How to Hire a Horse Trainer

Training a horse to obey commands and work with a rider takes time and good training techniques. If you can't invest the hours it takes to train the horse, hiring a trainer is a great option. An experienced horse trainer will get much better results with a horse in a much shorter time than you will on your own.

Things You'll Need

• Pad
• Pen
• List of questions and contacts
• Legal contract

Instructions

1. Call a local horse club that focuses on the type of riding you prefer, or speak with friends who can give you a list of local horse trainers they recommend.

2. Prepare a list of questions to ask each trainer over the phone pertaining to certification, philosophy and experience in horse training.

3. Make a list with each trainer's name. You can use this as a reference when speaking with each individual over the phone, and it will give you a place to write down all of the answers you receive. Your comprehensive list may also help you in determining the best trainer for your needs by providing detailed information about each one in an easy-to-read format.

4. Set up a time to visit the facilities used by your top choice after the phone conversations.

5. Discuss the training you are interested in for your horse, the schedule and costs associated with the training while visiting the facility.

6. Ask if you can observe the trainer while he is working with other horses. This may be a deciding factor in whether or not you choose to go with his services.

7. Read the hiring contract over very carefully. Make particular note of the cancellation clauses, as well as any provisions concerning the trainer's liability should your horse be injured during the training. You might also want to include a clause limiting your own liability should the trainer be injured by your horse.

Tips & Warnings

• Look for a certified horse trainer who has a philosophy that is appealing to you, such as natural horsemanship.

• As you progress with your horse, you may need a different trainer than the one you hire first. The current trainer should be able to direct you to a new trainer if he can't do the training for you.

• You still need to spend lots of time with your horse to build the relationship even though a hired trainer is working with the horse on a regular basis.

• Work with a trainer who will help you improve your horsemanship skills as she works with your horse.

• Don't base your decision solely on the price charged by the trainer. Hiring a bad trainer at a cheap price will cause more headaches than the savings are worth.