Training Question?

[TrailRides4Fun]

Owner bought a very green horse that had been ‘started’ under saddle, but never truly finished.
Minimally, the horse knew 3 gaits, but only knew to pick up one lead, and was totally unbalanced and stiff, jigging to avoid walking out, and with no cadenced trot/jog.
As well, bolting into a canter.
Also needed complete refresher with ground manners, saddling,
and some ground driving, ALL done by current owner.

Current owner sent horse off for 30 days with a regular trainer
for some refresher, and owner has since (the past year of riding)
done ALL under saddle training/riding, working weekly (1 hour lesson per week),
with an instructor.
Horse now recognizes 3 gaits, knows how to lengthen and shorten strides at all 3 gaits.
Horse also has learned to pick up the canter without running away,
and has learned to wait for cue/aids for all 3 gaits.
Horse will now move with lowered head and level back,
and gives to the bit.
Horse no longer is anxious and spooky, does most ground work exercises on the lead, backing, pivoting, side passing on the ground and under saddle.
As well, now has a solid whoa under saddle and on the ground.
Weekly instruction has focused on refinement and suppling to help horse get balanced under saddle with owner doing ALL
riding and saddle time.

Would you consider that this owner has done the majority of actual ‘training’ OR would you credit the instructor with the actual training?

Just curious?
Thanks.

[wonderhorseguy]

The instructor trained the owner and the owner trained the horse.

One hour a week is not enough to train a horse.

[TrailRides4Fun]

FYI, horse lives on owners farm and is ridden 2-3x a week by owner.
Instructor comes for 1 hour lesson, each week.
Otherwise, all groundwork done by owner, as well, preliminary work started by owner, but owner lacked advanced skills needed to work with this particular horse.
Horse has had negative/bad handling prior to this owner,
and was scared and confused with very limited understanding under saddle.

[merrygoround]

This not an uncommon situation. Green horse, green rider, Horse improves gradually under the instructor’s tutelage of the rider.

Yes, the rider trained the horse, but not without the help of the instructor.

Why are you asking. Could the rider now go on and train a second horse? Unlikely, because all horses are different and it takes a good instructor or a rider with a lot of mileage to cope with different horses.

[TrailRides4Fun]

Owner/rider is not green, but horse is very green.
Owner/rider has owned several, quieter horses in the past,
as well put additional training on them.
This horse had A LOT of issues, due to prior bad handling and trust issues.
Had zero idea what it was being asked to do, altho ‘advertised’ and sold as ‘trained’.

[dog_amp_horsemom]

hands down - instructor giving owner/rider the one hour lesson each week.
I have seen it with Me and I have seen it with my friends - that one hour lesson with a good instructor - motivates you to be better- is your eyes on the ground to see what you are doing ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ and gives you a tip each week on something to work on. The horse and rider improve immensely. I am a BIG believer in lessons - no matter how great you think you are!! The best still take lessons and do clinics.

[beau159]

@TrailRides4Fun;8411757

Would you consider that this owner has done the majority of actual ‘training’ OR would you credit the instructor with the actual training?

Really confused as to WHY it matters?

Sounds like it has been a joint effort on both parts.
Horse was sent to a trainer for 30 days.
Owner continued to ride horse thereafter, with once a week lessons.

[QUOTE=TrailRides4Fun;8411840]
Had zero idea what it was being asked to do, altho ‘advertised’ and sold as ‘trained’.[/QUOTE]

Everyone has a different definition of what they consider to be “trained”. For some people, a horse that does 3 gaits (and nothing more) is trained.

[Tee]

I’ve done this with both of my babies. Started them under saddle and took weekly lessons with them (when I started riding both, then it was two lesson a month per horse). By far, I consider myself the one who trained them, with a LOT of help from my trainer. Pretty sure I couldn’t have done it without her.

[TrailRides4Fun]

[QUOTE=Tee;8412865]
I’ve done this with both of my babies. Started them under saddle and took weekly lessons with them (when I started riding both, then it was two lesson a month per horse). By far, I consider myself the one who trained them, with a LOT of help from my trainer. Pretty sure I couldn’t have done it without her.[/QUOTE]
Totally, totally agree with this statement^^ :yes:
Owner would never discredit the trainer(s) that have helped along the way,.,
There was just some drama/controversy started about owner taking some credit for ‘training’ the horse.
Some horse people and their drama, nuff said! :mad: