I did both surveys (as I have been both a client and a trainer).
I wish you had used the same adjective, “comfortable/uncomfortable” in both surveys, as opposed to “willing/unwilling” for the questions regarding discussions about meds with HOs.
I must say that when I have had my pro hat on, I have been willing and also uncomfortable when discussing meds with clients.
I’m willing because they absolutely need to know what there horse is getting (IMO). That’s at a minimum. I’d really like clients to be part of the decision-making process.
I’m uncomfortable because, as often as not, they don’t have the education or realism to know what it means to decide to give X grams of bite (or whathaveyou) and when. The worst case of this is when the client doesn’t have a lot of interest in the technical details of their horse’s management but also thinks that the horse doesn’t need anything special/is sounder than he is. Very tough to have a candid, sufficiently long/detailed discussion about medicating at horse shows when the client doesn’t want to play. So I’m more than willing to talk about it, preferably well ahead of time. I’m uncomfortable when I know I can’t get the client to really pay attention to that engage with the problem.
Another interesting question you might have included: Who does the medicating (trainer, groom, HO) and who signs the “Trainer” line on entries?
As a HO, I always did my own signing and my own medicating, with very good communication with the pro. (I left it to her to manage her grooms; as often as not, I groomed for myself.)
My favorite thing with clients is to also have them sign as trainer. It gives us a chance to talk about the D&M rules… and the part where they sign the form tends to get their attention for the discussion I described above.
