The Horse Trainer Con

The title is as far I will go to making accusations in this post. I am not naming names nor am I suggesting that any one particular person is guilty of misleading or conning anyone else. But as an issue it needs to be brought out in the open and if the equine media can’t ever talk about such “controversial” things then I will.

(I think its also important to note here that not all horse trainers are guilty of this, the honest harding working ones are the ones you won't find engaged in issues like this.) In the mid to upper realms of the show world I have seen something take place over and over. And at the time while I was in the horse show world I would think to myself “Well that’s too bad that “so and so” isn’t showing yet.” And move on with my day. It wasn’t until I had removed myself from the industry that I realized what was really going on. It’s a con, and I will explain.

In the mid to upper realms of the horse show world (of any given breed) having a professional trainer for your horse (even if it is dead broke) is common practice. Some would say that unless you are dang near a professional yourself you are putting yourself at a disadvantage if you don’t work with a professional trainer. Not only would you miss out on the help and expertise but you would also miss out on the “name recognition” part. The part where a judge sees you, knows your are with “such and such” trainer, whom he likes, and gives you the benefit of the doubt in the show ring where as that benefit is not given to a mystery rider or a mystery with a mystery trainer (not saying this is right or wrong, only that it happens).

Sometimes – sometimes a lot of time, I see clients of horse trainers purchase young horses (most often a 2 year-old but it can be a three year-old too) based on their trainer’s recommendation. These clients think that they will be able to futurity their two year-old in the fall, or at the very least for sure be showing them as 3 year-olds in the spring. BUT what I saw happen MOST of the time was that the clients were still sitting on the bleachers watching their trainer ride their horse around in the practice pen as early 4 year-olds being told their horse is “still not ready”. That part is the truth. The horse isn’t ready to show. The part that is the con is the trainer recommending the client purchase a young horse in hopes to futurity it as a two year-old.

It's easy enough to get a saddle on their back, and feed hope.

Now this can happen sometimes quite by accident. The trainer may honestly think the sale horse has good potential for being a two year-old futurity horse and as it turns out, it doesn’t. But I also think that this happens sometimes, sometimes a lot of the time, on purpose. I see it most often with clients that  1) have the money to spend  and 2) may not know a whole lot about showing or the industry as a whole. They purchase a horse based on a trainers recommendation only to spend a year or more sitting in the stands watching their horse. 

This scenario works out to the trainer’s advantage because: He made a nice commission by selling the horse to you (not to mention he just made the horse's seller VERY happy). He now has a horse in full time training, and is collecting a monthly fee for that. He has a horse that he is hauls to shows to be “seasoned” (which, btw is a prudent thing to do with a young show horse I am not knocking the practice - but it doesn't need to be heavily done for two year-olds that realistically aren't going to be shown that year) for which he is collecting mileage fees for hauling the horse, and day fees at the show for working with and caring for the horse each day that it is at the show. He does not actually have to hassle with getting a novice or senior client ready to show. At the worst, at some point in time, when he deems the horse “safe for client to ride” he may have to give the client a lesson or two while at the shows during a time when the show is slow or done for the day and his regular show clients and horses are resting. This process will take even longer when the client is a novice or senior rider, because the trainer must make even more certain the horse is safe (this is also very true).

Good money – less work - less hassle. 

I see this happen more frequently with big name trainers and trainers with a huge client load. And I see it happen to novices alot (and I mean novice to the industry not necessarily a novice rider although that is the case a lot too) and Senior riders a lot.  I feel sorry for the people it happens to, most likely they just want to show. More than anything they want to get on their horse and show it. The con is - they never should’ve been led to purchase a young horse. The con happens when the trainer KNOWS the horse most likely won’t make a futurity horse or a show horse anytime soon, but leads the client to believe otherwise, knowing that when it doesn't work out it will still be to his benefit. Considering how few two year-olds make futurity horses this isn't that tough of a guess. An experienced eye usually (though not always) can tell when a 3 year-old is sooo green and sooo immature that it isn't going to make a show horse anytime soon either.

A lot of people think that they can afford a better quality horse if they buy it younger. "After all my trainer will help me pick one out and I will be showing a super star before I know it! And then I will turn around and sell him for a huge profit!!" IT ALMOST NEVER HAPPENS THAT WAY. psssssrrttt!! "Mission control to horse show freak, we need a reality check please? Over."

What usually happens is what I described above. There are times when I have seen clients get angry and pressure the trainer to either show the horse or let them show the horse (which is, of course, not ready – that part is NOT a lie) then watch as the horse mysteriously develop an illness, colic, or mystery lameness – POOF – problem for the trainer is gone. Horse is shipped back home for rest, clients are worried about the horse’s health and not showing it. 

Here is the moral to the story – if I still have any blog readers left that show horses. Don’t buy a horse thinking it will make a two year-old futurity horse. Only a very small percentage of them can do it, and it's a high stakes game to play, one that puts money and the horse's health at risk. When I say SMALL, I mean, less than 5% of all two year-olds can be shown at that level that year. It’s more likely that you will put enough pressure on it that it will go lame or bonkers by the time it’s a three or four year-old. OR if you have a good hearted trainer at all, you will just have to wait till the thing is 4 or 5 to show it, when it is ready anyways. Go buy a broke horse that has already been shown, even if only once. Even if you can’t afford a high quality one, that is always subject to opinion, horses mature, trainers can somewhat help problems with movement and behavior there is always a chance the horse can improve. Trust me, being out there on a horse, having fun, showing, and placing 3rd or 4th is better than sitting in the stands for 2 years waiting for that maybe winner.

If you want to be out there riding and showing your horse do NOT let any one convince you of this once in a lifetime deal on an outstanding two year-old by "Mr. World Champion Stallion", who is sure to go all the way to the big shows when it gets a little older. Make your wishes known to your trainer and ask him to help you find an older “ready to show” horse that you can afford. If he doesn’t know of any (surprise surprise) look yourself, approach a different trainer, or ask a fellow exhibitor to help you. Once this happens, it’s amazing how fast the trainer gets on board with the client and magically finds prospects that meet your requirements, rather than lose your money altogether. 

Now before you read this and go “HEY – this is happening to me!” and rush out to sue or confront your trainer, remember, its really easy for this to happen on accident. Trainers fall in love with horses, they want them in their barn, they have a client that has money to spend – they suggest you go for it. There was nothing evil planned – the horse, LIKE MOST TWO YEAR-OLDS just didn’t make a futurity horse - this happens.

Still suspect you’re a victim? Unless you can afford to sell that one and buy another to get yourself into the show pen you are locked into that horse and there isn’t much you can do except switch trainers as you’ve lost trust in the old one (it helps if the new trainer isn’t close buddies with the old trainer). Don’t throw a fit, burn bridges, and spread rumors – let your pocket book speak for you. Also don’t look for one trainer to turn on another, that just isn’t gonna happen, just work on maintaining a good trusting relationship with the new trainer. A new trainer is not a guarantee that your horse will proceed along any faster but, at least this way you can have a trusting relationship with the new trainer – and you did something about your situation. 

Of course the best thing you can do is use this information to avoid getting trapped with a horse you can't show.