[QUOTE=bornfreenowexpensive;6248896]
Honestly…I know gold winning Olympic level riders who work with trainers. I worked for the US Chef d’Eq. Everyone, even at the highest level, trains with someone. The moment you stop…or think you can go on your own…is when you will stop being as successful and competitive as you can. It is just not the hand holding, take a lesson every day/week sort of training that junior or ammy might do.
So I think you took the question wrong. Your answer should be…I’m a young professional starting my business with goals of riding for the team. My coach is ______ and I also ride with ________. This doesn’t mean you ride with them daily…just who you turn to for advice and to improve.
And asking a potential buyer that sort of question is not usual or wrong. I know a lot of players in my sport. If I know whose “program” someone comes from or who they tend to turn to for help…it is actually very insightful as to the type of rider/trainer I would expect them to be. I could be wrong…but when you are doing business with a stranger selling a living horse (whose reputation/development can affect your business)–I don’t think it is unfair at all to try to get to know who that person is.
Honestly…the horse world at the top levels is VERY small. Most people know each other. So when you are more unknown…you will need to spend time making connections…not burning bridges. (even if you choose not to buy a horse for that person at this time). It’s called being professional.
There are a lot of farms…especially in Europe…who will NOT sell you their top youngsters if they do not know you. Yes, they will sell you their culls…but not their best. And honestly…I’m the same way. I’m not selling my best youngster to just anyone who can write a check. I’d rather keep them and develop them myself (or sell to some one I know personally and trust) to ensure it is done well and not done badly or wasted (I’ve seen both happen to breeders).[/QUOTE]
I think asking questions about the new owners and their situation is very responsible. But lets face it, once that horse is sold, it’s welfare is out of your hands. But the next person/owner might be a nightmare and that is just the reality of selling horses, unlike dogs they are more of a commodity.
And I do not think that is matters so much if the young lady has a trainer or not. It always helps to have an independent eye but that doesn’t mean the horse will be abused or neglected. And obviously KaChing is able to reasonably utilize a horses potential. Maybe better than an average rider that is dependent on a trainer. And giving someone else “lessons” in how they should do business, regardless of their age, is somewhat presumptuous.
I don’t think the young trainer was that unprofessional, she just told her side of the story after it was already brought to the board, that she is a member of. And she was only insulting the horse if does have 1.5-1.6m potential in competition. Otherwise it isn’t that much of a insult as many jumper bred horses do not have that type of potential.
And as far as getting along with every other person in the horse world…seriously? One constant in the horse world is people with really different approaches.
PS- there are also lots of farms in Europe that sell youngsters for meat. And many would only refuse a sale because they thought they could get more money or get the horse to a better rider. If anything, NA breeders are much more sentimental. European breeders also utilize auctions more than we do, the person with the most money wins, no questions asked.
