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Topic: Finding a trainer (Read 4144 times)
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elara
Novice
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Posts: 18
I love Trakehners!
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I am new to your forum and I see there isn't a lot of activity but I'm hoping for some advice. I am the proud owner of a Trakehner gelding. I never thought I'd ever be blessed to own one because they are so out of my price range. I met Meshak a year ago, and without going into the whole story he was on his way to auction because no one could handle him. None of this was his fault, just one unfortunate happening after another, the last with a "natural horsemanship" trainer where he ended up with his forleg trapped between the panels of a round pen and he now has a permanent scare. Luckily none of the tendons were damaged and he's perfectly sound again. He will be six this april and is only 15.1 hands so I call him my mini Trakehner. A year ago I could barely get a halter on him, he had been tramatized and it took months to gain his trust. He is still afraid of new people if they try and work with him but I am slowly having others work with him so he can expand his trust to others. I can do anything with him but I know that he needs to be confident with others before I have him backed. He hides behind me when someone comes up to us when he's tacked up ( which is pretty funny to see, my farrier nearly laughed himself silly the first time he saw it.) He is now comfortable wearing a saddle and bridle, I've worked with him enough now that we have started with side reins to introduce bend and contact. I am unfortunately not feeling confident enough to back him myself. I live in the Seattle area of Washington State and I have found that the trainers in my area that I can find just don't understand warmbloods and their sensitivity. After a year of work I am afraid of having a trainer ruin his trust in people again by pressing to fast. So what I'm hoping for is a name of a trainer in my area. I just don't have the contacts and I know the good ones will be known by those in the Trakehner world. Meshak and I are not destined for the show ring though I do ride dressage and have plans for us to go far in our work together, I really don't think he'd be happy doing anything else. Thank you for your time and help
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Lara, Gryphon Farm
ata
Gold Medallist
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Posts: 291
Trakehner Cowgirl
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Hi, Elara - welcome to the forum. I had a very similar situation with one of my mares, she had been nearly ruined, was scared, scarred, etc. The person who got her to trust, gain confidence, go down the trail willingly and have fun doing it is in Central Oregon. If you'd like more information, email me. Good luck!
lara@gryphonfarm.com
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Tannenwald Trakehner
ata
Old Hand
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Posts: 935
TANZBRISE by Windfall out of Tariana
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Welcome to the forum, Elara!
Unfortunately I don't have a trainer to recommend as I am just about on the other side of the country, but wish you well. This kind of thing seems to happen way to often to horses and it can take them a long time to get over. It sounds like your guy is a sweetheart and I am sure once you work through his security and confidence issues, you are going to have a partnership that will be very rewarding.
Good luck!
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Beckie
ata
Gold Medallist
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Posts: 271
I LOVE Trakehners!
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Elara,
You might call Susanne Lutz at Marble Hills Stables in Yakima, WA. While they are a vet and breeding service, they have a lot of experience with trakehners and offer semen to several good stallions here in the US. More importantly, I have just worked with Susanne to get Summertime semen and she seemed like she really cared about the breed and was very knowledgable of thier specific needs. She might have a suggestion in your area for you.
http://www.marblehillstables.com/
I absolutely understand your problem and currently have my 3 year old Unkenruf filly at the only place I would allow her to go for her first few months of training. She is way too smart and sensitive for the average american rider and I cannot afford to have her ruined by ignorance. Thankfully, all is progressing well. If you cannot find anyone, I can make one recommendation in central California, but it is awfully far to go for this.
Best of luck.
Beckie
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elara
Novice
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Posts: 18
I love Trakehners!
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Thank you so much for the input, I will definitly contact Marble Hill Stables and talk to her. I'm so glad that I found this forum. Talking to some of the other riders at my barn is sometimes frustrating because they simply don't understand what I'm talking about. The are mostly western riders and the few english riders are jumpers and very focused on showing. The have definite differences of opion on training, I've always held the belief that classical dressage training for any horse was the best way to go. They are very impatient and if they don't see the results they want from their horses the force instead of finding out why the horse isn't responding the way they want. I've become somewhat isolated there but its close to my home and the owner is another dressage rider and really the most improtant reason I stay there. She isn't around the barn much though, so I'm finding I need to go elsewhere to find the right people. Thank you again, and I'll most likely be asking questions and just letting you know our progress. Here is Meshak - His sire was Adlatus and Dam is My Specialty by Blitzwind.
