just sayin'
I come from a dressage background. When I first started riding as an adult I took the dressage route. Seemed a little safer to me. What I didn't realize is that MY safety was of no concern to my coach. It was more important to "up sell" me on the lessons, possible lease and eventual sale of a horse. So, I was the ultimate student and set a budget and bought a horse! A young horse that my trainer bred and so graciously let me purchase from her. Then I met my future husband. He was a "jumper trainer". Clearly, had no idea of how to properly flat a horse. Or so I thought. What I learned in 30 short minutes is that my beautiful, perfect dressage horse was conformationally challenged, had a difficult personality and probably would never make a serious dressage horse. He was also severely under fed, which I later learned was to keep him "quiet". I moved him to my future husbands barn and he finally got fed properly. Soon, to my demise, he got enough energy to "train" and I promptly got bucked off every time I rode him. I had a new trainer come out to give me lessons and she confirmed my new family's opinions. This was not a suitable horse for me.
I am now surrounded by some of the best and worst trainers in the province. I have made horses, the training and equipment part of my life. For the last 15 years I have studied with some of the most talented people in our business. I conclude that the best piece of advice I have ever been given was from my Mother in Law, Cheryl Anderson. When I first met her, her question to me was "What do you want to do with this horse?". I answered "I want to be able to train this horse up to the Prix St.George level and see if we can go further!". She asked me "who is the BEST dressage rider in our area?" My answer was Sharon Merkel Beattie. She told me to call her. I said "are you crazy?" She has no time to teach ME!! HERE'S THE GOLDEN TICKET. She said "If you wanna learn how to ride, pick the best trainer possible. Pick the one who rides the way you want to ride. Pick the one whose students win and perform better than the others on average". So...I did! Sharon came out, gave me lessons and helped me to see that unfortunately, I had purchased a horse that was NOT going to do the job I wanted and the best thing was to cut my losses and sell. This was an expensive lesson. To the tune of $14,500.00. But, still I feel a good deal. Study the sport, study the trainers, study the students. This past year Beezie and John Madden coached my 13 year old daughter. My husband and their Grandma coaches her other wise.
I'm not saying these are the only two choices, but what I am saying is, don't be scared to ask the best. Learn "right" from the start, instead of having to correct the mistakes you have learned from less qualified teachers. You get what you pay for!
Just sayin'
LD
