RE: Horse Training HELP!

["Kerry Dykes" <KDykes@cpes.com>]

I would dump that trainer so fast her head spun.  She may be an exceptional
rider and horse trainer, but she has no business diminishing your confidence
and negating your abilities.  She sounds like the dressage instructor at the
stables I boarded at before moving to my own land --- and I wouldn't pay
someone with that kind of attitude a dime of my money.  You want a trainer
that will work WITH you.  Many people start trail riding with little or no
dressage work (not that I'm knocking it, I think it's very beneficial to
both horse and rider) -- the worst cases I've seen are horses that spend so
much time in the arena they ARE timid on the trail.  Riding the trail,
putting in the hours out amongst all those arab-eating things, will make her
more safe on the trail than perfecting the 20 meter circle.

Kerry

-----Original Message-----
From: GrgGmiller@aol.com [mailto:GrgGmiller@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, March 20, 2000 3:08 PM
To: ridecamp@endurance.net
Subject: RC: Horse Training HELP!


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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