So, I was wondering how everyone would handle this situation. Okay, my first hypothetical situation is lets say you have an amazing coach, he is wonderful at instructing you and has significantly furthered your riding (and continues to do so). You buy a horse and you find out that neither you nor your horse like how the coach rides, its not what your horse needs, but its expected that your horse will be ridden by said coach as they are the only trainer on the property and the horse is supposed to be their specialty (i.e. they're 'really good' at training babies and your horse is a baby). What would you do? Would you avoid the situation? Quietly discontinue the coach riding? Tell the coach? Find a new trainer? Stay on the property? Move stables? How would you handle it if you wanted to still be taught by the coach but didn't want him riding your horse? Or would you say that there are many fish in the sea and find a new coach & trainer that suit you and your horse?

I love hypothetical situations I had another one regarding being careful in the horse industry but it alludes me...I know I'll remember it tomorrow at school or in the shower or somewhere weird like that.

Personally, I would think that if my coach was as good as you say he/she is.... he/she would realize the horse did not like him/her and say something to you...

Tough call, though. Think on it and then go with your gut feelings...

Well, if you're happy with the way your horse is going and don't need any immediate fixes, I might put off the issue a bit by saying, "I can't really afford any extra training rides this month," then take a while to evaluate whether the lessons you're getting are going to be enough progress for you and your horse without frequent training rides.

However, if your horse is at a stage where you really do need that pro ride, but you don't want to leave and burn your bridges with this trainer, you're going to have to sit down with him and discuss in what areas you think he and the horse are not clicking. He may feel the same thing and not be willing to admit it, or he may just have different goals for the horse than you do and he can adjust his rides to align with your goals. If he's really not able to click with the horse, is there a working student or competent schooling rider in the barn that can try the horse, so you can remain there?

Well, I had a couple of reactions to your hypothetical. I'll give you all of them for the sake of a complete answer.

The knee jerk reaction was this: the horse doesn't "like" your trainer? Are you sure you aren't suffering from a mild case of the Black Stallion Complex (i.e. "he's a beautiful wild stallion and only I can ride him")? Does your horse really not like the way your trainer rides or does your horse just not like being put to work? Because it is entirely possible that the reason he seems to like your riding better is because you are an amateur and probably don't push him as hard as your pro.

However, upon further thought, the previous really doesn't matter does it? Regardless of the validity (and I'm not doubting you at all, just throwing it out there in a hypothetical) of your claim, you, the client, are unhappy. As an unhappy client, you should sit down with your trainer and have a discussion. If he is a good professional, he will be able to set you in the right direction - be that by changing his methods with your horse, with you, or by pointing you in the direction of another professional who might be more suited to your needs.

I have been in that boat twice. The trainer that arranged my purchase of my horse, there was no way no how that he was going to ride my horse and he never did. He was always rough with the horses and jerked on their faces. After he left the stables and I had a new trainer, the new trainer rode my green horse once a week and showed in baby green, and we were both Happy as can be! After that trainer left the stables, I have a new trainer, she doesn't ride my horse. My horse is tooooo much for her to ride. So, I have a new trainer and I do all the riding with private lessons. I wish sometimes that I had a trainer ride my horse, but in the meantime I’m becoming a much better rider and push through the problems. The other day my trainer said, "You just need to pony up and get tough and realize that you must eat some dirt". I did, it worked and we're almost ready to start showing again in Feb.

When I used to train, I always adjusted my ways to the horse, I always took time to study their, temperment, adittude, and personality, before starting the training. Then I would work with the horse one on one to teach the basics, then I expected the owner to work with me to finish the training, that way you learn what needs to be done and your horse learns your style of riding. At that point I rarely every rode the horse again. I just instructed my clients on how to do what ever needed to be worked on. So if I was in your position I would sit down with the trainer and discuss what you want, and expect, and a program to get there.

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.