Re: RC: Horse Training HELP!

[Bette Lamore <woa@stormnet.com>]

Hi Bon
Looks like everyone is in agreement: keep the horse; dump the trainer. I
almost lost one of Hal's best sons due to a dressage trainer who was
unfamiliar with Arabians. Some horses can take the day to day repetition
of dressage; young Arabians cannot. I told the buyer when she purchased
Magnifico as a 2 year old to think of Arabians, particularly Russian
ones, as a year or two younger than they are--- both physically and
emotionally. I do not believe they can handle such a strict regime until
they are much older than three and even at 5 need variety; that is why
cross training is so important. She promised me she would alternate
between dressage and trail starting at 3. Well she had a Hilda Geurney
(sp?) devotee who was probably a great dressage trainer (and I have the
HIGHEST respect for the principles of dressage) but she didn't know
BEANS about Arabs. In fact, she told Sherry not to buy ANY Arabian until
she saw Niko's movement. Well, just because he moved like a Warmblood
didn't mean he had the temperament of one. He was wonderful at first.
Placed first in his first class and for fun they entered him in the next
level where he had not as yet been trained. He got 2nd. They were
ecstatic and went full boar on the training. One day he BLEW UP! By the
time Linda Hedgpeth bought him (at my pleading-- I knew what had
happened) he had 26 ways to get riders off his back--- she counted. With
much patience and trail riding he is now wonderful again. Took her about
6 months (and there was a point where she wondered if I was REALLY her
friend!)
Dressage is WONDERFUL training; just needs to be tempered with good
judgment about your horse's readiness and tolerance for the discipline.
And NO ONE should undermine your confidence!!! My guess is the trainer
is either VERY ignorant or has her eye on a new Mercedes! My advise
would be to find one who has your horse's and your best interests at
heart!
Bette
Bette Lamore
Whispering Oaks Arabians, Home of TLA Halynov
http://www.stormnet.com/~woa
I've learned that life is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer it
gets to the end, the faster it goes. Smell the roses!

GrgGmiller@aol.com wrote:
> 
> I need some advice from the experienced riders out there, preferrably with
> dressage & endurance experience........
> I bought my first young horse 2 yrs ago, trained her myself with the help of
> John Lyons video tapes .  All went well for first 15 months, until she
> approached 4  1/2 yrs old.  I started taking dressage lessons with her and
> asking for light contact.  Within 3 months of lessons, I have gotten
> "bronc'd" off twice.  Once on the trail after crossing water on a loose rein,
>  and once in the arena practicing 20 meter circles at the trot.  Thinking I
> might need her and me in full dressage training, I changed instructors.  My
> mare has been in full training for 4 months now.  The trainer says that it
> will be another 6 months before she is ready to take out on the trail, that
> she is very insecure and I am too novice to handle her on the trail.  It is
> costing $800 per month to train her and me.  At this rate, I will have a
> $10,000.  5 yr old trail arabian!  I have been riding horses for 5 years, 5
> days a week, taking dressage lessons constantly.  I am competent, but not
> highly experienced.  MY QUESTION:  Does this sound normal, or is my pocket
> book the one getting trained?
> P.S.  The instructor loves to tell me how uncapable I am and how everytime I
> ride her, she (the trainer) has to spend 2 days fixing her.  I have lost all
> confidence in myself and my decisions.  HELP.
> BON
> 
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