Business ethics suggest that results and best-interest of your customer are the same in most instances. However, this balance changes when you add in a non-verbal being [at least not traditional vocalizations]. When you add in a 1200 lb animal that does not express their displeasure with more than a tail swish, flicked ear (or in the more exciting case a wicked buck) you are no longer working with one best-interest but those of the horse, rider and owner.
SO… do I have to choose between results and the best-interest of the animal I am entrusted with? If you ask a variety of trainers [and those who have labeled themselves as such] you will likely find varied answers and varied accounts of what this looks like. The horseman [or horsewoman] will share with you that the best interest of each horse looks slightly different. Let me give you an example:
Young horse comes in for training; the horse is built with the neck coming out slightly lower on the shoulder, nice hinge from a few inches above the withers to throat latch. Neck length is good. Horse has smooth cadence and is well balanced while maintaining varied speeds. From the shoulder there is a sloping connection to the upper forearm. This young horse is brave, and level-headed and is agreeable to work.
It would be a disservice to ask this horse to present for the Park division regardless of the owner’s wishes. Not only conformationally is the horse built for a division of lesser motion, but also characteristically the horse presents as a future amateur or junior exhibitor mount, likely for the western or equitation divisions.
Lets flip now to another horse. Big gelding, also younger has been growing non-stop and seems to finally be leveling out. Horse struggles to maintain cadence at slower speeds, especially at the canter. Seems to balance better at a medium speed. Head carriage is slightly higher out of the withers, hinging at the top.. Nice action with a forward gait. Horse is eager to please and has a spark when brought out to work. Conformationally, this horse is correct but also not suited for the Park nor Western divisions. As this gelding has grown quickly he is still finding where his legs go and how to best balance his cadence at the slowest speeds [picture bambi on ice]. Eventually could he drop into the western division, maybe. Eventually could he bump to the classic division, maybe. Would he be best suited initially in the hunter division? Probably. This would give him the best shot at success by setting achievable goals.
I can still achieve results by training the horse per the best-interest of the horse; a pace the horse can maintain and grow with, a division and gaits suitable to the conformation and mindset and pairing with a rider and owner that will value the results and goals this horse is able to achieve.
Now, how do I balance my client/owner’s best interest when the horse does not meet the qualifications or standards. This is typically the more challenging interest to fulfill. As a trainer there are three options: Rush to the desired result, patience for what will develop as a result and plot twist to accommodate everyone’s best interest.
Chances are if you or your client hasn’t been in the industry long, everyone is pushing, rushing to results. If you or your client has been in the game and is an advocate for their horse, they are leaning into the most patient perspective with respect towards the investment for results. And sometimes, we all just need a little plot twist when a match up isn’t quite right for the goals and success of all parties and a different mount or rider [or sometimes trainer] is needed.
If you fit into any of these three mindsets, or maybe have sampled them all, I want to remind you to advocate for your horses and yourself. Find the best trainer for your horse, trust the process and enjoy the small victories along the way [that is really what we’re all after anyway].
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