[Feliche]

Honestly, go with your friend's trainer! Not only is she more experienced and would provide you with FAR more opportunities (which could make the distance thing a toss up), there is NO way you should be putting up with ANY kind of garbage from that witch trainer who you're taking so much abuse from now! Yeesh. What an awful person.

Do you know about "New's" facilities and other experience? I bet an upper level dressage trainer has plenty of experience with younger/lower level horses/other disceplines like your other trainer...but probably does it better because she's had more opportunities. I bet she has an indoor too ;D

In short I personally think it would be worth it, because in turn you would be LOADS happier. If you kept your horse at home, the money you save might in part make up for the gasoline expenses. I haven't done the math Oh, I bet you wouldn't go and have lessons 5 days a week, so this actually sounds like the expenses would cancel each other out. How super is that?!

Good luck. I really think you'd be TONS happier with her, and having your horse at home to ride

[PiaffePony0412]

Not sure where your located, but I think I know who the new trainer is...

If she's who I am thinking of... then she is super lovely and def. worth a test ride. But always keep in mind that just because someone can RIDE well, does NOT mean they can TEACH well. And of course, each student can require a different kind of teacher.
I would also ask to observe lessons with other students/other students riding.

On the flip side of course- horses are by far the best teachers, and it is always worth the experience to ride a horse who was built, bred and trained for what your trying to do. It becomes a whole new ballgame when you finally FEEL what is right.

Best of luck to you whatever your choice!
-Piaffepony0412

[PeggySue]

TO me it woud be worth the extra $21 to not have the hassel of hooking up the trailer and hauling all the time

TO me having the areana avaliable s worth that money as well as having somebody around to ride with or be there in case of accident

[MaggieSue]

I don't understand why you need so many lessons a week-I took one lesson, then worked on what I learned the rest of that week. Cut back on lessons, and take the time to teach those things to your horse-he can't learn it overnight. That alone (One $45 lesson a week+ $180 mo/2 lessons a week $360mo=board)

[Liberty's Gal]

Ohh now I am nosy and want to know who the new trainer is. Sounds like it could be a good opportunity for you. Plus I hate gossip and back bitting. Life is too short for that stuff.

Where are you located btw?

[prairienights]

Haha, pretty conclusive poll!

From your descriptions and the situation you're in, I would definitely say new trainer. But then again, we're not the ones who are spending your money. If you can afford it, I'd go with the new trainer. She sounds every bit as qualified, and you'd be in a situation with much more opportunities.

[KZWestern]

The reason WHY I want to take that many lessons: I'd want to take one a week on Grady to work on what we need to work on. BUT, it's hard for me to work with Grady when I am not actively riding the movements on an experienced horse. If I don't have the feel for some thing on one horse, I'd have a hard time teaching Grady. The other two lessons would be on an upper level horse so that I can gain that feel. Plus I'm also able to show that horse, so I would be able to (finally) show at more advanced levels. At one time I was riding 3rd Level, but the horse got injured so I've been stuck at Training and 1st Level for the last couple years.

I am located in Princeton, the new trainer is in Ham Lake. Her name is Lindsay Fusch... (I think I have the last name spelled right).

[Aurical]

My gut instinct would be to try the new trainer and if she seems good make the switch. Don't assume however that gas will stay at $4/gal. It's only likely to go up. Make sure you can still afford the commute as prices rise.

I would say the extra $21 is ABSOLUTELY worth avoiding the extra time, grief, and aggravation associated with trailering not to mention the increased risk of injury to Grady from an accident. I think you said it is 60 mi round trip. A lot of things can happen in that kind of distance...

[KZWestern]

I do realize that gas prices will increase... Unfortunatly that's part of life right now. You know, I hadn't thought of this before... in a previous post I figured that it would be $21 more to board. Well, I hadn't counted the cost of hay. It would actually be MORE to keep Grady at home if you count that!!

[legendsneverdie]

I would go with the new trainer. I personally don't like dealing with people that won't tell me things to my face, and especially when older people are being so immature about it. I also like learning from people with experience closer to my age. She probably knows more about what's current.