Eqwhine by Lesley Kagen

Do I Look Like the Maid?

Dear Aunt Lesley,

I love horses but my family does not have a lot of money. I worked out a deal with the owner of a nearby barn. I work cleaning stalls and feeding. In return I get a free lesson. I am now working about fifteen hours a week. I feel like this barn owner may be taking advantage of me. And the customers treat me like I'm the maid or something. What do you think?

16 in Illinois

Dear 16,

First let me congratulate you on your work ethic! Secondly, I think that you have to ask yourself what you would get paid working somewhere else. You could always take that paycheck and use it for a lesson. Most lessons cost around $25.00.

Unfortunately, barn helpers tend to get treated like second class citizens. There is a social hierarchy within most barns. Remember the Golden Rule? He who has the most gold rules.

I think you might want to check out the Golden Arches. Good luck and keep up the hard work!

Dear Aunt Lesley,

About two months ago, we had to leave a barn that my daughter had shown her hunter pony with for a number of years.The trainer in that barn, I'll call her Suzy, was taking drugs. When I found about her drug usage, I confronted her. Suzy, of course, denied the allegations, even though she fell asleep right in the middle of our conversation.

The real problem is my fourteen-year-old daughter. She loves Suzy and is very sad about us leaving. I told my daughter we left the barn for financial reasons. Should I tell her the truth? Help.

Anxious Mommy

Dear Anxious Mommy,

Whew...that's a toughie! The horse world is but a reflection of the real world. And yup, there are people who do drugs. And yup, some of them are trainers. And for a Mommy, that can be anxiety producing. It is SO improtant to thoroughly check out a trainer before you move to any barn. You must remember that anyone can hang out a trainer shingle. No qualifications necessary. Ask around. Check with the moms of other riders. And use your good old fashioned mommy intuition.

And yes, I would tell your daughter the truth. Explain to her that it is part of your job descripton to keep her safe. This is also an excellent opportunity to teach her about drug usage.

A trainer is a person you must be able to trust. You want a mature and dedicated professional to turn to, not one of the Seven Dwarfs. I'm thinking Dopey here. If you suspect your trainer of not being capable of making good choices, for whatever reason, it's time to leave the barn...yesterday.

Dear Aunt Lesley

How important is turn-out to a horse? I have recently bought an off-the-track thoroughbred. The barn I am keeping him at has very limited turn-out, only about an hour a day. He is so wild that I am having a tough time getting any training done.The barn ower assures me that this has nothing to do with the length of turn-out. He thinks my new horse is a psycho. What do you think?

At the end of my rope

Dear At the end of my rope,

You'd be crazy too if you were locked in a room no larger that your guest bathroom for twenty-three hours a day. Horses need turn-out to run, socialize and graze. It's about their physical and mental health. And, of course, some horses need more turn-out than others. Figure on about five hours minimum a day for your guy. He's young and a thoroughbred. It's tough to train a horse that is bristling with energy. Yours would probably give Con Edison a run for their money.

Talk to the barn owner. Tell him your concerns. If he is a my way or the highway kind of guy, hit the road before your horse ends up in a padded stall!

Until next month....Happy Trails!

Your EquinePost.com Eqwhine Expert recommends these websites:

Amazon.com
Check out some of the great equestrian "how to" books offered. Just type in "equestrian."

State Line Tack
Affordable clothes for you, and your horse.

USA Equestrian
The site for USAEQ, fomerly AHSA. A great spot to give you an overview of the world of hunters and jumpers.

Past articles by Lesley Kagen:

Do Horses Eat Barbie Dolls? (June, 2003) |