Common Misconceptions about Horse Training
I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen or talked to people who have sent their horse off for 6 months of training and been dissatisfied with the results. Everyone seems to think if they send their horse away to a trainer like this they are going to get back this dream horse they can do anything with. Instead they bring the horse home, put them in the pasture, and sometime later they get the horse out and wonder why in the world they can not do anything with them.
The average person, and all the people I’m referring to above, simply sends their horse off for normal handling and riding. Not for show competition. This is totally unnecessary, expensive and does not give you the results you are looking for. Just because a horse will do things for a trainer does not mean they are going to do it for you. Nor, even if you get them home and they do, if you do not work with them on your own they will revert right back to the behaviors of before.
How I look at it….
When ever someone asks me how much it is per month for training I say “Well it depends, I look at it weekly, most times its something that can be worked out in less time than that.
How I go about it…
What I do is bring a horse in for a week and evaluate the horse, address the underlying causes for their behavior and work on building trust, respect, confidence and a willing partner. I then work with the owner and repeat the same process with them. People have to understand that just because their horse gains the above attributes with a trainer DOES NOT mean they are going to have them with the owner. The owner and horse need trust, respect, confidence and be willing partners to each other.
Why It Works….
Having a horse is a commitment. You need to constantly build on your repore and understanding of your horse. Most people do not know how to do that. They are not a car. Yet on that note, to put what I’m referring to in easier terms, what would happen if you never maintained your car? You didn’t check the oil? You didn’t give it a tune up? You didn’t fill it up with gas? Your car would no longer do the things you expected of it. Now think of a horse, that has its own mind to add to that.
How many of you watch RFD-TV? Do you have a favorite horse professional you like to watch? Say you went out and bought Magic, Diez or any number of horses that belongs to one of these professionals and bring them home only to stick them in the pasture and pour food to them every day. Then six months down the rode you decide to ride them. How cooperative do you think they are going to be? Or how responsive? How happy are they going to be? Not very…
Posted by Melody Baum 
Posted by Melody Baum 
