Professional Horse Trainers: Nightmares or Knights?

Horse trainers are a prolific breed here in FL.  With Ocala being the horse capitol of the world, it shouldn’t be surprising to find that the numbers of trainers are nearly equal to the numbers of horses.  With so many needles in one haystack, it can be a tumultuous task to find the right needle for your particular fabric.  Part of a successful result in your search is having a clear understanding of your goals, expectations and objectives for the outcome.

First of all, you need to educate yourself about the various types of trainers and their philosophies, methods and attitudes toward the horse and owner/rider. Identify those that more closely match your ideas and concepts.  In doing this, you can narrow the selection field considerably.  The reason this is important is because you want to avoid a mismatch between you, the trainer and your horse which constitutes certain failure.  Secondly, understanding what will be required of you from the horse and the trainer is critically important.  Many enthusiasts who realize they need to acquire the services of a trainer tend to put the need for training solely on the horse.  The reality is, you and your horse are in a partnership.  This means you are expected and required to participate, learn and undergo the same training as your horse! 

Most nightmare experiences between trainers and clients are directly related to the client’s lack of understanding or misconception of the training process.  Finally, another critical step to a successful outcome is to be willing to consider the possibility that some of what you think you know about horses and training may not be entirely accurate.  One impediment to successful client/trainer relationships is pride about one’s experience and knowledge base.  It is an observable and well known fact that in many cases, the horseman/woman is unwilling to concede authority to the trainer they have selected.  Your attitude toward receiving instruction from a trainer will mean the difference between viewing him/her as a knight or a nightmare.

Horse trainers tend to hold to a few core philosophies upon which they build their methods and techniques in training the horse. Trainers can differ widely in these areas. Do your research to develop an understanding of what will be offered to you. Compile a checklist of the desired methods or techniques that you find to be in accordance with what is important to you. The internet contains a vast ocean of information about these topics.  Once you feel you have a generally good understanding of the various training techniques, then begin your search for trainers who use these, specifically.  This will increase your chances of selecting a trainer who will more closely meet your needs and expectations. It is a nightmare to find yourself in contract with a trainer with whom you seem to disagree at every point.  Conversely, taking on the responsibility of educating yourself with the information so easily at hand is certainly worth the effort to increase your satisfaction and success with the trainer of your choosing.

After narrowing your selection field of trainers, make contact with them.  It is important that you interview each one in some fashion. Ask questions.  Listen to what the trainer tells you and then tell him what you understood him to say.  Give the trainer the opportunity to correct any misunderstanding you may have of the information given. Communicate to him clearly what you expect from him as a trainer and the specific goals you want to achieve. Ask him what will be required of you from him to be successful in reaching these goals. Many good trainers will expect the client to play a heavy role in the training process.

Ronnie Ford is one such trainer.  As owner and operator of Ronnie Ford Training Center in De Land FL,  he has over thirty five years of experience in the field and has worked in every discipline and with every breed.  He has competed in National level horse shows and various other events as well as serving in the judging seats. He has been in a position to observe horses and their handlers at these events and says it’s appalling to see such a prevalent lack of horsemanship. "People are yanking, jerking and pulling on reins and wonder why their horse is rearing and going out of control. If somebody was yanking on my mouth like that, I’d do the same thing. The horse is just trying to get relief from all that pressure on his mouth. A good many of them don’t understand how the different bits function in the horse’s mouth and most of them are strictly "hands riders" and do way more with the reins than the horse says is necessary. A rider needs to learn how to properly use the bit and other tack. This is one reason a client really needs to participate fully in the training process.  He goes on to make the point, "I can get on a client’s horse and train the horse to do exactly what the client wants without the client being involved.  The problem comes when they take their horse back home because then I get a phone call from the client complaining, ‘My horse isn’t doing what I paid you to teach him’. I tell them the facts, "That’s because the horse has learned to move according to my feel and my movements."  Ronnie says clients often do not understand how a horse learns, thinks and processes information. "It is very important that a client be committed to the process of training their own equine under my guidance and direction. Clients have to learn how to execute the communication to the horse in order for the horse to perform the desire of the client. For this to happen, the client has to work the horse so that the horse learns to feel for the client."

One analogy that might be helpful in illustrating this point would be to think of it like learning to drive a car. Your instructor can drive the car all day and show you how the accelerator, brake and steering wheel devices operate but you will not master being in control of that car until you actually sit in the driver’s seat and learn to feel how much to press on the pedals and how much to turn the wheel to get where you’re going. The difference here, of course is that the car doesn’t feel back for you as the horse does. But, in both cases pressure is a matter of degree to get the desired result.

An exchange of information and communication between you and your trainer will bring you the best possible path to the success you are paying for. Clear objectives and expectations help you to maintain your focus and pave the way to a great training experience.

The last point to consider is that of your existing knowledge base. Many horse enthusiasts enjoy a certain amount of success with training their own horses. Unfortunately, there are some that carry such a pride about their abilities it actually impedes their progress in expanding those abilities. There is a phrase among those who teach, instruct and educate that crosses all professions whether it be horse training or the study of medicine: "They know just enough to be dangerous".  Resist the temptation to impress your trainer with your knowledge. His years of experience have given him a much broader scope of practice than you can imagine.

In knowing just enough to be dangerous there is a level of understanding that people reach where the proverbial light bulb comes on and shines around them leading them to believe they now can see enough to know what they’re doing. However, this light that has dawned isn’t far reaching. It only illuminates their immediate surroundings and they lack the experience to know there is darkness beyond the light. It is here where success can become lost in that darkness. The successes you have experienced in the past should be used as a platform for reaching a higher level. The point of seeking help from a professional horse trainer should be met with an attitude of seeking to expand the knowledge you currently have while at the same time considering there may be holes in your frames of reference and also the possibility some of it could be blatantly wrong. Rather than get into a debate with your trainer on a difference of opinion, present your point in a question. Professional trainers are paid for their expertise and experience. If you assert to challenge him in a manner that postures arrogance and assuredness, he’s likely to ask you why you sought his services if you’re going question his methods. Good trainers will listen to you and answer your questions but few will entertain a client who is clearly attempting to match wit against wisdom and experience.

As with anything else, perfection is a tall order and to expect it is to meet with failure face to face. Selecting a trainer that is right for you will take effort, research and time. But, if you do your research and arm yourself with the right attitude, you have just taken some important steps to increase your level of satisfaction.

Remember, your attitude, education and clear goals play a very important role in whether you find yourself a knight or a nightmare.

~~Beverley J Ford~~

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