What classifies someone as a 'professional' horse trainer?

Question

Does it require some type of equine degree? Or x amount of year’s experience? What deems someone worthy of being called a 'professional' horse trainer? **I'm not saying I am one, or will ever be one, I'm just curious as to your opinions on this subject.

Answer 1

Here's a loaded question(a good one, by the way)....anyone can hang out a shingle and call themselves a horse trainer.....

When I'm looking for a trainer, I'm looking for the number of years involved in the horse world, who this person apprenticed under, his success in the show pen, what his specialty is,  how he treats his clients and their horses and his credentials must be impeccable.  Has the trainer received national accolades from his breed organization?  And, does he hold a judges card, if so, from what organization.

I'll be watching and looking at him or her a little more closely.

  

Word GETS amongst horse people and if a trainer is inadequate you'll hear about it soon enough.  If the criticism comes from a fellow trainer in confidence, you bet I will pay attention.  I pretty much know who the top trainers are and their respective specialties here on the West Coast as I'm at many shows and keep an eye and ear out for whose having a successful year in the pen.  I also subscribe to several journals and keep track of trainers that way.

This is my opinion on what makes a trainer...(many different influences make a successful trainer)......

Answer 2

There are no regulations in the horse industry but when it comes to compeating thats where you will run into trouble.

If you are getting paid for any of your services with horses you are a professional.  Even though you may or may not have the experiance that most pros have you are still in that catagory.

As far you getting in trouble for it, I doubt you will have a problem with someone complaining.  If you show and people know you get paid they may or may not say something.  They usually leave people alone unless they feel like you will beat them in a class.

Answer 3

The fact that you are paid puts you in the category of professional, and could haunt you if you need amateur status later on.  If you are paid as such with a paper trail, and tax records, it's something to think about.

Answer 4

You have to be certified as one, insured, etc.

Answer 5

the first poster is right on. You could have no experience with horses, know nothing about them. And they could say they know how to train them. And hte'd be considered a professional trianer.

As far as I'm concerned, a professional has a 'track record' they know what htey are doing around horses, they have a good stable, which is clean and neat, they know how to act around the horses, others who have had their horse traiend with this person like him.

Answer 6

There's no regulation of the term.  No number of years experience needed, education, etc.  Generally someone calling themselves a 'professional' horse trainer does it for a living.  Doesn't matter if they are any good at it or have any idea what the heck they are doing, though.

Answer 7

Margie nailed it!  Its definatley not regulated enough so ultimatley it comes down to researching the trainer youre interested in, find out about their experience and back ground and better yet, find out their credentials.  Even still though, credentials arent always an answer, because ultimatley anyone can get them. What I mean is, levels and so on and so forth.  Work with different people, get a feel for their methods and go with whatever one fits your style and beleifs the best :)

Good Luck!

Answer 8

Technically, a professional anything is one who receives fiscal compensation for performing the task.  

So, professional and proficiency can be worlds apart.

Answer 9

Margie's got it - basically, anyone can have that title if they want to.  To me, "professional" means "for a living".  My personal reaction to hearing that phrase is either that someone is a big-name trainer (like Pat Parelli) or else is John Q. Average who wants to make himself sound more professional.

Answer 10

Anyone is gets PAID for doing something is (unfortunetly) considered a profesional.  That doesn't mean they are any good at what they do.  There are alot of really good people who don't get paid - just do it for fun....like my (profesional) farrier who helps me with my yearling after he finishes their hooves.  This guy just has a very special way with horses.  He helps me help myself.

If you ever do need a real "professional" I would rely on "word of mouth" but realize that just like riding instructors, one size does NOT fit all.  What may be right for someone else may not be right for you.  Kinda' like boyfriends....when you meet the right one it will just "click".

Good Luck to You~

Answer 11

In my opinion, a person is  a professional horse trainer if that is his/her occupation.  For instance, many of us have trained a horse here and there, but would never own up to being a professional trainer.  But the guy who supports himself and his horse habit by training for other people is definitely a professional horse trainer.  That's what he does for a living.  Not many people can do that, because you either have to have a large clientele to pay the bills, or else you have to have another job.  You can be a professional trainer and have a different job as well, but in my mind it lessens your actual status as a "professional trainer."  

