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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 713
 
Location: ND | How early do you get them in? I want to send her in April/May so when I should I call? This is the first one I've sent to get broke.. what questions should I ask? What do you guys pay for 30 days? She's 3.. Thanks! | |
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Expert
Posts: 1280
 
Location: Texas | It depends. My 2 yr old was a june baby, so he didn't go until September. Still, we decided to limit his loping circles to allow time for his knees to close. Your trainer can tell you how far in advance you need to reserve a spot. It varies by trainer. I pay attention to the weather and the stabling conditions. If the colt will be kept in a stall vs. a larger pen; is there good dry ground, or will they stand in mud, etc. I would start the colt on ulcer preventative a couple of weeks before going to the trainer, and continue throughout training; visit often.
Common pricing for my local area is $600-$750 mo & you supply your own feed/hay.
Edited by tracies 2015-11-19 9:15 AM
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | Most trainers up here wont take them for less than 90 days...and its 1000 a month plus trims or any vet fees....and if they are half decent the wait time is 6 to 8 months to get a horse to them...m
Edited by mruggles 2015-11-19 10:15 AM
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9991
Location: Kansas | Here in Kansas, most charge anywhere from $550-$800 per month. I only charge $425, but I don't do it for a living lol.
I think it would be best to contact at least 30-60 days in advance to make sure there are openings available. Some trainers can fill up fast.
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | Most of the good ones will be filled up soon if they aren't already. I found the neatest one ever and she charges $600 a month. Takes her roughly 2 months it seems to get 30 rides on one but they are beyond fantastic. Literally any Joe blow could get on and ride them. They are bathed, feet worked with, face and bridle path trimmed. Farrier is extra. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Is the horse going to be 4 in the spring?
I try and get mine started as a 3 yr old summer/fall as the futurities are for 5 yr olds in my are. I find I have more time to dedicate to them in the fall as I kick out the horses I have been running all year.
What are your expectations?
What is your experience level with young horses?
What is your riding style?
These are all questions you have to answer for yourself before looking for a trainer.
Using myself for an example.
I expect my horses to walk trot, lope, turn on haunches, side pass, or reverse arc at a walk. I like collection at all gaits, I like a soft face, a good whoa, and no buck. Most trainers can accomplish most if not all of this in 60 days. Also 60 days is not 60 days of riding, generally horses only get rode 5 days a week.
Things that don't matter much to me, if they are rode only inside, or only outside, variety is nice but not a deal breaker as I can deal with it after.
My experience level is I can train my own, but don't have the time to dedicate to it consistently. Since I haven't trained one from scratch in 10 years, I don't want to start them and risk getting hurt.
I try and find someone that fits my riding style, the two trainers that I normally use quit this year so I had to look around. I sent two to a guy who specializes in cutting one after another, the first came back after 7 weeks not bad, but really stiff, sulled up, spooky outdoors, as she was only rode in a large round pen. It took me a month to free her up, and she still isn't as bendy as I would like. The other was only there for 5 weeks, he was injured I was not notified right away, was reassured he was sound which he is not, I am looking at a 5-10k vet bill to get him sound.
I sent two other horses to a lady who specializes in English, I was hesitant, but tried her as a last resort as one of the old trainers sent this one horse back as a dirty bucker. In 60 days this trainer had made a well rounded horse out of her who has not tried to buck on me, she reverse arcs, nice stop, ridden both indoors and out, not spooky, nice circles, and has good bend in the ribcage. She is one I will continue to take my horses to as the horses don't have to adapt much to my riding style.
The other thing you need to figure out is how involved or how often do you want to be updated, since I have trainers as friends, some people are extreme, they want updates every day, show up unannounced and want to see the trainer ride the horse immediately, even if the horse was just rode, or they want them to stop working on the other client horses and ride theirs.
I try not to be the extreme, and I am more hands off, and due to this, I am paying for it.
Word of mouth is the best to find a descent trainer. A good trainer will not advertise as they are already booked up by repeat clients. If they have ads up everywhere be afraid be very afraid. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 2013
Location: Piedmont, OK | Don't send your horse to just anyone. Make sure you get references or know someone who has used them before. | |
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 Chasin my Dream
Posts: 13651
Location: Alberta | Depending on the horse, I've sent away fall of 2 year old year for 30 days, but another horse didn't start till fall 3 yr old cause felt she wasn't developed enough.
