Best trainer?

Question

Which big-name trainer (parelli, etc) has the best methods? I have either watched demos or read articles by alot of different ones, but I can't tell who would be best to look into more. I have a 3 year old that needs to by started, and an older mare whom I would like do more advanced stuff with.

Answer 1

I am especially fond of Clinton Anderson. His methods are simple and it has to do with constiant repitition. The more you do something the better it does. He has won many things such as Road to the Horse (Parelli hasn't). He is fascinating to watch..

I have trained several young horses with his methods. They have proven to work time and time again.

Answer 2

I think you can benefit from any one of several....I like Parelli, Clinton Anderson, John Lyons, and Richard Shrake....and I'm not as familiar with the others mentioned, but I'm sure they are good or they wouldn't have a following.

Answer 3

I am not going into name dropping....*Cough* Bobby Ingersoll.... But I personally don't rate trainers on how many books they sell. Or how good they make you feel. The true mark of a great trainer is how much has he/she won. If I wrote a book that make everyone feel good and they could go and make a nice trail horse, I still would not be considered a ''top'' trainer. Trainers who are consistently in the winners circle(in any event) are the best trainers. And, NO ONE TRAINER is right, and no one trainer is wrong. I have studied under 4 trainers(not including my father and mother) and I have learned from each. I have learned methods I like and methods I don't. I have even learned methods that I have only used one time with one horse. Again, I stress never put all your faith in one person or method. The best way is to study many different methods and take the best from each.

Again, there is no one trainer that is correct and no one trainer that is wrong. Just many different methods.

Answer 4

I'm partial to Dennis Reis and Clinton Anderson;

http://www.reisranch.com/

http://www.downunderhorsemanship.com/

I believe both of these clinicians are immensely talented.  You may either attend one or more of their clinics or homestudy and attend their clinics.

Edit:  To me, Monty Roberts is a conundrum....hugely talented and has problems with the truth.   I did enjoy watching him when he was on RFD.

Answer 5

pat and linda parrelli and clinton anderson in my opinion are the best

Answer 6

I've been to see a all the top trainers, and I like Pat and Linda Parelli the best.

Answer 7

Personally, why would you listen to a trainer who's horses haven't gone on to do something big, such as winning a futurity, superstakes, or major class show? Yes, some of their techniques are great and get the job done. But I would want to listen to someone who has stats and records to back up and say, "Hey these methods work in and out of the show ring. I'm such a great trainer, my horses have gone on to have big success in the show ring."

My picks for younger generations and those just coming into the horse world are Bob Avila(Worlds Greatest Horseman champion a few times over, has multiple world standings) Tim McQuay(of Hollywood Dun It fame, NRHA futurity standings), Tom Lyons(NCHA world champion many times over), and people like Tom and Scott McCutcheon, Clint Haverty or Shawn Flarida or Dell Hendricks.

Anyone can make a few demos and videos, slap new names on old products and then call themselves natural or big time trainers.(I mean come on people, carrot stick is just a lighter cattle stick in disguise and do we really need to come up with new names for a dang string or plastic bag?)

A trainer is someone who can prove themselves with their standings and winnings. Most people aren't going to want to pay $500 a month to send their horse off to be trained by a parelli wanna be when they can invest a few hundred more and send the horse to someone who has money earned and proven themselves in the horse world.

Answer 8

Monty Roberts is WONDERFUL!

Answer 9

I really like Clinton Anderson.

Answer 10

I like john lyons

Answer 11

Clinton Anderson, by far.

Answer 12

IMO, John Lyons, Chris Cox, Craig Cameron and Dennis Reis (I primarily ride "English", but horses are horses, and the training process is the same, up to a point) . I also like Julie Goodnight, whom I've met.  I met John Lyons, also, 13 years ago.   I haven't watched or read a lot of the big trainers' stough, but catch them occasionally on TV.  It doesn't take long to see who's got a gift for training and teaching, and who's all showmanship and PR and hype (eg, Parelli).

Even though I've been training professionally (by which I mean, getting paid to train and ride) for 20+ years, I still do watch other, good, trainers any chance I get.

Good luck with your young horse, and don't hesitate to find an experienced trainer whose philosophy you agree with, to help you if you run into a snag in the training process.

Answer 13

Neither are good. A trainer should help you with all of this - not something you watch in a video or read a book about. =\

Answer 14

All of the natural horsemanship leaders on the scene now are very good.  You can learn a lot from any of them.  So, if you have seen their work, select the one that seems like it would work best with you.  Clinton Anderson, Pat Parelli, Dennis Reis, etc.  are all excellent in their own way but they do have their own particular way to present similar techniques.  Some find Anderson easier to understand.  There is a difference in cost in some of these things, so that may be a consideration for you.  However, you can find a lot of the Anderson and Parelli training tapes on eBay.  Good luck.