 This photo is from the end of last summer when I was introducing the spray bottle LOL, it made for a great photo opprotunity because he posed so well. I'll have newer pictures soon. Thank you again from both of us.
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Amanya
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Preliminary
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Posts: 96
Life is Choices
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I don't know if you will have a trainer come to you or if you'll send your guy away to a trainer...but regardless, try to be there during the training sessions. First you will learn a lot and it helps to be able to ask questions that arise from the sessions. Second, you will be able to tell exactly what is going on and determine if it is within the scope of what you want.
Most of all, trust your own instincts. It's your horse and you know him best of all.
Because you are a concerned owner, I have a feeling you will do right by your horse. And remember to have fun while you are both learning ! The best of luck !
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fuzzy
Guest
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Elara, if you can't find a dressage trainer to work with for starting your very cute boy, don't rule out using a "working" western trainer who is experienced (and kind) with young horses, and willing to work with you. By "working", I mean someone who is interested in reining, cutting or roping - preferably with a natural horsemanship approach. While their expertise in the cowboy stuff is likely meaningless to you, horses in those jobs are expected to be energetic, responsive, and much better balanced than a western pleasure horse. At the very least, this approach could get the horse well started, and you might even find some cowboy games that you and your boy could do and enjoy besides the dressage you already intend to focus on.
Best wishes! 
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Karen P.
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FEI
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Posts: 177
I LOVE Trakehners!
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Elara, welcome! I am in the Bridle Trails area of Kirkland so at least I'm in your neck of the woods! I am about to send off my rising 4yo Advocate gelding to a gal who starts young horses and I can keep you posted on how it goes. He will not be as sensitive as your guy but I did watch her work with a very nervous young gelding and she did well with him. She is located out in Redmond. Send me an email if you want to chat more. kppv@comcast.net
Karen
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elara
Novice
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Posts: 18
I love Trakehners!
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Thank you all for your information and well wishes! I am very happy to have found a group that doesn't snub me just because I'm not into showing. I've unfortunately run into that. I'll let you all know how it goes, I'm going to try and get my daughter, who is the family photographer, down to the barn in the next few days to get new pictures so I can post them here.
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Jennifer
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Gold Medallist
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Posts: 323
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yes, contact Susanne Harfts at Marble Hill Stables.
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SteveSamples
FEI
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Posts: 176
I love Trakehners!
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I want to second the suggestion by Fuzzy re: western trainers. Reining is an Olympic event now & it's gotten pretty sophisticated. It's essentially a western version of dressage. As such, the successful ones are working with some pretty athletic, hot horses and have learned to work with the horse's personality. No "cowboying" anymore. In fact a very successful reined cowhorse trainer (Sandy Collier) whose clinics I used to attend told me once that she was formerly a dressage trainer & that experience formed her approach to RCH.
The change in technique came with the Dorrance brothers (Tom & Bill) who were from your neck of the words (maybe Oregon). Tom's book shows lots of TBs & he seemed to work in both western & flat seat worlds. I suspect there're lots of his disciples in your backyard.
Blessings,
Steve +
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elara
Novice
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Posts: 18
I love Trakehners!
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New pictures of Meshak from 3-3-06. Here are a few of my boy. As you can see he really is a mini trakehner. I've made myself feel better by comparing him to a Lustiano and some of the other stockier dressage horses. He's naturally light on his front end and readily brings his back legs under him during lunging. I am so hopeful of his career in dressage. I've had a really busy week, his half sister has come to stay with me for a month. She had been in training for a month with a western trainer and he scared her silly. Here we thought we were going to have a nice calm month of just getting more riding time on her and instead its almost like Meshak all over again. Its really made me skittish about trainers again. Luckily Lace knows me from when I worked with her last summer and fall and has latched on like a lost puppy. I won't go into all of it but to say that I haven't had much experience with natural horsemanship trainers and at this rate I really don't want to. One almost ruined my horse and now his sister comes back from one worse than when she went. I will look into reining trainers though and Karen P is keeping me informed of a trainer really close to my home. So I am still hopeful. Well, here's those pictures and I hope to have some of Lace (his sister) as soon as the weather clears up.
