Respecting the Horse Profession | RES 066

Ride Every Stride | Horsemanship and Personal Growth with Van Hargis

97% of people involved with horses as of today are involved with them as a hobby. That means only 3% make their sole living off horsemanship. It’s something I wanted to touch on as I get asked all the time about recommendations for good trainers, or how to become a trainer. It often takes a lot longer to become a trainer than most aspiring professionals think—it’s not something you just go to school for, pass a test, and then start making a professional living. However, if you’ve ever accepted money for interacting with horses, or giving advice, then you are technically a professional. We’ll be keeping that in mind as we discuss the effort, time, and skill that goes into being a reputable horse professional.

Key Takeaways

Setting boundaries is very important when it comes to practicing your horsemanship professionally. It’s real easy to take a call on a Sunday afternoon when you’re with your family and get whisked away to someone’s aid. But professionals, in any field, set working hours for themselves. Don’t be afraid to stick to those hours—and respect the time and availability of those you work with.

Personal time is important. I got to a point years ago where I realized I was simply providing for my family—I wasn’t actually present with them and enjoying any time with them. I was so set on pleasing my clients and convinced I had to make that priority number one, and that wasn’t the lesson I wanted to teach my kids. Make sure you respect your own needs and family, especially as an up and coming professional.

When interviewing a potential trainer, make sure you know exactly how much experience they have. Email them and see how long it takes them to respond and if they can communicate to you clearly. If they can’t tell you what they’ll be doing with your horse, they may not be a good trainer for you. Also, check out their facility. Are you okay with what conditions your horse will be housed in? Do the work before hand so you don’t become cross with your trainer during the process for something you didn’t look into.

So, when can you start calling yourself a professional trainer? Remember, if you take money for your services with a horse, then you are technically a professional. Well, I was always too afraid to put that label on myself of being a trainer. I thought it would be disrespecting other trainers I looked up to if I claimed that I was on their level. It wasn’t until those people started calling a trainer that I began to see myself as a true professional. Because if those I respected saw me in that light, I could step into that role more easily, and it pushed me to train harder and learn more.