Sometimes we get to ride our horses for ourselves, and sometimes we’ve got to think about the next guy to climb in the saddle.
The thing about being in the saddle that’s so fulfilling for many is how personally rewarding it is. It’s something that folks use as an escape or a reward; they do it for themselves. Perhaps they have a hectic life or family troubles, or maybe at-work drama, but when they’re at the barn, they find something they enjoy. It’s a focus on personal goals and growth, and an opportunity to immerse themselves in something rewarding for them and them alone.
Enter those who ride horses for others. What a neat thing to be able to do — to train a large, talented animal’s mind and body to be on the same page as the human aboard its back. Sometimes it’s a horse of their own that they want to sell, and sometimes it’s a horse they are getting paid to ride by a client or customer. Either way, in many instances, the trainer isn’t doing it for themselves anymore. They must ride their horses thinking about the next guy.
The next guy might be a non-pro that wants to show a horse he raised. It might be a cowboy who doctors wheat pasture cattle and ranch rodeos in his spare time. It might be a timid child who needs something to babysit her while the family trail rides. And it might be an open trainer who needs a solid foundation on her high-caliber performance horse. There’s a huge spectrum of people needing horses started, trained and polished, and plenty of people who do it well.
This can be great, and it can also be tricky. Everyone wins when the trainer knows who the outside horse is going to, and it’s a complimentary fit. The trainer does his job well, the horse is on track for success and the next guy feels like it’s time and money well spent to get his horse ridden. Sometimes, when a person buys or rides a horse to resell, the target “next guy” can be vague. So, this is where thoughtful time, lots of exposure and seasoning, and thinking outside of a personal box have to happen. Sure, maybe I don’t mind a horse that’s a little touchy. But it might not fit the gal at the sale who wants to buy the gelding. I need to do my best to make sure that he will fit the next situation as best as I can.
Someone asked me the other day what I look for in a using horse. I said, “value and marketability down the road.” Truth be told, none of the using horses I’ve ever used have checked every box for me. I don’t know if I’ll ever find one that does. I don’t often ride exactly what I want. I buy (or raise!) something that needs lots of time and work and hopefully ends as something I love. And then it leaves. I start again. I get paid to experiment and find personal growth in each and every horse, but it’s not very often that I ride one for just me. It’s usually for kids and intermediate riders, someone who owns one or two horses and wants to have fun and be safe, no matter the circumstance.
It’s important, in my humble opinion, to consider the next guy, but to still ride for yourself and stay true to your principles, goals and style when you are a trainer. Pack the tarp, flop in the seat, kick at the wrong time on a cow and make sure your horse will still cut, but also keep in mind the things that you love and enjoy about a horse. Learn, grow, struggle, celebrate and get uncomfortable. But, at the end of the day, stay true to what makes the end product a reflection of YOU and not the 489,000 other trainers out there.
Trainers go through a lot, and so do the people who hire and follow them. Horsemanship is a journey, not a destination. It’s an art, not a science. It requires mind, body, soul, flexibility, intelligence, timing, a strong work ethic and a sense of humor. Some of us do it to be right to ourselves, and some of us do it to be good for the next guy. But let’s all make sure and strive to do it for the horse the most. That’s pretty fulfilling too.
A great article and something to consider when buying especially when you are the next guy.
Thanks