[crazi4horses]

this is really random cuz ive been in a good mood for the past day n a half, but its over..I just snapped. I'm sick of my trainer critizing me and my horse! I am sick of her saying I am not commited enough and that my horse would be alot nicer and better off if I was more commited!!! I can not wait to get Honey home!! She has no right to say that I've only ridden 1 in three weeks..shes not even there!..i have ridden a **** of a lot moe than 1 in three weeks..Iam commited! Just because I havent taken a lesson from her in a month and a half doesnt mean im not freakin commited...dang it I cant take this any more..I cant handle all the dam.n put downs from MY TRAINER..shes suppose to help me learn not tell me 'u know if you rode more your horse would be better' or 'if you dont think your commited anymore, ill take honey' dang it.. I can take care of my horse!! She told me she doesnt think I can handle having honey home..and that Whiskey (the horse I am training with Katie) "doesn't know anything"

I'm sorry guys, I really needed this...I just am so sick of my trainer(who is also a family friend) making me feel like a ******* bad owner, like I cant ride and dont know how to take care of horses..and like I am an inch tall and just taking it and pretending like nothing has happened...I cant sit there and just let people bash me..I have to say something, and with her I cant! I hate this...I am in tears I'm so fustrated..It's not my fault if i cant get up to see my horse EVERYDAY..She is 35-40 min away and I dont have my licsence..Its not my place to say 'dad/mom your taking me up to see honey' I cant always get a ride, and I dont htink it is her place to tell people that I'm not riding my horse enough when I'm not even there! I hate when she does it directly to me, but what made me snap is finding out shes doing it BEHIND MY BACK.

sorry for this.

*-*Paige*-*


**Honey I love you,no matter what anyone says...your not going anywhere baby, mom wont let you go!!**

[Paint_luver]

I'm sorry you're feeling so bashed in. YOu know the most about your relationship and time spent with your horse. And soon you will be able to work with Honey a lot more, one of the reasons you're moivng her home I'm sure! So don't try to take those things TOO personally. Have you talked to your trainer about this?

Hannah

[crazi4horses]

No, I haven't talked to her because I'm not very confrontational(sp?) with adults..with people my age or a little older, yes i can be, but I've never been ones to talk to adults liek that. I told my mom though and she understands. It just ****** me off that she says stuff like that behind my back..and when she is working from 3pm-10pm. I ride around 6 pm so shes not even home when I come up! Im suppose to have a lesson coming up and I am TERRIFIED for it! I really just want ot keep riding honey at my own pace until next spring when I start lessons with a new trainer. I will still take a few lessons here and there from my current trainer, but it wont be weekly like it is suppose to be now. Another thing is right now, my parents dont have the extra 140 a month for lessons cuz we are going to florida for our last family vacation before our big one when im 16, and that is the last one ever(cuz of school n stuff) so I told my mom lessons could wait..shes offered them, and I said no because my parents didnt NEED to buy me a horse..They have offered to do so many things for me, and I have turned them down simply for the fact that they made one of my biggest dreams come true and they didnt HAVE to. I feel so lucky that I have a horse like Honey..no, she didnt cost up12,000+..she is a $500 rescue pony..just barely a horse, but quite frankly sometime I dont deserve a $50 horse that doesnt move nevermind Honey. To me she is the best thing in the world, I dont need a 45,000 Dutch Warmblood. I hate that my trainer says 'you really need more lessons' when I am the one who turned them down from mom and dad..I've told my trainer that too..she doesnt agree with me. She says 'as a horse owner that is your responsiblity' but u know what..its also my responsibility to make sure I can afford the things my horse REALLY needs and not something for me..my horse is like my child..it comes BEFORE me.


oh well, sorry for going on and on..I'll try to stop I just get so fustrated and I feel like you guys can understand things like this when no one else can even though my mom tries so hard she just doesnt...I think it is something horse owners feel..that its sort of like having a kid..my mom says you dont know love like this until you have kids..well horse owners have a connection with thier horse that no one else knows and as hard as mom tries to understand, its hard. She is planning on getting a horse though which is another thing my trainer thinks is totally wrong..she says 'if you can afford lessons and dont have the commitment of your own horse how can your family get another one' She doesnt know our financial situation...ugh.

*-*Paige*-*

[DoWeDance]

I know how you feel...I've been through similar things myself. It may seem impossible since she's a family friend, but it really sounds like you need a new trainer. You were exactly right to assume she is there to help you learn - not to make you feel an inch tall. And it's not her place to say she is going to take your horse!! These situations are sensitive when you are close to your trainer, but for your own sake, find a way to get a different trainer. You just should never be this upset, and someone you are supposed to look up to should never talk about you behind your back. Hope you feel better soon!

[crazi4horses]

Thank you. I am already setting up a spot with my trainers trainer for next summer. She is also currently one of my best friends trainers and KAtie(my best friend) LOVES her. It is a lesson every other week so that you have LOTS of time to practice and you travel to her barn to have a lesson.

[ShadowFax]

Your trainer really needs to relax a bit more. Horse riding should be fun for you, and not getting you upset. I mean are you thinking of showing or going competitive? If so then your trainer is there to point out mistakes you're not aware of. But if you just wanna learn how to ride then she should loosen up...
Paintluver is right, you should talk to her and tell her how you feel.
Good luck

[crazi4horses]

I actually already show, and I have been taking lessons from her for 9 years. I have done 4 shows with her and 1 show with out her on whiskey. I know up through 1st/2nd level dressage, and right now I am comfortable at that becuase honey isnt a dressage horse. Right now I am just working on loosening her up, and getting her to accept the bit. I definatly wouldnt not have a trainer for the whole summer becuase I dont want to get to a higher level, but right now I dont have a horse for it and I need to teach honey the basics of dressage before I can go on to collected and extended gaits as well as leg yielding, shoulder in, haunches in, etc. Next summer I am definatly getting a trainer to work with, but for the rest of this year, I feel comfortable without one.

[ShadowFax]

Wow, then you are commited if you've been riding that long. Its not always about riding- its also about getting to know your horse on the ground that's important. I think you're doing the right thing with Honey, taking it slowly because she's a rescued horse and probablly hasnt had good relationship with previous owners. She'll love you more for being understanding towards her and not pushing her too far.

[crazi4horses]

Thank you. I'm sorry I sorta blew this outta proportion, but I hate that because I am only 14 she thinks she can talk to me like a little kid, like I dont understnad what is involved in taking care of a horse, and what commitment is. Oh well, whatever she thinks. I have been taking care of horses by myself(with adult supervision) since I was 5 and helping out since before I could walk. Before that I would just go down to the barn with someone..I mean, the first time I was on a horse I was 6 months old and my parents always joke around that ever since then I've pretty much been glued to the horse. To me, that is commitment..I am at the barn every free chance I get. If I have the choice to anything OR go to the barn 99% of hte time I go to the barn. No I dont ride EVERY DAY but that's not the way I ride/train horses. To me 90% is trust on the ground...with out that you have nothing. I'm more upset that someone I am so close to could say stuff like this than anything else.


Thanks for listening guys,
Paige

[Quiggles]

your trainer sounds like a nazi. riding is suppose to be fun. tell her that next time she bugs you. i would suggest getting a new trainer. tell your parents what she said and tell them it is hurting your confidence and there is no point riding if your not having fun. it sounds like she is trying to make you into an olympian or something.