Also here's a shot of his son who is only registerable as a half arab. His name is Majique and his dam, Diva a polish arab, is with him. This picture was taken in August of last year. He's was looking more like his sire when I saw him last in December.
Thank you for all your support and suggestions. I'll keep everyone posted (pun intended LOL)
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fuzzy
Guest
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Elara, what a nice butt he has! But really, posts like yours make me SOOO grateful I don't have to go through the business of finding a trainer. I break my own horses, usually with a ground person, but the last time strictly solo, but that does involve extra prep work (and deep snow is good, too!).
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elara
Novice
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Posts: 18
I love Trakehners!
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LOL,  , He's got to be out there somewhere. Shadrach is beautiful! ELARA, You have Meshak, I have Shadrach, where is Abednego? 
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WendiK
FEI
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Posts: 147
I love my Trakehner!
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LOL, maybe he is still walking through the fire! Lovely horses you guys have.
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fuzzy
Guest
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Actually, I know of a Marab mare named Abednego! And she has a 1/2 Trak daughter that is smallish but very nice.
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EclypseSporthorses
ata
Old Hand
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Posts: 994
Go The Distance
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Elara, WendiK, too funny...you know, Shadrach's registered name was easy, I knew it as soon as I saw him and his pedigree....K from his dam, still spelling 'Carino', though with a 'K', and 'Fire', from his Arabian dam's line, her grandsire, Firebrand. All together, I understand it to mean, love/compassion's Fire. One day, actually in church, singing...the stable name of Shadrach came to me. It was just an obvious name for him...don't know why I hadn't thought of it sooner. It certainly seems to fit him. I love naming horses, and meanings of names...must go back to that being one of the first tasks appointed to man...name all those critters..... 
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"Delight yourself also in the Lord,
And He shall give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4
~*Ride-Far-Ride-Well*~
*^The Sky's the Limit^*~
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elara
Novice
Offline
Posts: 18
I love Trakehners!
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Elara, WendiK, too funny...you know, Shadrach's registered name was easy, I knew it as soon as I saw him and his pedigree....K from his dam, still spelling 'Carino', though with a 'K', and 'Fire', from his Arabian dam's line, her grandsire, Firebrand. All together, I understand it to mean, love/compassion's Fire. One day, actually in church, singing...the stable name of Shadrach came to me. It was just an obvious name for him...don't know why I hadn't thought of it sooner. It certainly seems to fit him. I love naming horses, and meanings of names...must go back to that being one of the first tasks appointed to man...name all those critters..... |
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elara
Novice
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Posts: 18
I love Trakehners!
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I have some good news. As I said earlier Meshaks half sister Lace came to me after a really bad experience. She settled in quickly and getting is her confidence back. We've already overcome her headshyness during bridling and have gotten her picking up her feet with only some fussing, which is better than the terror she was showing. I got her feet done on Tuesday, which was an experience. I had been talking to my vet about her and how bad she was with her feet so he suggested mildly tranking her so it wouldn't add to the trouble by trying to fight with her over it. I had at least gotten her to where we could do her front feet without tranks but when the farrier reached for her backs, there was just no way. At least now her angles are right and hopefully by the time she's due again we'll have her picking her feet up calmly enough to do them without drugs. Her feet were terrible becuase her owner was unable to get her feet up and a vicious cycle had started. That was one reason she had been sent to the trainer. She hadn't had her feet trimmed in a year. The farrier really checked her feet out to make sure there was no damage from going without for so long and he was surprised they were in such good shape. While she was tranked I decide to have the vet check her teeth and her legs to make sure there were no problems to worry about.
