Lameness

[rothmpp]

I don’t know how long you’ve been in the states, but as some others have said, all awards should not be considered equal.

I know you’ve deleted the original post with the outline of a particular trainer’s accomplishments, but please bear in mind that US Dressage Finals is not nearly as impressive as the name would seem to indicate (especially when it comes to freestyles). It’s not quite the national championship that you might be envisioning. It feeds from regional finals, which is completely separate from the CDI level that your daughter will need to eventually be competing at to be under any sort of international consideration.

So while placing at this show is certainly an accomplishment, a list of of CDI show placements would be more impressive.

That being said, her now trainer very well may not be her next or forever trainer. You really need a trainer that is very accomplished with young horses right now. And considering you’re already having some lameness issues, I’d steer away from the FEI young horse classes now and possibly forever, so don’t necessarily look at trainers that seem to take horses into FEI young horse classes year after year. Those classes can put a lot of stress on a young horse and you seem to already be having overworking issues with this young guy.

[luvmyhackney]

I won’t put you on the stake. lol. We all have different experiences. Your experiences are just as valid as mine.

[Demerara_Stables]

@2tempe

Moral of this story: some people are very good at training horses (Trainer 1) Others are very good at teaching people AND training horses. Find someone who likes to teach, who knows when to push you and has lots of patience when things take a while to get right. (trainer 2)

This. Not every trainer is good at teaching people and horses. At this stage you need both in one person (after 6mo-1yr of Dr Green), or you need your horse to be with a horse trainer and your daughter to be on a schoolmaster with an excellent coach that has experience bringing people up the levels.

I’ll also add that you should expect to change trainers over time, and clinic/consult with many people. The trainer that is going to give a 4yo a correct, thoughtful start in competition is almost never going to be the trainer that’s going to take your daughter to the Olympics (unless you’re training with Lauren Spreiser ). Find someone that can help your daughter and her horse at this stage, and then when you’re ready to move to the big time, do it in partnership with the current trainer so the horse has as seamless of a transition as possible.

[Warmblood1]

@rothmpp

I don’t know how long you’ve been in the states, but as some others have said, all awards should not be considered equal.

I know you’ve deleted the original post with the outline of a particular trainer’s accomplishments, but please bear in mind that US Dressage Finals is not nearly as impressive as the name would seem to indicate (especially when it comes to freestyles). It’s not quite the national championship that you might be envisioning. It feeds from regional finals, which is completely separate from the CDI level that your daughter will need to eventually be competing at to be under any sort of international consideration.

So while placing at this show is certainly an accomplishment, a list of of CDI show placements would be more impressive.

That being said, her now trainer very well may not be her next or forever trainer. You really need a trainer that is very accomplished with young horses right now. And considering you’re already having some lameness issues, I’d steer away from the FEI young horse classes now and possibly forever, so don’t necessarily look at trainers that seem to take horses into FEI young horse classes year after year. Those classes can put a lot of stress on a young horse and you seem to already be having overworking issues with this young guy.

Agree 100 percent and I also believe that putting this horse directly into a program to train would be a mistake. I gelt the horse was off in the sales video, I think OP needs to work with a lameness vet and get a clear understanding of what’s going on and limitations. This horse has a great temperament (his sire line is known for it), it would be a shame to push him too hard, too soon. Hopefully it’s as simple as soreness and time off will allow him to recover.

[kaya842]

From what I’ve watched of his clinics online, this does seem accurate but not a drawback to me. Instead of pushing the horses for a dramatic “before and after” he works within the horses’ comfort levels and achieves what he can in the incredibly limited time he has. He is up front about this when looking for horses to participate in the clinic, and I believe he talks about it in a recorded clinic or two. To me, that is very commendable. A lot of good horsemanship is a bit like watching paint dry - boring, a bit repetitive, with small wins each time (small wins varying for horse to horse and situation to situation).

[Fiesta01]

It looks like you’re raising a fine daughter. Congrats!!

[FD]

Thank you.

[FD]

Yes, fully agree.

[FD]

How is the horse now?

[Scribbler]

One thing complicating progressing in horses in North America is that there is no single guided approved etc licensed or systematic training program either for coaches or students. Every trainer is their own small business. Every trainer markets themselves on a combination of verifiable achievement, puffery, empty promises and social media, whatever their underlying skill set. Some promise you the moon and get you into the stratosphere. Some promise you the moon and cripple your horse.

In most junior sports you can more or less trust the programs schedules teams etc put together on the way up by adults. By and large 13 year old gymnasts or hockey players don’t get to set the agenda with their newbie parents because there is an adult infrastructure.

With horses, people go through a series of trainers as their goals develop. But they also often go through a series of trainers because initially they can’t sort the good ones from the bad, and their are no governing standards.

It’s really hard getting into horses with no knowledge base and no reliable adult mentors. That’s when people end up buying import horses with no PPE or thinking that traveling horse witch scam artist is on a par with Warwick Schuller. Etc. The number one thing you need right now is a really solid trainer in your court, but the problem is it’s hard to find one if you can’t evaluate the choices.

[Fiesta01]

@rothmpp

Meant with the utmost respect for you and your daughter, but hours don’t mean much. It’s about the quality of those hours.

This.^ I coincidentally have a very recent example. I’ve been horseless since my last horse died four years ago. Before that, my equine life/ownership goes back decades.

I was at a friend’s barn yesterday, grooming his horse while he packed up his gear to move to a new barn three hours away. Another friend, who has owned horses for at least 12 years (which is when I met her) was chatting with me while I groomed.

I was sponging up between the sheath and upper legs and then going around back to clean between the legs and under the tail. She asked me what I was doing. I said I was washing off any sweat and dirt as part of the normal daily grooming process. She was astonished as she had never washed those areas!!!

Yep, hours (or years) don’t tell you everything about someone’s horsemanship.

[Bristol_Bay]

If the sellers are aware of this thread, they don’t want to be associated with a horse with lameness issues. Bad for business.

You have put your horse and his problems on blast with this thread. This is something you may regret.

Unless you own horse property and intend to stay there for the next 25 years to care for him in retirement, you may need to sell this horse someday. He may not always suit your daughter’s needs (you’ve also put her life on blast, you know.) Years from now a prospective buyer will search your horse’s name and find this thread.

I mean this in all kindness: it is unwise.

[FD]

Yes, its not an easy process at all.

[FD]

Is this one? https://dressage4kids.org/

[Mersidoats]

Yes, that is it!

[Manni01]

Some advice ……
don’t take everything to your heart which is posted here…extract what you like and you think to be useful ignore the rest…. The board tends to be prone for all kinds of drama…. Don’t get excited about posts !!!

[Manni01]

That was really good advice !!!

[Bristol_Bay]

@FD

To “put someone on blast” is a form of calling out or publicly shaming someone, with the intention of holding them accountable, seeking justice, or simply expressing disapproval.

I’m misusing the term if that’s the case. I mean with all good intentions that exposing information about what may be a temporary issue to the permanent internet could be detrimental to your horse’s future. Why do you think the sellers took down the sold page?

You said your daughter shuns electronics and I assume social media, so I apologize for making a negative assumption about putting her videos up and calling attention to them on this forum.

This is my only social media. I quit FB and Twitter over privacy concerns. It’s easy to forget how comfortable most people are putting themselves out there online.

[ATXmom]

He’s at rehab - aquatreading, hot walking, and apparently having the time of his life

[good_booie]

Who was the seller?