Is the trainer always right?

[lalalaura107]

Hello everyone,

So my trainer and I are horse shopping (for me) and I’ve come to realize that we are looking for very different types of horses. I told her that I am looking for a project horse, and she keeps steering me toward finished horses that are out of my budget. I get the feeling that she wants me to compete more seriously than I have any desire to. I found a 2 year old with an impressive pedigree, solid ground training, and the potential to be a great all-around horse. She told me to keep looking. If I was horse shopping by myself, I would have made an offer already, but I’m kind of afraid to disappoint her, especially because I’ll boarding him at her stable. What should I do?

-Laura

[xQHDQ]

Buy the horse YOU want. If it turns out it’s not the right horse, well then, that’s your lesson to learn. But most likely, you know what will make you the most happy. (Personal experience here: lesson learned the hard way)

In your situation I would have a frank conversation with your trainer. “I like this horse because…” Listen to her reasons why she wants you to get this other horse, and if you still don’t agree with her, tell her again WHY you want a particular type of horse. If she still won’t listen and you think she won’t change her mind after you’ve bought said horse, then you may need to find a different trainer.

You have to believe in your horse and your trainer has to believe in you and your horse as a pair.

[GoForAGallop]

Did you sit down and have an actual conversation about why the horses she is selecting for you do not actually match what you think you should be looking for?

It is entirely possible that she does not think you’re ready for a project such as an unbroken 2yo, which is entirely different than just a green horse. She may not have any desire to help you break said 2yo (plenty of people have no patience for young horse starting, doesn’t make them bad trainers), and feels like she might get roped into that, and wants to steer you away from scenario. She might know you better than you know yourself, and knows that you’ll be bored silly, heading into show season, with a horse that you can’t ride until NEXT show season.

[katarine]

You need to sit down and talk to her one on one. You two need to be on the same page. It IS your money, and she must be on the same page with you- not to ‘do your bidding’ but to ensure you’re both on the same path.

[lalalaura107]

It just occurred to me, most of the horses I choose for myself to look at are QHs, and all of the horses that she chooses for me to look at are anything but. I know that she doesn’t like QHs because she thinks that their feet are too small, could this possibly be a breed bias discrepancy?

[katarine]

Some QHs DO have horribly small feet. Unless you show her one that doesn’t, she’s right.

[lalalaura107]

The one I most recently looked at (the one i’m talking about in the original post) has very proportional feet, and so do his sire, dam, full brother, full sister, and cousins, all of whom I met when I went to go look at him. A good friend of mine owns his full sister.

[AmarachAcres]

Most trainers I’ve met never encourage people to buy 2 year olds. Perhaps if you already had a mount you ride, but that is a long term decision on a horse that may not be any good at what you are training to do.

She is trying to find you a mount you can ride now that is already going in what you want to do.

I agree with the others, have a sit down with her so you can both be on the same page. Find out the whys and what fors.

[BeeHoney]

Definitely sit down and talk to your trainer, but realize that your trainer may have some points of view that you should consider. Maybe your trainer doesn’t think you are ready for or the right situation for a project horse. Buying an unbroken 2 year old is a lot to deal with–I’ve seen more than one otherwise great ammy end up frustrated, over-faced, unhappy and/or injured after buying an overly green horse. Breaking and training can seem so easy in the hands of experienced professionals, but can be really difficult for an ammy who doesn’t start many horses or who doesn’t have the schedule for it. The other common outcome when ammies buy unbroken/green horses is that the trainer ends up being the one to ride the horse.

Another thing to consider is that no matter how nice a horse seems on the ground pre-breaking, it really doesn’t tell you much about what they are going to be like under saddle. Even if the horse turns out nice, it may not be the horse YOU want. It may excel at another discipline than what you want to do, or it may have a trait that really annoys you. There’s just a lot you don’t know about an unstarted prospect. It can end up a very expensive mistake to buy a 2 year old and raise it and train it to find out it isn’t what you wanted. Most horses in this scenario would NOT end up re-selling for enough to make up for all the board and training, etc. that you’ve put into them.

Re: price ranges, it is possible that your trainer feels that the horses you are looking at could be negotiated down into your price range. Also, consider that by the time you have purchased, boarded and trained a two year old into a horse that is ready to do something, you almost certainly will have spent MORE than if you’d bought a finished horse to begin with.

When you sit down with your trainer have an open mind. I don’t know a thing about your personal situation, I’m only trying to point out some things for you to consider that your trainer might be thinking.

[mroades]

[QUOTE=BeeHoney;7505956]
Definitely sit down and talk to your trainer, but realize that your trainer may have some points of view that you should consider. Maybe your trainer doesn’t think you are ready for or the right situation for a project horse. Buying an unbroken 2 year old is a lot to deal with–I’ve seen more than one otherwise great ammy end up frustrated, over-faced, unhappy and/or injured after buying an overly green horse. Breaking and training can seem so easy in the hands of experienced professionals, but can be really difficult for an ammy who doesn’t start many horses or who doesn’t have the schedule for it. The other common outcome when ammies buy unbroken/green horses is that the trainer ends up being the one to ride the horse.

