Still Processing - Integrity & Horse Trainers

I can't help but think that this new predicament with the Arabian horse could have been avoided somehow. I wonder what signs I missed about my dealings with this trainer that might have told me he couldnt be trusted. I also wonder how come I didn't see this aspect of the problem when other small breeders tried to tell me that it was impossible to get a great horse out there without name or money.

I asked my ex-trainer friend, Jean, how I could have missed this. Her answer was she didn't know. Things like this have been going on all around me right under my nose from the beginning. That really disturbs me the most because I know to conquer this mountain and make it as a breeder, I must see all of the obstacles.

For so long I thought that if I could only get one great horse into the barn of a big name trainer (BNT) I would be set. I assummed they'd be so glad to get a great horse they would do right by it. It just hadn't occurred to me that that wasn't enough.

My friend, Jean, tells me it must be the right fit. Different trainers get along with different horses. I knew that.....some can't stand Desperado V training while others prefer it. (not to pick on Desperado V.......I just know this info first hand). I've also known for a while that if a trainer has a horse he/she doesn't particularly care for that horse will stand and not get worked. It just didn't occur to me that a great horse could get stuck in the back of the barn because it was better than the horse of a client with more money.

Granted I don't know this for a fact........but it's awfully suspicious to me that the trainer liked the horse enough at a clinic last year to talk to others about it several times, then in Sept he told the owners the horse had the talent to do it all and now the horse is suddenly confirmationally flawed and not capable. How do you trust a trainer who tells you all conflicting things about the same horse?

It's also suspicious to me that this decision the horse is no good came about after the other client got a look at the owner and the horse together for the first time. "How am I supposed to beat that." uttered from the lips of a wealthy client and the whole world began to change. Coincidence?

But honestly, things were deteriorating right from the start. It was clear from the way the owner was treated working for the trainer there was no respect for her from the BNT. It was the promise of respect from the assistant trainer(AS) that even got this horse into that barn. The the AS dropped the ball big time.

A relationship that was supposed to have been built on friendship, trust and understanding was not genuine afterall. All long as this owner was on the farm, it looked sincere but at the first public opportunity, he took the safe road right along with the BNT. That's the part that's most disappointing.

The owner thought she could trust this AS and he let her down bigtime. But he let himself down too. A great horse like this could have made this AS a name for himself. Then he wouldn't have to deal with the abuse by the BNT.

Obvioiusly he didn't trust himself (or the horse) enough to believe he could make it without the BNT so when he was told not to show this horse but to make other horses his priority, he did exactly that. Selling himself and the horse and owner out. Unfortunately for the AS horses like this don't come along often. He may never get another chance.

Strange how this all works out best for the BNT though. If the AS never gets to show this great horse, the BNT doesn't loose his lackey. Since the AS is the one doing most of the work, that's got to be comforting to the BNT. He can go on looking like the big shot. Spending his time in self promotion and only working a handful of horses. Not bad if you don't mind taking advantage of people.

The BNT doesn't have to worry about great horses as long as he hangs onto those clients with money. Unlimited resources give him access to horses all kinds of horses. He doesn't have to worry about messing up one here and there. He's the only one in this scenario that ever wins. That's really unfortunate.

What about that mass exodus of small clients each year? The one's whose horses didn't do what they expected them to. Well, there'll always be plenty more of them to take their place. Those niave little people chasing a dream are a dime a dozen...lining up waiting for their chance to get into the BNT's barn, totally unaware of the process that got them there.

So who can you trust in the horse industry? That's a really good question. I look at this situation and think it's time for some reevaluation on my part. There's not way I can met my goals not seeing things like this right under my nose. I have to be able to be open to all of the possibilities.

And how do you find a trainer who is the "right fit" for you and your horse? Tracking down old clients who have moved on could tell one a lot but is probably easier said than done. In this case, the owner had access to some of those disgruntled clents who took their horses home.

I guess it's easy to think that somehow things will be different for us. That's one of those things I will need to watch more closely as well. Ignoring the obvious signs and thinking somehow one can avoid the pitfalls can end up being very costly.

Getting caught up in the belief that this BNT is the only one who could do the job puts the owner at a disadvantage. Sure, the BNT may be more accessible than others and being part of that barn might seem cool but the end result is what is most important. Dreams can be accomplished without BNTs. It really does happen. It might take longer but the struggle in achieving the dream can only add value to the dream.


Again Please: I would ask that in the comments you please not name names. I think it's appropriate that this post remain "generic" in that regard. If you have something you must say with names, please email me.......risingrainbow at comcast.net

As much as I would like to fix this problem, it is out of my hands. I will be here if the owners need me. I hope they can see that I am not part of the problem. Tomorrow I will go back to posting about Lucy's new filly.


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