Recommendations for trainers to start horse under saddle? (TX)

[coffeehag]

Hi friends! I’ve got a young horse who is juuuuust about ready to get started under saddle. He’s 15.3hh, total dorky gelding type, with terrific ground manners, and hopefully my future little fox hunting/hunter pace/schooling show mount.

That being said, this is the first horse I’ve had start under saddle! My trainer has a recommendation, but he’s got a long wait list, and I figured in the interim it’s good to do some research and see what else is out there.

We’re located in the Austin TX area and willing to drive up to 3-4 hours to the right place. I’d love someone to start him English, but a saddle is a saddle. Really would love a trainer who builds starting under saddle with trust, and exposes the horses to things vs just throwing a saddle on their back, hopping on once, and calling it a day.

Would love any tips/recommendations/etc!

[clanter]

Garn Walker in Bartonville, Texas (Denton area, north of DFW)

Garn Walker Stables is the farm name

Garn moved his operation from California to this location a few years ago. He is highly respected by many in the Morgan community, but he works with all breeds.

I know of him through my daughter who has had her young horse working under Garn’s oversight.