By Lindsay Grice

Q    After showing at the club level for several years, I’m thinking of stepping up to a higher level. I’ve observed several bigger shows and one thing I’ve noticed is that most amateur competitors have trainers. As an amateur on a budget, I would like your opinion as to whether I need a trainer. Although not a professional, I do enjoy the process of training as much as the results. My husband, who is not a horse person, does not see why I need to spend the hefty fees for a trainer. 

A    It’s important to periodically step back, evaluate our goals, and analyze the reasons we invest our time and money in any endeavour. You have stated that you enjoy the process of training and I’m assuming a hands-on approach to caring for your horse as well.

Many of your fellow exhibitors enjoy showing more than day-to-day management, and results more than process. Others have no extra time in their lives to devote to the care of their horses and would prefer to concentrate on lessons and showing, leaving the training and care to someone else.

If you are a results-oriented person, even on a limited budget, consider that it can be a false economy to do all the training yourself. A skilled professional has learned to avoid miscommunication that can slow down a horse’s education, or cause things to get worse before they get better. A real horseman knows how to use cues with the appropriate timing, intensity, and repetition (not too much, not too little) to get the job done efficiently.

As a trainer, my involvement with hundreds of horses gives me the advantage of building a system that works — a template of proven consistency that I can apply to each new horse. I’ve learned what doesn’t work (I cringe when I think of the horses I certainly confused in my early training days!). I also understand that there are exceptions to every rule — I have been both humbled and affirmed by experience!

Other advantages of engaging a trainer are:

A Mirror
Every rider needs an objective eye to evaluate her performance and spot details of movement, skill, or turnout that could be interfering with success. A trainer can compare her student to the other competitors, bringing to light areas that need improvement.

Strategy
Being familiar with a typical show routine and timetable, a trainer can suggest a game plan for when to get ready and for warming up, so that his client doesn’t under prepare, “peak too soon,” or miss her class!
He can design a strategy for riding a pattern or course or for how to safely negotiate the busy warm up ring because he’s done it himself so many times.

Resources
Working with a trainer gives you access to a shared show tack room, saddle and bridle racks, and trailering to the show if needed. At home there is an indoor arena and other riders to practice with.

Other resources include contacts when you want to buy a horse or equipment and people you can borrow tack from. A trainer has access to different bits and grooming products, and has experience interpreting that big rule book.

Understand, that while you gain the relationship with your horse and the pride and education of having done it all yourself, you may reap the benefits of all your hard work later than your trainer-hiring competitor. Your progress may be slower, your resources more limited, and you may have more bumps along the way.

It’s up to you to weigh both options or come up with a compromise that works for you and your family.

Main article photo: Robin Duncan Photography - A trainer can provide suggestions for improvement, extensive resources, and faster improvement.