trainers i ride with, and why

Megan from A Enter Spooking recently wrote about how she chooses a trainer. Jenn from Stories from the Saddle followed up with her take. Both posts were super interesting, and highlighted how the criteria for a trainer / program varies based on goals and priorities etc. 

I've had a roundabout path to my current roster of trainers and wanted to share some background. For context, I learned to ride at a very isolated farm with ONE trainer and ONE way of doing things. My eyes were opened to the wider world of horses after moving for college, and the new h/j barn had 3 trainers on staff, tho I stayed loyal to trainer A. 

Once back in Baltimore I was faced with finding a new program. I had minimal horse connections in this area (meaning I started with google searches) and also wasn't totally clear on my own riding goals beyond 'weekly lessons and the occasional schooling show.'

There were a couple hiccups along the road, and Isabel somehow fell into my lap a year in - so things have evolved considerably to my current situation. I won't bother outlining the barns / trainers I moved on from (unless you're interested?) and will just stick with where we are now:

Izzy says i need all the help i can get

The Trainers

(quick thoughts on privacy: abbreviations in instances where the specific location is discoverable, meaning it's clear where I personally might be at any given time. full names for people not associated with a specific place or with our home barn. Obviously the abbreviations don't fully mask the who / where element and anonymity on the internet is somewhat of a myth... but that's just my MO)

Trainer P at OF

I've been riding with P for just over a year now, as OF was ultimately where I landed after deciding to event. I learned about this farm via recommendations from an eventer at a previous h/j farm, and decided to investigate based on the farm's proximity to Isabel (I was truck/trailer shopping by this point) and their facilities (indoor, outdoor, dressage court, and cross country course). P is one of a few trainers there and her schedule worked best for me (I did the eval lesson with someone different).

I stick with her program for a few reasons:

• P is a big believer in confidence first and foremost - she wants to see us safe and having fun. She is therefore very positive and encouraging. I really like this in a trainer and have never believed that a good trainer should make you cry regularly. That works for many, sure, but not for me.
• This is where we get our reps in. P loves a good grid and certainly doesn't shy away from more technical questions, but really we just do a LOT of basic jumping and coursework here. Challenging exercises are good (more on this later) - but my confidence also requires that jumping be mundane and routine. Every pass over a simple fence or line is good for me.
• IMO these lessons are under-priced. These are easily the least expensive lessons that I take, especially considering the value I derive from them. Not arguing!!
• P has managed to slowly up the ante for us without upsetting my confidence. She's walked the fine line of moving me up (from the merest of cross rails to solid BN/N sized stuff) almost without me even noticing. 

Pretty basic criteria / reasoning here, and it works for us. Why mess with success, right?

left: summer 2015; right: summer 2014

Dan (travels to our barn)

The trainers at Isabel's barn have trained with Dan for a while and he started coming out for lessons when they moved their program in last summer (after I started at OF). And I just kinda jumped in occasionally for shits and giggles. Like ya do. 

We've recently gotten a little more formal with a standing weekly lesson time. And these lessons are REALLY working for me and Isabel. 

He isn't one for hand holding and prefers exercises that challenge both horse and rider. Even watching him ride, things rarely go perfectly smoothly - but it's by design. In his mind, if things are always peachy keen you're not learning anything. As an adult ammy, this took some getting used to and it's critical that I remember mistakes in his lessons are just part of the process. All the same tho, these lessons are often tagged in the 'fail' category haha.

What I like:

• He's a proven competitor in his own right, having competed through the 4* level (finishing 21st and 26th at Rolex). Meaning he knows what it takes to develop an event horse. 
• We work on really challenging exercises. Always. Very rarely are his lessons straight forward. Or, if the actual course is simplistic in design, the technicality comes in with how he wants it ridden. And these exercises are just as educational, if not more so, for Isabel. 
• He pushes my limits and is unapologetic about it. I've jumped my biggest ever fences in his lessons. But he's not reckless and hasn't done anything to undermine the confidence I've worked so hard to build. 

top: summer 2014; bottom: summer 2015
tho we still find new and exciting ways to exasperate Dan lol

Trainer C at TM

I also found C by recommendations (a common theme!), and was shocked to learn just how close her farm is to Isabel's. This is the newest addition to the bunch, and I've ridden with her a grand total of 5 times since March. And hot damn has she revolutionized my dressage game. Like, WOW. 

Under her tutelage Isabel is becoming straight up fancy, and I'm learning how to show that off to the judges in tests. Aside from the Waredaca blip, our tests this year have taken on a degree of poise and precision beyond my wildest dreams. Not even trying to brag here - it really just blows my mind. 

What I like:

• The proof is in the pudding and judge's comments don't (usually) lie - these lessons work for us.
• C is super positive and encouraging, seriously down to earth, and easy to talk to. She also knows her stuff (and has her bronze). 
• It's about a 15min drive to this farm, tho I'd happily drive farther.
• She wants to see me ride effectively. That doesn't always mean I do everything perfectly like a pro would do, but she teaches me how to get the results first, and then refines my techniques second.
• She's big into strategy for tests, especially how the different movements flow into each other.

this moment brought to you courtesy of 5 lessons with C

So that's our program. It's a lot of lessons, sure, tho I'm fortunate in that my resources are not tied up in the typical expenses of a horse owner. 

What about you - are you in a specialized training program? Or do you ride with multiple trainers? Or maybe just the odd lesson/clinic here or there? How have you made those decisions?