Recommended trainers in CA?

[kteufel]

Hi y'all,

I'm still recouperating from falling off my horse 10 days ago... The pain in my back/sacrum has been holding steady for the past week, and I still can't go back to work training dogs! :sick

Needless to say, I can't ride, either. I posted an ad locally trying to find some horsecrazy teenager to come put some wet saddle blankets on my rusty mare while I get better, but that got me to thinking...

It might not be such a bad thing to consider finding a trail/pleasure paso trainer to evaluate her and do some polishing. I could use an opinion on what bits/headgear would be best for her, too.

I'm NOT looking for someone to jack her up into a frenzied gaiting machine that can't relax and flat walk--that's just not who she is.

So, any recommends for paso trainers in California who put out nice pleasure horses, no rough stuff? I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area, so SoCal would be waaaay too far away... But I could consider a couple hours drive. I think CarolU mentioned she had some trainers she liked in CA...

I have never had to put a horse into training--what is the usual cost? How long is reasonable for a "tune up" type situation?

Thank in advance!!

Kali Teufel
Fairfax, CA

My mare Nena de la Esperanza:
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v191/kteufel/nena/

[Terry Wallace]

Ah..Nena...I remember her well! She has had lots of "training"...
Yes, I'd find a trainer who would be kind & gentle!

Don't know of any in your area...have you consulted the list of trainers at PFHA?

Usual costs for training here are $500 a month & up... but I'm in Colorado...

[kteufel]

Yup... I bought her from Jann Bach originally. I understand she had to do a fair bit of reschooling with her! She did a good job as far as I can tell, because thankfully I can say she has never really tried some of the stuff that was described to me, but you can tell Nena is marked by the knowledge that some humans are push-overs and it's worth finding out who ;-)

At this point she has been ridden so sporadically due to circumstance that she just seems plain ol' rusty to me--like she's not sure how she wants to respond to bit cues, not super focused on listening the rider, needs some reminders on how to hold still for mounting...that sort of thing.

[CarolU]

Vickie McQuinn in Clovis does an excellent job with Pleasure horses. The only problem is that she has a pretty tight schedule and a waiting list.

[kteufel]

Hmmm...It *might* work. I think Clovis is not that far. And I anticipate that I wouldn't have the extra cash to pay for training until summertime, anyway.

Thanks!