So. I’m 16 and did english pleasure from the time I was four until I was 10, when I began dressage. I started jumping when I was 12, and have been doing dressage and jumping since then (though technically I’m not allowed to jump…but my father is fine with it and says it’s all right as long as I don’t tell my mother).
I used to lease an Anglo-Arab, and then moved barns and now lease an Appendix from my trainer’s friend. However, my own friend, who recently moved to my barn, is now having trouble…she can no longer afford her horse, and asked me to ride her horse for a video to show potential buyers. Well, I rode the horse…and I completely fell in love with her, connected like I’ve never done with any other horse. She’s a handful, definitely, but I adore her, and she’s a natural jumper. So I agreed to lease her.
Now I’ve got to break off the lease with my trainer’s friend, and try to explain what’s happened.
Plus, this particular mare is young, just 7 years old, and an off-track TB…she’s done english pleasure and hunter jumping, but has no dressage training and is utterly inexperienced with being supple and round. My trainer and I are going to have to put in a lot of work with her.
Basically, what I’m asking is…would my trainer have a reason to be angry with me? Also, tips on training a green dressage horse? I mean, I’ve worked up to half-pass before (granted, on a horse that was already familiar with the movement), but I can’t imagine how I’d go about teaching a horse to get round, as all the horses I’ve ridden have already been taught that…
Anyway. All thoughts are appreciated. Thanks very much!
No, my lease agreement is month-to-month, so I won’t be breaking my agreement. Plus I’m going to pay for an extra month, just so she has some notice to find a new leaser.
Some trainers really, really do not want to train or work with a horse they haven’t picked out themselves. Some of this is legitimate: an experienced trainer will feel, with justification, that they have a better eye for a horse than someone who lacks their experience.
Someone who is trying to make a living as a trainer depends on the success of her trainees, both equine and human, to help build her business. You admit that this horse is going to be a project. That might frustrate your trainer, who would like to see you doing better at shows more immediately, because that’s a better advertisement for her.
You’ve also got the complication that the horse you were leasing belonged to the trainer’s friend. Your abrupt termination of the lease is bound to cause some inconvenience. Trainers are (usually) human, so this might cause your trainer some irritation, particularly if the friend who owns the horse gets upset.
That said, if your trainer is professional in her behavior, she should be civil and do her best with you and the horse. I would expect for her to say something about wishing you had consulted her about leasing this horse; that’s fair and if she says it civilly, you just acknowledge that she’s right and apologize if you feel it’s necessary, and then both of you hunker down and figure out what you’re going to do to work with this horse.
Now…another matter. You and your dad deceiving your mother about your jumping. That isn’t a good thing for any of you. Sooner or later she’s going to find out, either someone is going to tell her or something is going to happen that clues her in. When that happens, how do you think she’s going to react? Do you think that she’s going to be as trusting in the future, or as supportive of your equine endeavors in the future?
You and your dad need to come clean with your mom about your jumping. Deception in any relationship is never a good idea, it only leads to mistrust and further deception. Whatever objections your mom has to your jumping need to be dealt with up front and honestly.
Good luck.
Typically, breaking a lease on anything requires 30 days notice so I think you are right to pay an extra month on your current lease to give her time to sort out her finances. My opinion: your trainer is paid to do a job but essentially she has no say-so over what you do or don’t do with your riding. The actual answer: a lot of trainers get all wound up when their students go off and do things without telling them first. So, it just depends on what kind of relationship you have developed with your trainer. I have had trainers in the past try to make all of the decisions for me about my horse’s care and my riding schedule and everything, and I hated that. I now make very clear implications with the instructors I ride with that I am going to do what I want with my horse, but I am willing to pay them an hour here and there for some insight and some tips.
Your trainer is there to help you get what you want out of riding, not to force anything on you, including the use of any horse…..so, stick to your choice and explain to the trainer that you have found a horse that you really like and get going with a lesson plan.
I doubt there will be any fuss.
you are being more than fair with the extra month. That is more than kind you don’t owe her that. You just have to go for the horse you want. It’s a waste of time and money if you don’t. the woman will find someone to lease that horse and if she can’t it should tell you something about the horse. Please get the horse you want. This is your life and you are doing nothing wrong. If the old trainer gets upset that tells you something about her that would make me not want to lease from her anyway. Be brave you are doing nothing wrong. You will be much happier.
Well your trainer shouldn’t be angry with you. But that doesn’t mean she won’t be.
The best teams are horses and riders with a good bond who naturally click. Your trainer should understand that. Just explain to her that you really feel a natural bond with this new horse. She should understand, but like i said before, that doesn’t mean she will.
But if she doesn’t understand, don’t worry about it. You haven’t done anything wrong. All you’ve done is found a horse you really like and want to work with. The desire to work and a good bond are what keeps and horse and rider a good team. It’s much easier to have the desire to work when you’re working with a horse you like.
Your trainer shouldn’t be angry with you as long as your following your lease contract. If your not, then she may be. The only other reason that I can think of is that she may think your not experienced enough to handle an off the track TB. I don’t know your riding ability so I can’t really make a judgment call there!
Getting a horse to be supple and flexible is a very long process. It can take up to a year. You need to just simple by doing lots of circles and encouraging her to bend. Once she moves off your leg and into your hand, you can focus on getting her to round up. Right now you just need to teach her how to bend. Your trainer will need to guide you with all of her training. Once she can bend nicely and moves off your leg, you can try simple dressage movements. I would buy "101 flat work exercises". It’s supposed to be a book full of exercises for you and your horse. They should have some with bending in there. I would explain a training method for bending but it would probably be way too long.
Good Luck: make sure your trainer watches you ride her through your bending exercises
It depends. Some might get ticked off that you made this move with out consulting them first, especially if the mare is hard to handle (or you may handle her well). All you have to do is just explain it to both your trainer and her friend. They can’t really make you do something, you are paying them to train you.
Your trainer may think it wasn’t a good move, but they really shouldn’t care that much. I mean you’re paying them to train you not control your life.
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