And, when one needs help w something, we are often so grateful we’ve found help, rose colored glasses fit really well initially.
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BIG NOPE. Is that $100 for just the rides or ride + care?
Yikes, yeah I would be pulling my horse at that point. If the horse was already going well, I would expect at least some discussion that A. horse is not as broke as stated and B. what these issues are. If horse was sent to train for jumping it is concerning that a month+ in the horse is still not working on that.
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Ding ding ding. Pull your horse, bring it home or find another trainer. How frustrating!
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Yes I negotiate board separately with farm owners. I have asked her to clarify what “no drama” means in practical terms, as in dancing? Spooking? Snorting? Is she doing something more explosive that is her behavior to me? I didn’t get a response yet but told her I need to come see the horse under saddle asap.
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Yes exactly. Horse is well schooled and skilled but can be spicy. My normal reaction to that is to get her working and thinking, she loves to jump and she gets laser focused. I come from eventing background, and I wonder if in her discipline anything less than absolute calm submission is considered “less broke”, but I don’t think this will ever be a super calm peanut roller type horse. 
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That sounds like a florescent red flag to me. at this point I wouldn’t even want a video I want to see in person. Not just the ride but my horse too. Good luck
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I’m surprised even from the trainer’s perspective. That’s not good business practice! Does she post frequently on social media?
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Yes one of the reasons I chose her was because she has a very well developed and up to date website, posts on social media, and seems very active in the community who referred her to me Trying to not take it personally that she just doesn’t get along with my horse 
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Ugh! Well, if things aren’t working out, then she should tell you!
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This is not something anyone should take personally.
The problem here is that a good professional would admit they are not getting along with a horse and suggest a different trainer and not just keep taking your money and doing nothing.
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This sounds like a real mismatch between Trainer and Horse to me. I see no reason To drag this out. You’re just wasting your money. Find a new trainer pronto
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If I was paying for training( especially what you are paying) I would expect frequent updates and physical proof ( video) that my horse was actually being ridden and how they were progressing.
I would not expect to have to contact ( or attempt to) the trainer but would expect the updates to be regular. Guess it is good I don’t need a trainer as it seems I would be asking for too much.
I would go get the horse.
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Voice of dissent here …
You definitely should be getting updates. And I 1,000% would go to see the horse.
However.
I’ve seen some of the train wrecks that have come through to barns I’ve been at in the past and sometimes five weeks is simply not enough time to send a cute video of Dobbin going around. What is your version of broke, may not be the trainers.
As an example, there’s a horse in the barn right now who spent the first 60 days in the round pen. The horse came to us with >100 points on it, well versed regionally in the event it’s known for. However, turns out that the amateur owner who broke it and “trained” it never actually asked for much. Go in a straight line W/T/C, sure. Ask it to move it’s hip over? It’s going to go up on you. Ask it to pivot? It’s going to buck with the intent to get you off. This horse needed a total mental reset on expectations despite coming to the barn “broke”. The fact that your OP says the horse can be “spicy and prancy” sends alarm bells up in my head that mayhaps this trainer took a step back and is addressing the underlying problems before jacking the fences back up.
But that’s just my $0.02.
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The trainer should send a video of such occurrences, if that is the case.
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No, I said the horse can be spicy and prancy at worst. I have never seen the horse escalate. Regardless, I would sure as shit wanna know after 5 weeks that the trainer feels the horse is too dangerous to progress!!!
I also said that I went out for a visit, got on, did a range of activities that the trainer had not gotten to to show it was possible.
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You need to go get your horse.
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I’m grabbing her Saturday!
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Did you pick up your mare?
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