rider to stay with him.

[texas sassy]

I think you have to remember most trainers do not view horses as loving pets. They don't think their "personality" is cute and endearing, they think it is rude and intrusive. You sound like such a sweet kind person ---perhaps you are leary of disciplining your horse? No offense!! There is nothing wrong with leaving them tied up, if you trailride, this is something they have to know--they even need to know this to take a trip to the vet! You have to remember trainers are hired to fix our mistakes, and some horses have been badly spoiled and have very willful personalities.I would however, be doubtful of any claim that 30 of training=bombproof and kidproof.

[Kahlua_Twist]

PM me...I have an idea....

[doyle82]

Originally Posted by texas sassy

I think you have to remember most trainers do not view horses as loving pets. They don't think their "personality" is cute and endearing, they think it is rude and intrusive.

I agree. Trainers make a living off the horses. While most do treat them with a firm kindness and respect, most do consider them horses not part of the family like we do.

[purecountry1953]

Remember you get what you pay for or in your case what you don't pay for. I wouldn't take a risk like that with my horse. There are trainers out there who use the gentle method and to me he sounds horrific.

[Smilie]

Hi
I believe that horses need to learn to accept being tied, but you don't need to tie them up all day or all night to achieve this
All our horses tie, whether trailered, tied to a trailer at a local show, or tied up overnight when we go to the mountains. None have be kept tied all day and night as part of their training routine.
I will tie a horse up in his stall after riding, with the saddle on for an hour or so-that's all it takes. You don't need to ride a horse for 8 hours every day for them to accept being ridden on an eight hour trail ride-just enough to condition them-same with tying them up
I also agree you don't make a bomb proof horse in a month. The horse might come back appearing that way, but he is probably working out of fear and intimidation-not a solid foundation. He will start to try new riders sooner or later, and if the rider does not have the ability of the trainer, the horse will soon discover it
Solid horses take months if not years of good riding by a knoiwledgeable person to the point that the correct responses become-well, automatic
That is why this type of horse, esp if he is a show horse, is both hard to find and expensive. Try finding a good solid and competitive youth horse for under $10,000 plus. If it only takes a month of training to produce such a horse, the market would be flooded with them
#0 day wonders are exactly that.

[texas sassy]

The training IS paid for--by her father. I would discuss my mare w/ this trainer, tell him about her quirks, and ask HOW he would solve these problems. I don't think Sugarsgal has said enough about this person to form an opinion, personally. She's going by hearsay. I would be interested in visiting, seeing his facilities, how his horses in training reacted to him, etc. Like I said before, trainers have a different view than pet owners. That slobber stain to you might be a symbol of thanks and love for a yummy treat, to a trainer....hmmm. Sugarsgal has a child, and the safety of the child comes FIRST!!!!! So if she sends her mare to be trained, she needs to have a gentle, well-started horse come back to her. Now, I personally wouldn't put my child on this horse for a long time, even with training. I do like the exposure this trainer gives his horses--riding in traffic, water, all that sounds really great. I too viewed my horses as my children ....until I had children. No horse in the world is worth their safety. I think this guy is worth looking into because she will know how her horse reacts to a VARIETY of stressful situations (traffic, water, etc.) when he is finished.

[Kristina Fortson]

Remember, you want HER broke ;not her spirit.