There has been a lot of drama and TROLLing happening on here in the last week, tensions have been high. Others have suggested that we remember what the page is for. I just keep in mind that if one person or horse is helped by my experience or someone has something to share with me we are more informed than we were.I have also gotten a few suggestions of trainers people had good experiences with. Most importantly I learned how best to protect myself. Before sending any horse of mine away I can have a vet check done and a body score by the SPCA. Make sure I have proper contracts. The contract should outline the start and projected finish date of training, how many days a week the horse will be ridden in a week, the cost of monthly training, the cost of the board, and the people authorized to ride the horse. Feed schedules should be exchanged so the horse doesnt get sick going into training and may need to be increased due to the more strenuous work schedule. Visit regularly, not always scheduled. Dont look at just my horse, check on the welfare of the others-if the others are neglected or abused chances are it may be happening to mine. If I am not welcome on the property except by appointment or within specific unrealistic guidelines, perhaps its not the right place for my horse. Does the trainer have a horse of their own they have started and successfully shown? A finished example of their program. What does the trainers show record look like? While there are certainly excellent trainers out there who have not stepped into a show pen either through disinterest or the costs being prohibitive, if they claim to have successfully shown they should be able to provide proof. Buckles, pictures, score sheets, trophies or just an itemized show record that many associations provide free to their members. What associations do they belong to? I can call the different breed and discipline associations to see if there are any sanctions against them. What discipline do they specialize in? While many disciplines are related and bleed over in to one another...well there is an old saying Jack of all trades but master of none Some disciplines are so far apart that to claim competency in all of them seems far-fetched. Do they have references from past and current clients? I will seek out information on the trainer from people I respect in the community, people other than the ones the trainer suggests. A search online could also connect me to people the trainer who has come into contact with (possibly even landing me here or on the Reputable Trainers in Canada page). Does the trainer own their own facility or do they board? If they board how long have they been there? How often do they move around? If they move around a lot I may want to contact the previous places to see if they would recommend the trainer. Does the trainer have their own reliable vehicle and trailer to transport my horse in the event of an accident? To that end to they have a relationship with a nearby vet and posted emergency numbers? While horses can and do get hurt in the most bizarre of situations (like a round padded room), how accidents are handled is indicative of the what kind of trainer you are working with. Does the trainer keep a training journal that I can consult to see what my horse worked on, on any given day? This ensures the contracted training days are being met and if they arent, the reasons why the horse was given the day off. Is there a posted feed schedule for the horses? Not every horse has the same requirements and a posted schedule helps to keep everyone healthy. This way the barn help can be more efficient, leaving the trainer time to do what they are paid for. While all this may seem exhausting it is the least I can to for my equine friend/baby. In the even something does go wring after all of this I will know I did everything possible to try to prevent it and I will have the required documentation to take action if necessary.
Posted on: Sat, 22 Nov 2014 06:46:14 +0000
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