03/27/2026
Red flags when choosing a trainer.... Not everyone with a saddle and a social media following is a professional.
If you’re looking for a trainer/instructor, here are things that should make you pause:
🚩 They never ride with anyone better than them.
🚩 They can’t explain why they’re doing something, just that “it works.”
🚩 Every horse in the barn needs routine injections/maintenance.
🚩 Young horses are doing advanced maneuvers before they have a foundation.
🚩 They blame the horse for every problem.
🚩 They’re constantly changing bits, gadgets, and equipment to fix issues
🚩 Their solution to confusion is always “more work.”
🚩 You've never seen them change their mind on anything
🚩 They aren't open to new ideas or methods
A good trainer should be able to explain the process, play the long game, prioritize longevity, welcome outside eyes, adjust without ego.
And here’s a big one: If everything looks dramatic, urgent, and intense… it probably is. In fact, my rule of thumb is if you are the slightest bit uncomfortable with how they do things when you're there, assume its 3x worse when you aren't around. Are you comfortable with that?
Good training often looks boring. Quiet. Repetitive. Intentional. Even in our riding lessons, we prioritize safe and slow, over rushed progress.
Good trainers can be hard to find, but there's plenty out there. Choose wisely!
