I want to show but my trainer doesn’t have us show. It is not level based, she just doesn’t have us show. Should I change barns? I really like this trainer though. Please help!
Did your trainer explain why ? Does your trainer have other clients showing? Is the concern the horse or the rider ? More background would be helpful.
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Also every trainer I’ve ever had asks me my goals. Then we work towards that goal. If your goal is showing… how are your lessons going? What discipline are you striving for? What is your and your horse’s experience current level of expertise?
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Can you tell your trainer that you want to show and would love her help at a show (if you want it)? Can you just go show without her? Or maybe go show with another person/other people at the barn without involving the trainer if she doesn’t want to coach at shows? I have showed a lot without a trainer and had a blast with friends.
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And I will say this. A trainers students are a reflection of the program they are in (my experience.) So a good trainer makes damn sure horse and rider are capable and competent and safe at usually higher than what they might go enter at the high stress level of a show. They set you up for success.
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She doesn’t have you in particular show, or she doesn’t have anybody show?
If she doesn’t have you show but others from your barn do show, you need to have a talk and find out why. Are there certain goals she wants you to meet before showing?
If she doesn’t have anybody show, you have a few options. Change barns/trainers, or get a trailer and go to shows on your own while staying in this barn. Depending on the people involved, it may also be possible to ride with two trainers - this one and another who will take you to shows. Some trainers won’t like that, but I also know people who do exactly that and everybody is cool with it. Mostly people who show more casually.
If you are a student, you may also be able to find a barn that does IEA and show with them while still doing your other riding at your existing barn.
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If showing is not what your trainer does, then yes you need a new trainer. One that shows.
You need a show barn.
Look for what you want before choosing a barn. It doesn’t mean that this is a bad trainer, just not the one for you. Don’t move anywhere that doesn’t do what you want to do.
The trainer is a pro who has chosen her path. Personally I wouldn’t try to talk someone into adopting a new path that they don’t really want. Sort of like asking the local feed store to start selling upscale home furnishings. How good at it are they likely to be? How much room for it will they really dedicate?
If the situation is one where there aren’t many other options, you’ll need to figure out how to prepare yourself and take yourself to the shows you want to attend. Without your trainer.
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If showing is important to you, you need to be at a barn that shows. I know you like your trainer, but there is a great chance you will also like your new trainer.
My advice is to take it slow and go to shows as a spectator or, even better, a volunteer, and watch what coaches and riders you like and feel you would get along with, and also to decide what level of shows you want to go to.
Make sure your budget allows you to be at the show barn before you take the plunge. You may be in for a surprise at how much more it can cost to be at a show barn and showing vs being at a recreational barn.
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Do you have your own horse, or are you riding school horses? If you are riding your trainer’s/barn’s school horses, and your trainer isn’t interested in showing, then you’re probably out of luck and will need to find another lesson barn that takes students to shows.
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The first thing you need to do is tell your trainer you would like to show and ask if that is possible. If your trainer says it is possible, then ask what you will have to do in order to show.
Without that essential information, we can’t really give you good advice.
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So much good advice/questions already.
How do you know it is not level based? Are there upper level people who are also not showing that want to show?
There are trainers whose goal is to train, and not show. Nothing wrong with doing it that way. If this trainer is truly that type of trainer then it would not hurt to have a conversation with them about your desire to show and asking them what trainer they suggest for you to move on to so that goal can be accomplished.
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A LOT DEPENDS on this ^^^^. Need more info. Are you a beginner rider? What do you know/not know about showing? Abouts costs? Do you have horse transportation?
ETA it takes a special person w gobs of time and patience to transport and co-ordinate beginner riders to show. Is your trainer a been there already done that person that decided it was too much? Is this an overwork situation for a string of school horses that the trainer needs to protect for the lesson income?
The best answer any one of us can give is this is your decision. Since none of us know what the circumstances are. If you’re underage? and there are parents involved. Or you are older, have your own horse?
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No earthly idea without more information.
Let’s start with a few very simple and basic questions.
- Does the trainer take anybody to shows?
- Do you own/lease a horse?
- Do you have your own trailer?
These are not personal and do not require a subjective answer or opinion or “it depends” answer.
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No I do not
Sometimes I lease
No I do not
Thank you for getting back.
If trainer does not do shows and you want to show? You will need to find a trainer who shows. There are some wonderful trainers who do not want to haul clients to shows. They are happy with what they are doing and can make a better living staying home teaching than being on the road away from the home barn. There are also many clients, especially at lower levels, who need lessons on weekends in order to learn and advance-shows are on weekends. Stay at home trainers tend to price lower, sometimes much lower, then show oriented barns that need way more stuff to show plus lose income from at home lessons while away.
There is room for both stay at home and show trainers and/or a mix of the two. However the more show, the more cost to support the show operation and replace at home lesson income.
IMO, for right now, you might want to stay with the trainer you like who you learn well from and who has suitable horses for you to ride and research a more show oriented barn. Even ask current trainer if she can recommend somebody. Since she is a stay at home, she must have somebody she recommends when clients want to show. Ask her.
Got to warn you that barns that do show usually require at least a lease and you will need to pay them for the horse plus hauling horse to show plus coaching and possibly grooming, use of tack etc. plus entry and other show fees so there is considerable extra cost involved.
Even a one day schooling show takes a tremendous amount of trainer time. For example a 7am-7pm local show on Sat. will kill Friday afternoon packing the trailer and prepping the horses and show clients. 4am Sat at the barm, 5:30 at the showgrounds maybe last client shows at 4pm, Home at 6, unload horses and evening barn chores. Sunday morning finish unpacking, clean trailer, wash wraps etc. and, of course, Sunday lessons and maybe schooling some horses, listening to client complaints about no lessons on Sat. No wonder trainers burn out.
Anyway…research what the costs will be changing to a more show centered barn. You may be better off waiting on showing and learning as much as you can where you are. At least until you have your own horse and a trailer so trainer does not have to haul horse to the show.
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Why thank you….one thing about getting old, time is a great teacher. Not much has changed since 1970 other then everything costs more.
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Until you’ve BTDT, it is really hard to imagine the time that goes into pre-show and post-show.
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And that’s if you have shows that are 30 minutes drive from the barn, more or less.
Add in a 2 to 3.5 hour trip to a show that everyone wants to attend, and now there are possibly one to two overnights, per show. Which further cuts into the trainer’s home time and increases their need for show income.
Reading COTH threads about people who show with their trainer barn at multi-day (multi-night) shows, this is a whole other universe of cost and logistical considerations.
A trainer who focuses on local shows is the place to start out in showing.
And of course, what kinds of trainer barns are available very much depends on where you live. And your network to find them. Some don’t advertise because they fill their program well by word of mouth and don’t want to deal with calls from the public.
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And those are the ones to try to find. One reason why I am a big fan of watching shows near you at the level you want to show at. Hang around the schooling rings and ask yourself who you want to show with and who you do not.
The less money you have, the more important knowing what you are getting into becomes. If you are still dependent on parental support, bring them along to see what they are getting into and with whom, there are some gosh awful trainers out there who are great liars. Also good, honest trainers but you cant tell by looking at them or the ribbons on the rack at their stalls or trailer.
OP is lucky with the fact she does not own a horse ir have a full lease right now. It is much easier to trainer shop, maybe take a few lessons with several before changing barns. Plus that, you do not represent a significant income loss, she will never miss you.
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