Another thing to consider is that no matter how nice a horse seems on the ground pre-breaking, it really doesn’t tell you much about what they are going to be like under saddle. Even if the horse turns out nice, it may not be the horse YOU want. It may excel at another discipline than what you want to do, or it may have a trait that really annoys you. There’s just a lot you don’t know about an unstarted prospect. It can end up a very expensive mistake to buy a 2 year old and raise it and train it to find out it isn’t what you wanted. Most horses in this scenario would NOT end up re-selling for enough to make up for all the board and training, etc. that you’ve put into them.

Re: price ranges, it is possible that your trainer feels that the horses you are looking at could be negotiated down into your price range. Also, consider that by the time you have purchased, boarded and trained a two year old into a horse that is ready to do something, you almost certainly will have spent MORE than if you’d bought a finished horse to begin with.

When you sit down with your trainer have an open mind. I don’t know a thing about your personal situation, I’m only trying to point out some things for you to consider that your trainer might be thinking.[/QUOTE]

This times a billion!

[sdlbredfan]

Fire the trainer. You seem capable of doing your own shopping. Buy the prospect you want.

[JBD]

If you consider her your trainer, what does she do now and what will you want her to do with your new horse? I agree that the best way to be assured of getting what you want is to buy a horse that already does it. Prospects are OK if you don’t have a problem with them being something other than what you envisioned.

Of course you can buy what you want but think about why you wanted the trainers advice in the first place. I’m always a whole lot happier with a trainer when they like my horse.

[Equisis]

Exactly what others have said about having a frank discussion with your trainer. No sense in playing guessing games about why you two are disagreeing when you can just ask- what does she dislike about these horses? Does she understand YOUR goals and aspirations? How can you two get back on the same page, shopping-wise?

Personally, I would almost never advise a student to buy an unbroken 2 year old. You don’t know how the horse is going to turn out, even if you know his siblings- having ridden many half- and full-siblings, even ones brought along in the same programs, I can tell you that family similarities can be many or very, very few. If this is your only horse, it is a very expensive risk to take, and one that may seriously limit your riding opportunities for years (while still costing a lot of money). Unless it is a truly exceptional horse in just the right situation, I would always advise buying a horse the buyer can ride first, unless the buyer is very experienced or a professional.

The same goes for green projects- some are well-suited as project horses for competent amateurs, others need to be in a serious program. It is possible that your trainer does not think you are ready to take on the kinds of horses you are looking at, and is trying to steer you towards mounts that are more appropriate. How much experience do you have with green horses? No trainer wants to see a student stuck with an unsuitable mount, and many people don’t realize how green is too green until they are in over their heads.

With that said- if the above is not the case, and if you know 100% what you want, and your trainer isn’t on board, maybe she isn’t the trainer you need. If she doesn’t like your horse, she isn’t going to enjoy working with you two, and you need (and deserve!) someone who wants to be invested in your future with your horse. You can always find someone new who is excited to work with both of you.

[Lady_Eboshi]

There are two kinds of trainers. Those who listen to what the client wants to do, and agrees to help them get there; and those who ignore the client’s wishes and instead (in their infinite egomania) assume the client really wants to be a clone of themselves!

Either way, the trainer is YOUR hired hand–not a person you “need to please.” Other way 'round thar, Pilgrim! :lol: So if this trainer is not taking you where you want to go, and is not helping you find the horse you want, for heaven’s sake dump her and find someone who WILL listen to you and find you the horse you’ll buy.

I had a situation like this once horse-shopping with my aunt; every horse she liked I hated, and vice-versa. Turns out we were looking for diametrically opposite things! Just like you and the horse, you and the trainer have GOT to be a fit or you’ll just make each other miserable all around.

Remember, it’s YOUR nickel! :winkgrin:

[Calvincrowe]

Without information regarding your abilities and goals, it is hard to say if your trainer is working for you or against you. On the surface, I think you might not be listening to your trainer’s advice. It takes a very competent amateur to successfully bring along an unbroken 2 year old.

Maybe you could share your goals and experience so we can better answer your question?

[saddleup]

The part that sticks out in your original post was the budget difference…she is steering you toward horses out of your price range?

Does she just want a bigger commission/finder’s fee? That would be a deal breaker for me. She should stay within your established budget. End of story.

[HunterJumper_3]

Id say the final decision is definitely yours. Just because you’re boarding with her and she thinks you should get a more expensive, finished horse doesn’t mean you NEED to actually get one. Unless she’s the one forking over the cash, you have the last word - the final say! I’d get the greenie with the good ground manners, and besides, in my opinion, working with young horses is far more rewarding than winning ribbons on a schoolmaster/proficient horse!

[equisusan]

There is probably a happy medium. You may want something that is simply too green for you and your trainer may want something you can enjoy right away. I agree on talking to your trainer and finding that happy medium. Maybe you move a little her way and she moves a little yours.

[fordtraktor]

How much experience do you have? What is your riding level? Have you trained horses before? Bought prospects before? How many horses have you previously owned?

No trainer is alway right, but not enough info here to know if this one is correct or not in your situation.

[Chall]

Seems like your trainer has common sense and experience.
Have you projected the cost of training a two year old? There is board, plus training fees x the amount of time it takes to train x time it takes to train him for your level of riding.
Its likely the above cost is much greater than the cost of a ready to ride horse.

Then there is the safety factor. At that age no one knows what his personality under saddle will be.

lastly, patience. Do you have the patience to wait a year to be able to take your horse out on a trail ride?

btdt - loved my horse, but its a long long project. Do the $ math and you might come to the conclusion your trainer is offering you the least expensive more immediately gratifying option.