I think the term implies that training horses is all you do for a living.

Answer 12

Margie hit it right on the head- basically, anyone who wants to be a "professional" can be, at least in this business, because the horse industry is largely unregulated. There is one exception to this- namely, in the racing business, where trainers have to pass an exam given by the racing commissions in order to earn their license, and if they break the rules, it can be taken away.

In your case, since you have accepted compensation from the owners of these horses you are riding and training, that makes YOU a professional. Getting paid to compete, train, teach, or ride in a sport makes the person a professional, no matter what anyone else might think. Our Olympic team members who are going to Hong Kong this summer are all professionals- they have all been employed as trainers, coaches, and riders for other people for years, often their entire lives. True amateurism is for the most part, dead and buried- but its ghost lives on, at least to a degree.

Hope that helps you.

Answer 13

You are legally a professional trainer when you are PAID to train or ride a horse.  If you are not you an amateur.  If you have been paid to train a horse and you want to regain your amateur status you cannot get paid for any horse related jobs for a whole year! hope that helped

Answer 14

A professional is someone who career and main source of income is "horse training".  They train people and horses for money, and also compete for money.  It doesn't matter how experienced they are, they can call themselves a professional horse trainer if they do the above things.

In your Additional Details you mentioned that you are working with two horses for money.  I would say that no, you aren't a professional because it isn't your main source of income.

Answer 15

The horse industry is COMPLETELY unregulated- so anyone can call themselves a "professional". So, if you're in the market for a new horse trainer/teacher- DO YOUR HOMEWORK and research the person's experience and background!

Answer 16

as long as you are certified, have a few blue ribbons on your wall, and have a nice barn with insurance...you are considered "professional"

Answer 17

Many years of experience, many horses trained + sold, good ratings, their own ranch, friendly nature. Hope that helps and good luck!

Answer 18

First of all, there is no such thing as a proffesional in the horse industry at most 'experienced'. When riding you never stop learning. A trainer offers advice and knows more about the equine parts of the world above average. No equine degree is necessary only a lot of support from people that trust that you know what you are doing. Years of experience is a very wide term, usually you call yourself experienced enough to train once you have had many successes from previous horses that you have trained either a friends or your own. In my opinion for someone to be trusted with the training of a horse, they must be experienced and backed up with  examples and people that helped him/her train/. No one learns alone.

Answer 19

I guess anyone can set out a shingle and call themselves a "professional" horse trainer.  To me it would be someone who has apprenticed under a proven trainer and has years of experience training under the direction of someone else before going out on their own.  As of right now there are no educational requirements to legally call yourself a horse trainer.  Very few people that I know who do train horses can afford to do it for a living.  I do, however, know a very fine trainer who has a regular day job and trains horses just for the joy of it.  He started my gelding with fantastic results.  Even though he does it part time I would call him a professional.

Just a word of caution...I wouldn't send my horse to any trainer until I have seen him in action and/or spoken to some of his previous clients.  I would insist on visiting his barn and seeing for myself where my horse would be staying while at his place.  I would "interview" him about his methods and get him to tell me how he would handle certain problems.  If I hear one thing that I don't like, I'm outta there and looking for another trainer.  The trainer I used came highly recommended and when I interviewed him I liked everything he said.  I like his personallity and his calm demeaner.  I showed up at his place un-announced (was encouraged by him to do so).  He insisted that I ride the horse before I took it home and out we went on the trails.  He made sure I knew what my horse would do and how I needed to ride him.  I ended up with a horse that I felt confident riding and that I felt I could trust.  

There are a lot of people out there calling themselves horse trainers that use very questionable (read cruel) methods.  I would just be sick if I sent my horse to such a person.  DO YOUR HOMEWORK first.  Find out everything you can about a trainer before you send your horse to him.  Just as you would before you hire a babysitter for your kid.