I'm lucky Ive know the guy and his family forever, that I send mine to. He charges $1000 a month, he does mostly ranch work on them but he also compete in reining cow horse.
Im no help but ask for references, go to the place watch the trainer work with other horses. Any good trainer shouldn't mind you seeing what they do, should be no secret. Tour of their facility and ASk what their game plan is when they get a horse in...many factors determine what a trainer can do with a horse in certain amount of days....BUT all should have a game plan and willing to SHARE with you how the horse is doing.
Edited by dream_chaser 2015-11-19 1:19 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 2489
Location: somewhere up north | Cheryl gave you some great advice. We have always trained our own and when we couldn't we only sent them to people we know and trust and have watched ride for years. We are pretty picky about how much ground work they have and how responsive they are. Some people don't like to collect their horse and I can't stand a horse that leans on the bit. I also want my horses to be confident and move out. Have an extended trot. I feel like if you don't have someone start them that is confident then the horses isn't as responsive and respectful of your cues. Now that we have a facility we take a few outsides horses a month. We charge $650/mo. That includes grain 2x day, slow feed hay bags, stall with private turnout and riding 5 times a week. We have a couple openings, otherwise we are booked from Dec - June, and we really never advertise. People just message me and ask if we have openings. We have quite a few people that want their colts started as 2 year olds in the spring. Last spring by the end of the month they were ground worked with tarps, milks jugs, bike tires, ropes. They could walk, trot and lope circles inside and out. Flex side to side. Stop nicely, back, starting to side pass or move off leg, learning to give at the poll . When it was nice we rode them outside in an open area, down some trails and through water (by themselves). We sent video updates once a week and we always welcome people coming to see their horses. Everyone rides them before they go home. We are thrilled to get some well bred horses and boy do they make training a LOT more fun and rewarding. :)
Good luck and be picky! | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1034
| Go take a few lessons on the trainer's horses. I dont say anything about wanting one started, just watch what goes on in the barn, how his lesson horse rides, how he tells you to ride (you don't want something too terribly different from what you already do). If he's riding, watch. You'll want to come back for a few lessons on your horse after its started and home anyway.
What kind of pens are they kept in? How often cleaned? What vet is on call? Anyone there 24hrs? How many assistants? What determines who rides what? Get as much info on the trainers show schedule. Make sure you're ok with the assistant riding your horse most of the time (if not all) and guiding the training process if you're wanting your horse started in the middle of show season.
I send mine to a reining horse trainer here in CA. Box stall with pellet bedding, cleaned 2x daily, grained with what I provide, rode 6 days/week. I have them ground driving, saddled, ground broke, and hauled. In 90 days I can get an awesome foundation and a sleek, beautiful horse back. $900/mo. | |
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 Expert
Posts: 1611
Location: bring on the heat, NV | RidinOnFaith35 - 2015-11-19 7:02 AM How early do you get them in? I want to send her in April/May so when I should I call? This is the first one I've sent to get broke.. what questions should I ask? What do you guys pay for 30 days? She's 3.. Thanks!
How early depends on age and body maturity. call in January youll want to get on the stick the good ones seem to be booked early. Tons of questions and not to many ha ha Ive facebook stalked the one we are going to use. 650-750 for good ones but they go down to 425 in our area. Alot wont take a horse less than 60 days some 90..... Ours is going for 60 as a two year old. I intend to send him again for another 60-90 as a 3 yo. | |
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Expert
Posts: 1314
Location: North Central Iowa Land of white frozen grass | In central Iowa. Iowa Fall's, Iowa. There is Ellsworth Equestrian College. They have a horse program. Take weanlings to adult horses. Up to 60 head. The students need the horses as they come from Europe to South America and Alaska. 4 Quarters of 2 months. Prices are from $550 to $650 a quarter. Horses are kept indoors. Includes feed no vet.I have sent mine there over the last 20 years | |
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