Picking a horse trainer can be a challenging task and the trainer’s reputation in the industry often plays a large role when it comes to making the final choice. In an industry as small as our horse show world, people talk and word travels fast. This can be a good thing when the news is good or positive. However, the opposite can be very detrimental to a trainer’s livelihood. Justifiably or not, it is not uncommon to form a perception of some trainers before we ever speak to them. Like everyone else we encounter daily, the things we notice about a trainer can be intimidating for some, especially people who are new to the industry. Listed below are four things that can turn away potential clients.
1. Appearing Unapproachable
Have you ever been warming your horse up at a show and heard a trainer screaming at their client across the arena? While we understand that trainers take their job seriously, others, including potential clients, can see this as intimidating. Being excessively loud is one thing, but some take it to another level. While some may see it as the trainer showing they care and trying to get their point across, it can, and often does, make others uncomfortable.
2. Questionable Social Media Presence
In this day and age, social media can have a big influence on all of us. While some people can have a respectful disagreement online, other people seem to attract drama and seem to always be arguing with someone. Questionable pictures and comments can distract potential clients from the important things like training practices and the program itself. In a world where social media presence is ever so important, a trainer’s online profile can overshadow their work and success. They need to make sure their posts and comments portray a person that is positive and professional, not negative and unprincipled.
In addition to their individual Facebook account, potential clients may also look at a trainer’s website, YouTube or Twitter page. When browsing these sites, it is nice to see the trainer’s background as well as past winning clients, horses for sale, and a page listing their prices. Without these things clearly laid out, some potential clients may pass by to the next trainer.
3. Toxic Barn Dynamics
Trainers need to make sure that the individuals in their barn family are team players. The other clients in a trainer’s barn determine who you will be spending your horse shows with from riding together to eating and preparing meals. There are certain barns that have figured out how to balance the needs of all of their clients and keep everyone happy. Unfortunately, there are others that have constant drama, fighting, and jealousy among clients that has a toxic effect on everyone in the barn. No one wants to be around unpleasant and unhappy people who complain all the time. Trainers who are unable to handle clients in a productive way will find themselves with a revolving door of unhappy customers. This constant turnover of clients does not give the public a favorable impression of your business and will lead many to find someone else.
4. Having a Bad Reputation
In an industry as close as the horse business, a trainer’s reputation is worth its weight in gold. Are they honest? How do they treat their horses? Is my daughter or son safe in the environment they have created? We often do more than simply ride horses together. We eat together, stay together and we may even party together. The horse show crowd can be known to have a good time, but what about those who tend to have a little too good of a time? Parties and having fun are just added benefits to horse shows. Will your trainer be able to balance a good time while getting their work done? Does this party atmosphere lead parents to wonder if it is a suitable environment for younger kids?
These are many of the things we consider when trying to select a new trainer. Do you have others? Let us know on our Facebook page or in the comments section of this article.
