I sent a 6 yr old mare who had plenty of handling, but no u/s work or actual “training” to a dressage pro for 90 days.
When I picked her up she was WTC both directions, getting the correct lead 95% of the time, and reaching for the contact. She was still on the FH alot, but most of that was a fitness issue, I think, since she was only ridden 3 x a week. The other day was lunging and the 5th day was free-jumping. She had 2 days a week off.
This mare had never been in a working barn before or stalled (she had already had 2 foals), so the first 45 days were spent getting her to FOCUS instead of going around the arena bleating like a lost little lamb for her buddies.
This trainer is considered one of the best YH trainers in the West, at least for dressage, so mileage may vary.
This video was taken the day I picked her up.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nmGztGTKZzM
I’m thinking your trainer may be taking alittle too much time, but maybe there are issues?
If not, I would sit down and chat with trainer and have an honest talk about a timeline for training and what the trainer would expect to achieve in your (budgeted) timeframe. Nothing wrong with looking elsewhere, athough keep in mind “quick” is not always better.
But I’m sure you know that.
I have to add after reading some more of your posts that, in my situation, the “90 days” were training days, not necessarily sequential days in which my mare was boarded there. In other words, she whacked her leg on the metal gate and was abit off, so the trainer gave her a week off. Although I paid for board for that week, I did NOT pay for training. Ditto for the week when the trainer went out of state for a show. Your trainer should be able to account for every training day in the “program” and THAT is what you pay for. Board is different. For instance, I know some trainers offer Half-Training, in which they only train 3 days a week. Full Training is usually 5 days a week.
This sort of thing is going to make a difference in the actual time spent in training.