Horse Training Tips, Training

How to find a horse trainer near me

I am sure as a horse owner its a daunting task to try and decipher trainer would be a good fit for you and your equine partner in your local area.

In my opinion, there are first a few questions you have to ask yourself.

Is the horse currently broke or will the horse need to be started?

A horse that is not broke will need to be started first. I recommend finding a good quality colt starter for that part of the job. The type of trainer that is needed to start a horse is a trainer who regularly starts horses. Keep in mind that the trainer that starts a horse may not be the trainer the progresses the horse to the next level.

What discipline do you expect the horse to be trained in?

Horses can be started in either discipline and then change over but I doubt you want to send your reining prospect to dressage trainer. The first 30 days are pretty flexible. Horses don’t seem to care if they are started English or Western but as you progress you should think about which discipline you would like to participate in. As the training progresses you will want a trainer that trains horses specific to your discipline. As an example a reining trainer will use a loose rein but a dressage trainer will not have loops in their reins.

Would you like to participate in the training?

While many trainers don’t usually let you participate in the training, if that is something that you require with enough searching you could probably find a trainer who would. A more realistic approach I think might be to have lessons with that same trainer on your horse or theirs during the length your horse is in training. I find the best way is for trainer to not have the owner there every day as then the trainer will end up explaining everything and just won’t get enough done during training . Instead have the trainer send you short little video clips once a week or every two weeks to show the horses progress.

What training methodology do you follow?

A trainers training methodology is really the core of their training program. Its important that their core values about training and yours are the same if you want to have a successful relationship with your horse. Its even more important if you are sending your horse away to a trainer and won’t be riding the horse until he/she is done at the trainers.

What level of trainer do you need?

It’s true that some good trainers haven’t ridden at the top levels—just like in any other sport. Swimming coaches, for example, aren’t always Olympic gold medalists. That said, you should definitely think about a potential trainer’s experience and how it matches up with yours. 

If you want to ride at the top level in your discipline, you will need a trainer who has experience in competition at that level. If you want to bring on a young horse to be a pleasure horse, you’ll want a trainer who has experience with young horses and turning them into a pleasure horse.

Look for a trainer with experience in what you want to do.

What is your budget for getting your horse trained?

Though it’s every dream to not be worried about money, but that is not always the case. Training is usually something that you pay for what you get. Trainers who work full time at training horses probably have the overhead of an indoor riding arena, tractors and horse trailers. Experienced trainers know that horses who are working full time need quality forage and quality forage does not come cheap.

If you ask yourself these questions as you look at options for a potential trainer, I think you will find a good match.

Eli and Alicia winning 2'6" Hunter Over Fences
Slider, Training

Interested in sending your horse in for training?

Training is provided on a monthly basis. All training is done at our facility on the Mission/Maple Ridge border. Training has an emphasis on understanding how the horse learns, providing a good base of basics and then moving forward at the horses pace.

Horses can come in at anytime in their riding career, whether that’s the start or if they might just need a tune up or maybe its a step in a new direction. Alicia Harper and Hylee Training specialize in Hunters and do the occasional jumper if it best suits the horse.  Horses in training can head out in the show string when the time is right for them and can be campaigned for owners or when the horse is ready for the owners can jump in and head out to the shows with their horse.

To get a good feel of Alicia’s style and program. Send us an email and we can set up a time to chat.

 

Current rate for training is $1000 per month. + GST