How would you allocate funds for training?

[fatappy]

It’s fun to pretend to spend other people’s money, but just curious how you would spend a fixed amount of money for a finite period of time.

The horse: 13y/o OTTB. Was a 2’6" hunter, started spooking at the 3’ stuff, scared the crap out of her owner (myself) and has been semi retired for 2018-2019 while I focused on my nicer horse. Came back to work in 2020 with a bad attitude (kicking out at the leg, spooking, head tossing on contact), and after 6 months of work and a 4 strategically placed lessons with lots of homework, is now delightful and starting to trot small fences.

Rider: Competent on the flat, and grateful to have been the one to untangle the horse’s mind. Confident over the smaller plain fences, but not able/ willing to re-train a horse to jump proper ‘horse show’ type fences (anything that may give the horse a peek)

Goal: The Thoroughbred Shows at the Horse Park (dressage (training level) and hunters (2’6")). They are rescheduled for ‘early 2021’

The barn: Currently at a dressage barn with a competent dressage trainer but no outside help allowed.

So let’s pretend the Hunter Show is in March and the dressage show in April. The Hunter show is the primary goal, but would like to do both. How would you start getting this mare ready? I am very happy at my facility, but would be open to a 1-2 months of full training somewhere where she could be exposed to real fences and a true hunter rider.

Would you spend more on training rides with dressage rider ($70/ per)? Lessons for the owner ($70/per)? Or save it all and do a full training board situation (assuming $1500/mo) when it gets closer?

[fourfillies]

If the horse has reasonable basics I’d put the money teaching the horse to do the job you want her to do. Hunter program at a minimum months of Jan and Feb that includes lessons for the rider.

[awaywego]

Agree with @fourfillies - keep doing what you’re doing now if that’s working for you, try not to have any setbacks to your confidence or hers that you have to untangle again, then send her out for training board to get her tuned-up for the spring shows.

[IPEsq]

You haven’t said whether the horse or you have any training challenges with the dressage part. But I think I’d focus on that for now at home with occasional small plain fences and save for a full training program (including lessons for you) to prepare for the hunter show.

[fatappy]

@IPEsq

You haven’t said whether the horse or you have any training challenges with the dressage part. But I think I’d focus on that for now at home with occasional small plain fences and save for a full training program (including lessons for you) to prepare for the hunter show.

Training challenges - as in bad behavior? No. Is there room for improvement in her carriage/ tracking and transitions, yes absolutely.

[findeight]

Think she was referring to things like resisting contact, lead changes or stopping at the fences, not “ bad “ behavior.

At 13, many age related issues start showing up including advancing arthritis which can cause head tossing, kicking out and “attitude“ changes. Have you had any vet work? They don’t limp with back aches or sore hocks, might want to spend a little there instead of trying to train “ attitude” out.

[Nova2000]

Are you allowed to leave for outside lessons?Could you stay where you are and trailer to a hunter jumper trainer occasionally for additional lessons?

[Crazy4aOTTB]

My horse is similar in that he will jump single rails or rails with flower boxes but if you put something solid he is gonna peak or possibly stop the 1st time to the fence. After he has jumped it he is fine. I know you said you were at a dressage barn so I assume you don’t have jumps? But possibly ask if you could set up one or 2 standards with filler similar to a show and then take it down when your done each day. Or what I have been doing is trailer my guy to schooling shows close by that my trainer will be going to and just have her school the jumps and then we go home. I have to pay a small trailer in fee but its worth it to get him used to the experience.
However, I will agree that if this horse used to jump this type of jump perfectly fine it may be a pain issue and not the jump itself.

[fatappy]

Thanks, all.

To address the pain, she did have a flexions done a couple months ago and nothing popped that the vet wanted to pursue with radiographs. She has some known issues (intermittent upward patellar fixation and a propoensity for a sore back but my current saddle was professionally fitted to her). I’m not getting any vibes that it’s pain. It’s kicking out/ head tossing when we pass the dog, or the standards where we saw a rabbit 2 months ago, or a person sitting where there wasn’t a person last time. Her attitude has improved tremendously and consistently that I wouldn’t think would happen with pain? But it’s a fair call out and something I will definitely keep in the back of my head especially when we start jumping.

I do have access to some standards and some poles and can get some fillers at the dollar tree and that’s what we’ve been doing very slowly. Incorporating small questions in.

I just sold my truck/ trailer but could get rides with the dressage trainer as a last resort.

[Against_All_Odds1]

personally I’d want the horse going over the “scary/ Show stuff” by Christmas and I’d have the rider in weekly lessons in the new year so that they can help the horse take a peek at the show. IMO rider confidence issues take at least 3 months of good, solid lessons