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Trainer issue; New trainer versus newer trainer
Topic Started: May 21 2012, 08:17 AM (218 Views)
Won for Me
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I have had two lessons with local trainer (I will call her A). A is very nice, shows up on time and found a few things already that I didn't know I was doing. She is a very backyard type trainer and is in charge of lessons at another barn. A teaches two other students at my barn and they are unfortunate riders for many reasons. Other local trainer (B) has much more experience. Ran a big barn in a nearby city, went to the big shows, dabbles in dressage and focuses on training young horses.

I like A as a person. She is limited in her knowledge and experience, but so far has been fine getting Connor and I back to jumping small courses and getting him using himself again on the flat.

I don't like B as a person at all. She is loud, and has to be the center of attention. But, when she talks horses, she knows what she is talking about. Except for this weird comment. She said to me, "I would have to hand you off when I get you to 4'6"." WHAT??????????? Really, get me to canter around the AA's and I would be thrilled.

Cost is about the same for both. My goals are to go an do whatever, whenever I can. Clinics, schooling shows, bigger shows, x-country schooling, combined tests, hunter paces...just go and have fun for now, but I take my training seriously and always want to make Connor and I the best team we can be. Which would you choose?
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Fish Cheeks
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I think who I would choose would also depend on their expectations of me as a student. Some trainers don't like their students to clinic with other people or dabble in other disciplines. If one of the trainers was restrictive like that, then I would choose the other. Does Connor react better to one than the other? Do you feel like you learn more from one than the other, regardless of "name" or "experience"? Do you look forward to lessons with one vs. the other?
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Indy
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I would probably go with B. So long as she knows her stuff and knows her horses, personality doesn't matter to me much. I'd rather have someone who knows what she's doing and can get me to where I want to be. I don't need my trainer to be my best friend (though I do absolutely adore my current trainer, as a trainer and a person) . So long as she's not like super rude and offensive, I can deal with a personality I don't love.

I've thought about of who I would train with if we ever move back to where I grew up (I rode with several different trainers over the years) and I always come back to my first show trainer. As a person, not a fan at all. She's brash and she's not all that friendly. But as a show trainer, she knows her shit and gets the job done on whatever level you want to win at. Horses are well taken care of and riders are well prepared. If you would have asked me 15 years ago if I would ever return to her, I'd laugh in your face, but now that I've ridden with a number of people since her and she's still the best.
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