Here's a situation for you problem solvers out there:
This past week I've been to horse camp, where I can spend hours everyday with my horse, Holly (as if you couldn't figure that out). My instructor had us ride outside, on the very hard ground. The problem was that my horse is pacey, so the deeper the dirt, the better she racks. To fix this, she told me to pull Holly's head down and collect her up. But she told me to do it a different way than Holly's used to, so it made her worse! Then, when I used the old way that she was used to, my instructor told me off. Now, if you've found anything out about me, you know that I hate being told what to do, and "don't take no crap". But, to be honest, she scares me. I don't know what to do about the situation. I don't ride with my instructor much, mostly on my own with my mom, brewbren; but whenever I'm riding Holly in the ring with my instructor, she "corrects" me, and my horse suffers. ---------- Trot= bruise Rack= SMOOTH! ~Holly's Hero~
You know Holly better than anyone because you are her human. If a person who is being paid to help you makes Holly worse and makes her suffer .......... I would not let that continue. Is she the type who will listen to your opinion, feelings or needs ? Or is she just telling you what to do and then making you feel wrong if you don't do exactly what she says ? If I felt I wasn't being listened to I personally would have to look for someone else who was willing to take the time to understand my needs and those of my horse. My trainer has 17 horses and humans she teaches each week and she knows our strengths and weaknesses and works with the individual horse and human. No two are alike. So she doesn't treat us in a cookie cutter manner, she treats us with dignity, patience and respect. Good Luck !
We often would work our gaited horses in plwed fields and tall grass to help smooth out their gaits.
Have we ruled out any issues with your horse's feet (so far as tender on hard surfaces)?
Is it possible that your horse does better in the soft dirt because it requires her to use her hindend more?
Does your trainer expect every horse to carry themselves in a same frame? Conformation determines frame and headset.
Sounds like the chemistry is not right between you and your trainer, given the feelings you've expressed and conflicting results. I would recommend going to another trainer for a session to get an evaluation and a feel of different results.
My horse trainer is also the owner of the barn where Holly's boarded, so firing's out. My mom handles that stuff anyway.
horseinaround: My instructor is the "cookie cutter" trainer. She's a western trainer, and her barn is a breeding farm for Tennessee Walkers. She knows her running walk. My mom and I agree that she handles her horses with care, thinks about their needs. But she doesn't handle people as well... I'm just a kid, and I don't want to confront her. Like I said, she scares me. I do go to different lessons, jumping lessons with a different trainer. She treats her people well, and communicates with them, so I like her lessons more. My western trainer mostly just gives us a few patterns to follow in our lessons.
Poeta: Yes, she specializes in gaited horses. As I said earlier, she breeds TWs. I don't have a vehicle or trailer to take my horse out. If I did, I would be running Holly up every hill on God's green earth. Yes, my horse does do better in deeper dirt because it gets her hindend under her. This is why she preforms the best when the dirt has just been pulled up. My trainer does seem to expect the same frame for every horse. I never thought about that before. Thanks for helping! ---------- Trot= bruise Rack= SMOOTH! ~Holly's Hero~
Oh, I know just the type. An excellent horsewoman whose people skills need work. I feel for you in that situation. Don't be afraid to speak up. You don't have to be rude or yell but just make your point if you disagree with something. Maybe say, "I would like to try something else, can I explain why ?" or "I have a question about what you just said ..." Never let someone make you feel too scared to speak up and say what's on your mind. I love the saying " People will treat us the way we let them " I know being young, it is hard to do but just keep it in mind and remember it. You do have a voice worth listening to. ;) And you are the only voice your horse has.
Thanks, horseinaround. I'm glad somebody sees the world from my perspective, if even for a moment."Lasting is the feeling of sorrow, fleeting is the feeling of happiness. And yet, we cling to the happiness, and forget the sorrow as easily as if it were the wind in our ears, whispering before dying away." ---------- Trot= bruise Rack= SMOOTH! ~Holly's Hero~
I agree wholeheartedly with Horseinaround. People will treat you only as good as you expect them to. Some folks have a need to put themselves on pedestals/ always be top in the pecking order but don't think that means you can't be heard. You will deal with folks like this always in your life and sometimes those folks will be in a position of power over you. Think of this trainer as a horse you are training. How can you get her to hear you while making her think it was her own idea? A spoonful of sugar goes a long way with folks like that, a stroke of their ego, presenting your ideas in the form of a question so they feel like they are saving face. It's silly but you have far more power than you realize. You have the power of influence...
