Sometimes horses and riders just don't match up. However, a good rider/trainer should be able to adapt and work with any horse, regardless. I know my own gelding had a case of the Black Stallion mindset spoken about further up in the thread... if anyone else got on him, he would do his best to get them off, but it was mainly a case of his being stubborn and ornery towards other people. My mother could ride him, though he would stiffen his legs up and give her the stiffest, most uncomfortable ride you can imagine.

You have to go with your gut instinct, regarding trainers/coaches however. If it doesn't feel right, then don't do it, simple as that. Continuing with a trainer that you don't approve of can make things all the more difficult and can, in the end, result in your having to retrain your horse or his developing a host of various problems.

We saw our share of that when we showed the Arabians on the class A circut... handlers that whipped the horses from head to toe before they went in the show ring, horses that practically lived in martingales to ensure their heads would stay set, you name it.

If something feels wrong, chances are that something is wrong.