Hippotherapy

horse trainer...?

More then anything I want to be a trainer/instructor/barn owner/manager... I’ve basically decided that this is what I want to do with my life... but I want to start working towards it now! I am planning on going to school for equine science, and when I turn 18 I’m going to work for my instructors license (can't start until I’m 18) but I’m only a freshman in high school now (I look and act more mature then my age) I can already train green broke horses to 1st level dressage, so that parts good, I also manage my barn on Sundays, and can do that easily... so that’s good, but how can I work towards being an instructor? I volunteer at a therapeutic riding facility... and the child I work with doesn’t have any problems... so I’m basically her trainer (she’s in a big group lesson with more disabled kids) I also help one of my friends ride her horse on Sundays... and she has made HUGE improvement in the month I’ve been helping her... But what else can I do? I really enjoy seeing the imp i plan on getting a double major, buisness and equine science, i take 1 hour lessons every week, but my trainer doesn't teach many other people (we have a 20 stall barn, only 5 people take lessons from her /= should i ask my trainer about helping her? Or should i try to get my own students? I know a few people who would be willing and i would be able to use my horse for them... but how should i go about asking/telling my trainer?

Public Comments

1. Sounds like you have done all you can do! I am magering in equine science for an equine vet too!!
2. Sit in on all the lessons you can that your own trainer teaches! Also... take some business classes! My riding instructor [who owns the whole place, as well] says she would have been better off getting a business degree instead of an equine science degree! Something to think about. :) Also... start showing if you can! The more ribbons you have under your belt, the more people will trust you. Other than that, you sound like you have it all planned out! You could also ask your instructor/barn manager what else you could be doing. :) You could, of course, check out all the books you can on barn management, etc. Good luck!
3. Well you're on the right path for training nowadays. Most of us old codgers got our training as trainers by paying established trainers to train us and to work as apprentices for them for years, then finding a backer who would give us a chance. You still should do an apprenticeship under a current established trainer while you are at school. This will teach you the ins and outs of the industry in ways a classroom can't.
4. In my opinion you are already on the right track to fulfilling your dream. I grew up on a ranch and have been breeding and breaking horses from a young age. Have patience be smart with your actions, horses remember bad and good just like humans.
5. You are on the right track. If you can be a student rider for reputable trainers in your area over the summers that would help as well. If you are really looking to be a trainer/instructor/barn manager, they have equine business degrees that would be more suitable for you. If you can, minor is something like equine instruction. Many colleges that have equine business as an available major also have equine instruction as a major and you can do that as a minor. Making money at training/instruction is hard. If you can get a junior partnership with a reputable trainer, it will help. I know trainers who went to the Olympics and are still struggling for clients. I tried training for a while and on my own could not make money - this is why I suggest getting a job with an already established trainer or facility. At least initially.
6. You should think about joining Pony Club. Teaching less experienced riders becomes part of the program once you're in the middle ratings, like it sounds like you are.
7. Keep Learning! Listen and talk to everyone. Everyone has something of value that you can learn from. You may talk to some one for 30 minutes and they don't have anything say that you agree with other then the one comment they didn't even know they were saying. *Go and watch clinics of other trainers. *Read books from instructors and trainers. *Take some psychology class at your local college during the summer, to learn about both humans and animals. *Learn about human anatomy and compare each system to an equine. Like human endocrine system to the equine endocrine system. Etc... *Take lessons to learn about disciplines other then the ones you are familiar with. *Take some first aid classes. * Ask your farrier if you can ride along to watch and learn. The vet too.
8. hey, I was there too. I am original from germany and I wanted to start my trainer license as soon as I got out of school. But I had to wait until I turned 18 and for some I had to wait to be 21. I do believe you, that you would be capeable of doing it, but there is a law out there!!! If anything would happen, god bless no, you would be held relyable and for that you have to be 18, or 21 depends. Still, hold on to your dream and I`m sure you will get there, soon or later. Good luck
9. I don't have the experience of being a trainer or going to school for horses, I've only had horses all my life and been through trainers and helped my mother and sister in training searches and stuff like that. Here's my two cents to add to the great advice you've gotten from people about where to get education and experience. All through your growth in high school, college and such, focus on your goals and be aware of everything around you. How do people at school interact with you, what do you like and what don't you and why? What makes an honest person to you? What qualities do you like in some people vs others and why? I'm 41 years old and I constantly wonder what's up with people nowadays. They don't generally seem to care about each other and often are doing what they're doing for themselves. If you're going to be successful at anything, you've got to focus on what you intend to offer others to meet your own goals. You have to identify what services you would like to offer people and then conside things from their viewpoint. I've worked with trainers who will take your money and not do what they tell you they will. They will tell you they're riding your horses 7 days a week and come to find out they are not. Some have seemed to be not so good at talking to me on my level and I chalk it up to them not being good with people. If a trainer isn't good with people, they aren't going to be the very best thing for your horse. Successful training of horses and people requires an ability to understand not only the communication styles and needs of a species be it human or equine, it also requires the ability to identify the individualities of the horse or the human. In order to be successful you have to almost forget yourself and focus on what the person needs you are trying to serve best - by doing this you will naturally gain the things you have set forth as goals. I'm having trouble getting this out properly, but I'm trying to say something like this: in life, you must take a very realistic view of yourself - the good, the bad and the ugly. Then you must create a picture of your perfect self - through the eyes of an outsider. Then identify the differences between your true self and your ideal self and set goals to make the two match as closely as possible. Be honest with yourself and others all the time and make all decisions with this vision in mind. You have a good ability to communicate - you must be a good student because you can type, spell and communicate much better than many people I've seen who are twice and 3 times your age - and as a freshman, you are already setting goals and plans. You already have a better start than many kids your age. Keep asking the right questions - set a big goal, then smaller ones to meet it. I have to tell you this though - canvas some schools and people in this industry - go to all the websites and chats you can in the right subject and ask people about their experiences becoming what you wish to become - talk to trainers, get to expos, ask anyone you come in contact with and get to those who can share their experiences with you. My mother told me when I was your age - I wanted to go to a horse related school like Findlay or Wm Woods. She told me I could never reach my goals by starting out in the horse world. I had to go to school, get a real career and have the horses as a hobby after I was secure in my life. So I did - I got a good job, I have 6 horses I love and I'm financially secure. But I don't know if it was the right answer. At that point in my life, my mother had worked hard to get everything she had. She had a vision of being rich so not having to worry about anything and she thought I needed to be rich to be happy first and foremost. While money doesn't solve all problems, life is easier when you have it for security's sake - and my career will always be in demand, so I'll never worry about a job and always be able to afford my horses. Sorry this is so long, but I must tell you, my sister (8 years younger) did get to go to a horse school and focus on a career with them. She's a trainer, but she doesn't have the money for a servicable facitlity and such. It's not BECAUSE she went to school for horses, it's because of the decisions she's made that she doesn't have the vision that she saw when she started out. So I think few people who start on a track getting a horse-type of career make it big with big money and fame. But what matters is what makes you happy. What do you require in your life to be happy - and no other person's opinions will answer that for you. The only one you have to answer to is yourself for your life and your happiness. Martha Josey, a well known trainer of kids and horses once said "In order to make a million in the horse industry you have to start with 2 million" and it's true. It's a high investment industry - horses aren't cheap, their care isn't cheap, the facilities to manage them well aren't cheap. Look how few have made it big strictly in horses.....Martha's hubby RE had other income streams to build what he and Martha have built. Money and connections as well as smarts makes it big. Good luck! Keep going after your dreams and stay focused!