Avoid Training Frustrations and Fails – Part 1

Brenda Robson Author

How to prepare for the best hire-a-trainer experience. Your horse is counting on you.

Avoid Training Frustrations and Fails – Part 1

How to Prepare for the Best Hire-a-Trainer Experience

When asked about their expectations for training, most horse owners say something like:

“I just want to be able to ride my horse safely and enjoy it.”

That’s a tall order!

It encompasses:

• The horse’s previous training and exposure
• Your own knowledge, fitness, experience, and skill as a rider
• A commitment to regular practice

Without consistent effort, even a well-trained horse can lose responsiveness over time. Regular practice is what maintains—and progresses—your horse’s ride-ability in the long term.

Where Did Your Horse Come From?

Understanding where your horse came from helps you prepare for starting—or restarting—the training process.

Whether your horse has:

• A race training background
• Been part of a trail string
• Spent time as a barrel racer
• Or was simply raised as a backyard pet...

...it has developed a system of responses to humans. These responses help it feel safe. The horse’s past will influence how it reacts to new training techniques, how long it takes to make progress, and why certain approaches work better than others.

When you understand your horse’s history, you gain valuable insight into its default reactions and how to guide it forward.

Be Honest About Your Own Riding Skills

Just as your horse comes with a backstory, so do you. It's important to take stock of your riding experience.

Don’t overestimate your skills.

If you’ve mostly trail ridden—even a lot—chances are, you’ve ridden horses who already knew the job. They were on autopilot, and you may have been more of a passenger than a pilot.

But now, you’re working with a horse who needs an education—and you need one to match.

A clear, realistic plan should be created to support your growth as a rider at the same time your horse is in training. This plan should guide you toward becoming:

• A more confident horseman
• A more skilled rider

Find your passion in this idea, and you’ll be much more successful when your horse returns home from the trainer.

Set Yourself Up for Success

Also—expect to need ongoing support from your trainer. Don’t wait until things go wrong. Reach out early, ask questions, and stay involved in the process.

And remember that frustrating horse-world question:

“How long will it take?”

The answer is always: “It depends.”

It depends on:

• Your horse’s background
• Your current skill level
• Your time and financial investment

Training dollars can add up fast. To make the most of your investment, take the time to evaluate:

• Your specific needs
• Your level of commitment
• How you’ll improve your own abilities
• The trainer who will guide you

Choose the Right Trainer for You

Ultimately, this is about you—and it should be.

Make sure your trainer has the heart of a teacher. Choose someone who puts your success with your horse above their ability to just ride it well themselves.

It’s not about: “What I can do with your horse.”

It’s about: “What I can help YOU do with your horse.”

That’s what leads to long-term success.

Training Is a Journey—Not a Shortcut

Your riding ability and your horse’s training need to progress together. This takes:

• Time
• Courage
• Knowledge
• Education
• Persistence

So embrace the idea that you're stepping into a new level of learning—with your horse. Hire a coach, lean into the process, and enjoy the sport of lifelong horsemanship.

Your horse is counting on you. And you’ve got this.

Stay tuned—next time, I’ll share how to get the most out of your hire-a-trainer experience.

Categories: : Let's Talk Training