Do barns really want clients like me? (DIY Adult Ammy)

[Kaucos]

I really appreciate your comment. It’s really unfair to assume that, just because someone is an ammy, they are unable to function in the H/J world without a trainer holding their hand. The culture of trainer worshipping and 24/7 observation is absolutely ridiculous and unseen in any other discipline or any other part of the world. I won’t speak to the quality of trainers available, because that is not what this post is about. (But many amateurs are significantly better than a lot of the “pros” out there.)

I would say that I am more than capable of showing up in the ring well-prepared without being in a full-service program. I was a working student for years, for an FEI jumper. I showed the junior hunters and the low junior jumpers. I know what a well-turned-out rider and horse looks like, I know what a well-prepared horse rides like. Not every ammy is, but I am, and I’m sure many others are.

It’s not about the money, more so that I have absolutely zero interest in someone else grooming, tacking, or riding my horse for me. Or telling me what I can or cannot do with my own horses. I lived that life, it was great for learning, but now I want to be in control of my program and do things at my own pace. I would personally, be happy without showing with a pro but showing 100% by yourself in this industry is basically impossible. I don’t have a groom, I don’t have help on the ground, no one to hold a horse or set jumps. I would love to just be able to pay someone to help, but one or two horses just doesn’t feel like it would be worth any freelancer’s time.

I’m open to other suggestions, but for now, I will keep looking for a program that is DIY friendly.

[mrsgrieves]

Your best bet is to find a trainer in the area that coaches just people at horse shows. There’s some barns around me that people just haul in, do their own horse care, prep their own horses, school, etc. and just pay the trainer to stand at the ring. I’m sure you still have to be included on splits and what not, but I’m sure there’s an option for that if you look.

[fivestrideline]

@Kaucos

I don’t have a groom, I don’t have help on the ground, no one to hold a horse or set jumps. I would love to just be able to pay someone to help, but one or two horses just doesn’t feel like it would be worth any freelancer’s time.

Paying someone to set jumps and hold things might be FAR cheaper than being looped into the splits - which I don’t think you can avoid, without a pre-established relationship with a pro. It’ll also be easier to find, at least at first! It doesn’t take an FEI groom to fill water, carry a ring bag, and set jumps. It just takes someone with a bit of experience doing those things at home, and the rest you can tailor the way you want.

Either way, good luck with showing DIY however you decide to give it a go - it’s certainly not easy, but it can be done!

[Rel6]

@Kaucos

It’s not about the money, more so that I have absolutely zero interest in someone else grooming, tacking, or riding my horse for me. Or telling me what I can or cannot do with my own horses. I lived that life, it was great for learning, but now I want to be in control of my program and do things at my own pace. I would personally, be happy without showing with a pro but showing 100% by yourself in this industry is basically impossible. I don’t have a groom, I don’t have help on the ground, no one to hold a horse or set jumps. I would love to just be able to pay someone to help, but one or two horses just doesn’t feel like it would be worth any freelancer’s time.

At least in my area, there are some good local pros that don’t train out of any one single barn and travel to different barns to teach clients. I ride with one of them. That is what I would target if I were you. It may be harder to find - my trainer doesn’t advertise and I found her through word of mouth, and there is no farm to come up on a google search.

I think this fosters a lot more client independence. Despite what another poster said, I basically do take my young horse to a show, ride him once, feed twice a day, and expect it to go well. My trainer trains me at shows and figures out shipping, we do splits on a tack stalls and her expenses, but otherwise we all pitch in to do stalls, split up night check, and get our own horses ready. I do my own entries, in consultation with my trainer. This seems like a model that might work for you.

[Ponyplusaninch]

Throwing this out as a suggestion: quite a few show areas near me like WEC have dedicated FB groups, and it’s not uncommon for someone to post looking for a one day/two day groom or someone to water/hay, help load/unload, etc. And there are usually a good number of responses!

You very well may find that handy person you need for a day depending on the show venue.

[greysfordays]

Would you consider maybe finding an eventing trainer to work with? I know they will often take their horses to pure show jumping shows. There is a much stronger DIY culture with that group and they seem less possessive of their clients? Maybe that’s an option if you’re doing the jumpers?

[Rumorhasit93]

@TXnGA

I will say, if you are stabling, you really can’t get out of the splits, trainer costs etc at shows. But local shows where I’m not stabling and just trailering in, that really doesn’t apply and I just pay for my training fees.

There are a couple ways around this.

• If your trainer is okay with it, the easiest way to ensure you’ll be stabled with your trainer/barn is to enter under your trainers name and have them omit your number from the splits.
• Enter the show with yourself as the trainer and then email the show asking to be stabled with your trainer/barn, and they’ll add an extra stall to the stall chart.

Both ways are very simple. My trainer has a waitlist for his training program and I don’t even have to remind him to leave me off the splits. But some trainers may prefer to not have to be in charge of that, which I totally get.