Hi! What is the normal arrangement for fees when a trainer shows an owner’s horse or rides a horse for an owner in a clinic? Who pays for what? Thx!
In my experience, it’s typical for the owner to pay the fees because typically, the owner benefits from the trainer’s time in the saddle. It’s not written in stone, though.
My horse is in full training and I pay show and clinic fees.
I pay entries and a share of trainer’s expenses. When prizes or $$$ is won I typically give trainer the prize and buy her a gift or a fabulous dinner with portion of the money.
Agree with the others, usually owner pays entry fees and clinic fees - although sometimes with clinics, if the TRAINER wants to ride in the clinic, then sometimes the trainer pays all or part of the clinic fee. It has been YEARS since I had a horse in training, but when I did, the trainer sometimes wanted to ride with some high end clinicians that were out of my budget, and I’d agree to pay half. Figure the trainer is getting something out of the clinic too…
It depends.
Why is the trainer showing the horse or riding the horse in a clinic? Is it a made horse and the trainer is trying to advance their clientele by showing they are able to do more advanced levels than they can do on any animal they currently own or have owned recently? If that is the case then the trainer would pay.
If the trainer is riding the horse for the horse’s experience or because the owner wants the trainer to take the horse to this show or ride in this clinic then the owner pays.
I would expect the owner to pay for everything (usually travel/food/lodging is split between clients), unless the trainer is asking the owner to use the horse specifically for their personal gain. Such as getting a score for one of their medals or in a demonstration.
Otherwise I would assume the clinic/show is for the horses and/or owners benefit and therefore the owner would pay for the training of the horse regardless of whether it’s at home, a show, or some other venue.
I have a horse in full training. If the trainer is going to a show with other horses and would like to show my horse I pay all the show fees (entries, braiding,stall fees), split any tack room fee with other clients, and pay my share of trucking to the show. I do not pay other expenses (travel/lodging). And there is no fee to the trainer over and above the normal monthly full training fee.
The most common scenario would be where the owner is wanting the trainer to show the horse. In that case, the owner pays all fees/expenses. Generally the owner would also pay the trainer for riding the horse as well. This might be a simple $30 - $50 fee if it is a show that the trainer is going to anyway and riding the horse will fit in well with his/her schedule. However, it could be substantial fees to cover the trainer’s travel, lodging, food, a days wages, etc.; if the trainer is making a significant trip for this one horse or is needing to forego his/her usual income producing activities in order to show the horse.
Of course things would be totally different if the trainer was ASKING to borrow the horse in order to further his/her own career. In that case he/she would generally pay the expenses and would not be paid.
Another possible scenario would be a sponsor who was supplying the horse FOR the trainer. In those cases, there are usually contracts well in advance, and would be quite specific to that situation/relationship.
