Reasons not to train a horse?

Question

Trainers, what reasons do you have to turn down a training job?

Answer 1

The only time I have ever turned down a horse is when there's a chance that the horse is actually dangerous to all.  If a horse can't be worked around safely so that you can feed, water and clean a stall, then you don't need to have the horse on the premises where someone stands a chance of getting hurt.

Answer 2

I only ever turned down two horses. One was lame (low grade but they swore it was sound) and the other one was dangerous. It would throw itself on the floor for fun; back, teeth etc. all okay, it had major physcological problems. Normally I would have taken it on but I had a Show Jumping Championships coming up and it was a team event, it wouldn't have been fair on the other team members to put myself at such high risk of getting injured as we'd all worked so hard to get that far.

Answer 3

I've had to turn away due to lack of time - if I've had too many horses to do I've been very selective and picked the ones I'd buy given the chance, and said no to the others.

Aside from that, I have sent one mare home because she was too dangerous.  She had absolutely no common sense and was extremely dangerous - to herself, the other horses, and to staff.  The owners knew fine well, because that was the reason she came to me.  I had her for a week and could do nothing with her, and she was damaging my confidence so I said enough is enough - and the owners were fine with it and recommended me to a friend.  (Which is odd, since I did nothing for their horse!)

Answer 4

I  had a mare that had bad ground manners and was very stubborn.  After being evaluating by a trainer I was told she was dangerous.  Well, I already knew that which is why I needed a trainer!  If you have one like I did, you may not be able to find someone to work with the horse.  There are certain trainers that will take on a difficult case; however, they are few and far between. I ended up returning the horse to the seller (who said the horse was soooo sweet (not!) and she was later adopted. Good luck!!

Answer 5

I dont train, but I've thought about it and would rather research and read answers from questions like these before I run out and buy a horse that needs trained.  This question reminds me of a story i read. . . I figured it'd be intersting and pretain to this question.

edit:

since nobody likes to see other people's opinions i took down the story, no point in sharing anything here. I still like the question tho.

Answer 6

Thats simple!

1. I dont feel as though the horse is safe (very rarely ever the case as Iam firm beleiver that no problem is too big to help)

2. The horse is obviously lame. I would most definatley refer the client to a vet first.

3. Obvious neglect. I would immediatley offer assistance in the education of proper care if it was needed. I would suggest the care needed before partaking in any sort of program.

EDIT**

I like the point about "a client who has unrealistic expectations".  This is SO common.  I suppose I didnt think of this.  I have turned down a client  who wanted a 2 yr old broke and going WTC in 30 days.  Definatley possible, but not in my program.  And then of course lack of time is a good one too!

Answer 7

I have turned down potential clients for 2 reasons.....1 the client themselves, unrealistic expectations and 2 a horse that compromised my safety......enough that I felt he/she had dangerous behaviors that might get me killed.

Answer 8

The only reason I would and have turned down any training job is Safety!  I have no problem seeing when I would be over my head since I am only 110lbs and a horse shows extreme dangerous habits That I could be hurt.  Another reason to turn down a job would be if the horse is not fit to be worked either lame or starved, however when they are up to health I would reconsider.

Answer 9

I'm going to answer this as one who has trained horses, and had horses trained.  I'm not a professional trainer, but I don't think that matters.  What matters is that if I were a professional trainer, this question would be a real moral dilemma.  Once you make training your livelihood, it isn't easy to turn down the bread and butter, unless there are some real serious conflicts.  So, while I would turn down jobs for many reasons, I think you are looking for the bottom line?

I would turn down a training job if the expectations of the horse owner were unrealistic....especially regarding the time frame for achieving the desired results or if the horse was too young.  Along the same lines, I would turn it down if there was no meeting of the minds on the capability of the horse/owner to achieve the desired result.  If I felt that either the horse was not up to the task, or that the owner was incapable of handling the horse or the task at hand, I would turn down the job.  

I have refused to help people on these bases before, although it didn't cost me anything regarding my livelihood, so it may be idealistic.

Kicking Bear....that probably puts you ahead of some of the professional trainers I've met along the way.  Unfortunately, bad trainers seem to continue to get by when they prey on the ignorant, and get more business from more ignorant people.  They remain as trainers in that category....you have obviously set standards that put you into a category that earns you the kind of respect that will bring you the right clients. That word of mouth you refer to can be spread to one kind of person, or another....I respect you for your philosophy.