Trainer for "young" horse in Houston, TX area?

[texang73]

Hi all,
I am thinking in the near-ish future that I may need to take my 6 y.o. (soon to be 7 y.o.) OTTB gelding to a trainer.

Abit of background:
Long story short, I have owned him for ~3 months but before that he’d been put out on pasture for two years with no work (ground nor ridden). He is broke, but track broke… meaning he doesn’t steer well and is still learning to accept contact (rein & leg). I have not ridden him but once since I bought him because 1. I had no saddle to fit him 2. the weather and footing hasn’t been ideal (too wet to be safe - no covered arena or roundpen) and 3. we’ve been doing lots of groundwork and lunging to gain his confidence (developmentally he’s more of a 4 y.o. since he doesn’t have alot of experience with “stuff”). He can be very unconfident about new things.

I have been doing groundwork and manners and can do basic riding with this guy (I’ve ridden for over 30 years, but he’s my first truly “almost knows nothing” horse), but I think I’ll need someone with more experience to help my gelding get abit more solid and confident in his under saddle basics (walk, trot, canter departs/transitions, backing, and just generally getting used to having more rein/leg contact - albeit light) before I can feel comfortable moving on with him on my own - with the occasional lessons/clinics. (I know I have a tendency to get tense/worried if he gets tense/worried and then I “grip” with my seat/leg and/or hands and he doesn’t need that right now while he’s learning! Not to fear, these are bad habits I’m working on eliminating from my riding…)

All that said, I’m looking for a trainer in the Houston area who is good with “young” (inexperienced) horses to send my guy to for 30 days. Any suggestions? TIA Feel free to PM me if you prefer with names and contact info.

Trainer requirements: English or Western doesn’t matter as long as their basics are sound, and they’re patient, kind, confidence-building etc. but not lazy (i.e works with the horse at least 5 days a week). And not too expensive would be good for my pocketbook too! Thanks!

[cowgirljenn]

If you don’t find what you are looking for in Houston, I do know of one in College Station who has done a great job with some of the Bluebonnet horses. I would send one of my personal horses to her (if I had one to send :))

[texang73]

[QUOTE=cowgirljenn;5410418]
If you don’t find what you are looking for in Houston, I do know of one in College Station who has done a great job with some of the Bluebonnet horses. I would send one of my personal horses to her (if I had one to send :))[/QUOTE]

I’ve PMed you!

[ESG]

There is a marvelous young trainer out at Canaan Ranch. Her name escapes me at the moment, but my hunter trainer friend who is lately up to her eyeballs in AAA shows sent her own pre-green horse down there for this gal to work with. If you PM me, I’ll give you contact info for one or both of them.

There’s another that might work, but I’d have to talk to him and you first, to see if he’s still taking on horses as green as yours.

[Rivermeer]

I can tell you where NOT to go, lol! Sorry couldnt resist

Heather

[texang73]

[QUOTE=ESG;5410658]
There is a marvelous young trainer out at Canaan Ranch. Her name escapes me at the moment, but my hunter trainer friend who is lately up to her eyeballs in AAA shows sent her own pre-green horse down there for this gal to work with. If you PM me, I’ll give you contact info for one or both of them.

There’s another that might work, but I’d have to talk to him and you first, to see if he’s still taking on horses as green as yours.[/QUOTE]

I PMed you.

[HeatherCK11]

Sadly, there are few options in the Houston area. Can’t actually think of anyone I’d trust with a young or inexperienced horse. There are numerous folks to be stay clear of…those we have in excess.
Last one I needed some assistance with, ended up going to N. Texas.

[Macarino]

Trainers in Houston

I’ll send you a PM.

[leilatigress]

I’d recommend mine but she’s full at the moment though I’ll pm you her info anyways.

[Sonesta]

I highly recommend Clint Kolz in Cat Spring. He has started all our young warmbloods, Arabians and Knabstruppers for the past 8 years. He does a wonderful job. Email him at catspring@aol.com

[inca]

I second Sonesta’s recommendation of Clint Kolz. He did a really good job with my 3-yr-old last year. Turned her into a solid citizen that felt very safely “broke.”

[Kate66]

Texang- you wouldn’t go back to the guy that you had your last horse with (not naming names)?
I can think of a dressage trainer in the local area that I wouldn’t touch with a barge pole (you can email me and I’ll tell you who).
There’s a seemingly great guy out here at Round Top but he’s very expensive.
How about your buddy Mikey?..although he was good for the legging but not so sure about some of the finesse.
Cowgirljenn probably has some leads on some decent, not too expensive trainers for the Bluebonnet kids.

[Poody]

I would consider sending him for 60 days…get a solid base on him.
No suggestions for a rider but if you read the boards at all you know where NOT to go,lmao

[suzyq]

I have an OTTB right now with Dan Keen in Round Top. He’s only been there 3 weeks so far but I went to see him and am very impressed. It’s about the same price as training at a dressage or H/J barn.

[3_6_and_under]

Send your young horse to Roger Daly in Aubrey, north of Dallas. He is the best there is!

[RacetrackReject]

Sonesta, is that the guy S sent Miko to? If so, from everything she told me, this guy is fantastic. If I had one to retrain/start, I would definitely use him.

[ToTheNines]

Highly recommend Dan Keen. Don’t let the extreme mustang stuff give you the wrong impression. He is a superstar with that, but is also a fabulous conventional trainer. Mine came back a much quieter, better mannered, more ridable horse.

Quite a while after mine went there, I was loading him and for some reason, he did not want to load. I knew Dan probably had some technique, so I simply got a lunge whip, pointed it at his hip, and his whole attitude changed. His eye softened and he walked right in.

[Archer]

@texang73 If you’re still out there, I wonder how this went for you? Who did you end up using and how did it go?

@inca and @Sonesta Do y’all still have a high opinion of Clint Kolz? I’m in the market for some restarting/attitude adjustment for a 7yo TB mare, and Clint was recently suggested.

[inca]

I haven’t used Clint except for the one youngster. But I have a 3 year old that I will be calling Clint about.