Since we had her up for sale, a woman came to look at her today and they clicked. I had been unsure about having someone come look at Lace, but she knew the owner so she knew what had happened. She decided to lease her and leave her with me to see how they get along further down the road and so I can continue to work on getting her over the "training" experience she had. So we are working on ground work that she was supponsed to have been working on with the trainer (feet, lunging, scarey things that are sure to jump out of the bushes LOL). I told Diana that I wasn't a professional trainer and that for her riding she would have to get someone qualified. I am what I consider only an intermediate rider so I feel confident to ride her without wrecking her at just the three gaits to get her smooth and confident there and keep her in shape until she is ready to take her over herself. I am not even going to attempt any dressage moves. Diana is going to take more lessons until she feels confident that she can continue her training with the help of a trainer.
Meshak is also continuing to improve. I just wish I could hold a camara and lunge at the same time LOL. He was going so beautifully last night and of course there was no one there to see!!! How come your horse only does the most wonderful things when no one else is around to see them . He was smooth, relaxed, had a beautiful bend and changed gaits like a dream. Sigh.....
Ok, heres a picture of Lace, but its from last autumn. She is in much better shape now. Lace is a Trak/Quarter horse and is 16hh. Its just not fair that she got taller than Meshak LOL.
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elara
Novice
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Posts: 18
I love Trakehners!
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Well a lots happened since I've updated here. Lace has a new owner and she is almost back to 100% thank goodness. She had her first trim without the vet and drugs last week and she was great! She no longer spooks at everything under the sun and is well on her way to being a solid dressage horse. The woman who bought her is keeping her at my barn and has me continuing my work with her. She is riding her more often now and they make a great team. I am so happy for them both that I could just burst. I smiled for days after she decided to buy her outright after leasing her for 2 months to see if we could bring her back from her bad experience.
On the other hand my progress with Meshak has me depressed. I tried the first step of backing him myself with the help of our barn owner and things went really well with me just laying across his back. When I put a foot in the stirrup and laid across him that way he was a bit goosey and did just a small hop up and I came down with my ribs across the saddle. He calmed right down but it took me a week to be able to ride again due to my darn pain condition. So I'm back to the finding the pefect trainer.
The other thing I am tentively thinking about is trying to find someone to trade with who can give him what I'm failing to give him. He is so talented and I just know he's perfect for a dressage life and I'm just not getting it done for him. If I go into the just business/unemtional view, I need a horse I can ride so I can take lessons to get myself ready to teach which is one of my goals. I'd love to teach low level dressage, I love helping people to become better riders and get them communicating with their horses and becoming happy and comfortable on the back of a horse. I have a time table of two years to get myself ready and time is quickly running away with me. So I am struggling with that decision as well. I just don't know if its fair to him to expect that kind of timetable for HIM. I don't know if there's anyone out there who is even interest or knowledgable who would be willing to trade a trained "training level" or "1st level horse" for an untrained one. I do know that Meshak is conformational capable if going way up the levels. I've had a few people come out and evaluate him for me to make sure I wasn't just being starry eyed because I love him so much. The overall response was he had great flexability, gaits and overall willingness to be a really good dressage horse. Any suggestions, or a take on my situation? Do you even think that someone would be open to that kind of trade? Since I'm not looking to show I don't need that caliber of horse, there are so few Trak's out there as it is "sigh" I don't think I'd be able to stick with the breed like I want to if I can't do it with Meshak. I somehow don't see someone with a Trak wanting to do that kind of trade. There I go again. Well, I'm going to sign off now as I'm up way to late and have stall to clean in about 8 hours LOL. Thanks everyone and for being here for me to dump on.
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Joy
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Old Hand
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Posts: 1,270
I love Trakehners!
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Don't despair, Elara, you never can tell who out there is willing to trade. Some people prefer geldings, some people prefer challenges, some people prefer mares, so you never can tell who might come forward with an offer for a trade, even Trakehner owners. Have you thought of having someone else get him going under saddle for a labor exchange, perhaps?
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elara
Novice
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Posts: 18
I love Trakehners!
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No I hadn't thought of that, though where I'd fit it in I have no idea. I work at my barn for part of my board and I also work a part time job. But it is definitly something to think about. Thank you! Especially for the support. Even though I'm not here often, I find I get more support here than anywhere else. I can't even begin to tell you how that makes me feel. Thank you again, back to the barn I go 8-)
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