| y"> | | | | Does she ask that the horse is up to date on |
| 1. Interview horse trainers that fit your individual | | | | vaccines, dental work and hoof care before the |
| goals. Jane Cowgirl might have trained the last 5 | | | | horse begins her training program? Do the horses |
| world-champion reining horses but that won't help | | | | on her farm show evidence of up-to-date health |
| you if your goal is the three-day eventing arena. | | | | care? Many training issues are the direct result of |
| 2. Be open-minded. Tip #1 being said, if your | | | | physical imbalance or pain. A comprehensive |
| event horse has holes in his basic education or | | | | training program addresses the whole horse: mind, |
| you just purchased an untrained but incredibly | | | | body and emotions. |
| talented three-day prospect from Europe, Jane | | | | 8. After the training session, ask yourself three |
| Cowgirl might be a great fit IF she is well known | | | | questions. Is the horse calmer and more confident |
| for phenomenal foundation training she gives | | | | than when he began? Has he learned something |
| every horse. | | | | new or progressed further along the path? Did |
| 3. Check credibility. Though the horse training | | | | the trainer stay calm and levelheaded through any |
| profession is largely unregulated, research the | | | | dicey situations? If the answer to any of these is |
| trainer's professional credentials. What | | | | no, ask the trainer to explain... or interview |
| certifications does she hold? What organizations | | | | another trainer. |
| does she belong to? Ask for referrals. Read | | | | 9. What value does the trainer offer? Notice I said |
| testimonials from happy customers. Find out what | | | | value offered, not price charged. Jane Cowgirl |
| her previous clients think about her services. | | | | might charge more than lower-priced competitors |
| 4. Are the facilities adequate for your goals? If | | | | but if she produces better results in a shorter |
| you're looking for a cutting trainer, expect to see | | | | time, or produces results that are meaningful to |
| cows. If you want your horse to jump courses, | | | | you, you have gotten better value for your |
| look for jumps! | | | | money |
| 5. Are the facilities safe? Bear in mind that you | | | | 10. Educate yourself. Your horse is going to school. |
| are visiting a working farm, not a static | | | | Do you need to brush up on your own skills in |
| showplace. Tack may be hanging on hooks along | | | | order to keep up with him? Take some lessons, |
| the aisle or arena walls and cross-tie areas may | | | | read some good books, audit a clinic with a top |
| show signs of recent use. Beware if the tack is | | | | trainer in your discipline. Book a session with your |
| lying in tangled heaps on the ground waiting to trip | | | | trainer at the end of the program to make sure |
| passing horses, or the grooming area is fetlock | | | | YOU are able to cue your horse's new skills. |
| deep in dirt and hair! The overall sense should be | | | | 11. Be responsible. You are your horse's |
| neat, functional and orderly. | | | | spokesperson. He depends on you for everything. |
| 6. Watch the trainer work a horse. If anything | | | | If at any point you feel like he is being mistreated |
| happens that you don't understand or are | | | | or abused, remove him from the situation, no |
| uncomfortable with, ask the trainer about it. | | | | matter how many prizes hang on the trainer's |
| 7. Does the trainer consider the whole horse? | | | | wall. |