Sending a horse to be schooled

[xxx]

What influences you most when looking for a person to school you horse?
Mine is going for 2 weeks to my instructor, to be hunted (by someone who is used to it, as today was a bit of a disaster) and flatwork schooled, becasue I know he knows what I'm doing.
Was looking up schooling livery on the web and I like to see competition records, good photos showing the schooling person on the horse etc. etc. before I contact them
had one bad experience when my pony who broke my collarbone got sent away (without references, bad us) and came back dead in the mouth with spur marks on his sides (they were raving about how he jumped this ditch and these xc jumps, that's fine, but I wanted my horse flatwork schooled, not dead to the mouth! Nor did I want it jumping unprepared, dangerous jumps!)
So what do you like to see, to prompt you to send a horse to get schooled there?(initially, obv. references etc. need to be obtained)

[Gail&Merlin]

I go alot by recommendation as references can sometimes be friends...

[SarahW]

I have to say that I would want to make sure they didn't use violence when they schooled my horse and that they didn't put too much pressure (mentally or physically) on my horse. I wouldn't want them to resort to gadgets such as draw reins or flash nosebands. I'd like to know that they had access to good practitioners of physiotherapy too. I'd like to able to visit at any time.

That's my quick list of the top of my head. I think the bottom line is that I would only trust another RA to work with my horse because I know they are committed to not using violence.

[sarak]

I would go by recommendation, or use someone that I know and trust, eg an instructor. However, there are many, many people - including previous instructors - who I would not even contemplate leaving a horse with.

[jinglejoys]

Patience,and the ability to listen and learn as well as teach,but then I do have an equine that speaks horse with a foreign accent ;D

[xxx]

ok, so thats people you've met, recommendation (the best way to do it!) But if you saw a website, with schooling and livery advertised, that had pictures of very average looking riders, would you send your horse there? I was surfing for schooling and came up with a website with horses trundling along, no outline, no jumping pics, etc. and thought surely that can't be a good advert?
Would people send their horse to their instructors? I think it will be great for the BL, he won't get away with anything, but will be looked after perfectly and hopefully improve, plus mean my trainer knows what he feels like?

[maliksparky]

Hi, is 2 weeks long enough to school a horse? I think you need to visit people, without any warning and make sure that they do things the same way that you do at home, if they don't it is pointless, you need to both agree on what right and what is wrong, I know this is hard in the horsey world as everyone as different idea's. The best of luck in finding the right trainer for you and your horse. Emma x

[anon]

I wouldnt send a horse away to be schooled (although I might TAKE a horse to be schooled with me and with the other people riding it...)

[xxx]

I see where you're coming from, it's more to keep him at a level, or rather remind him what a GOOD rider rides like so a couple of weeks should be grand.
Why would you not send it away out of interest?

[anon]

cos generally ts the rider needs teaching - and I like to see whats being taught.... so I'd go WITh him, at least

[jen1]

they would have to be bra-less tree huggers for me to send any of mind anywhere, i think a good RA to come out to me would be better should i ever need it, they would have to be great riders, too, they would have to have good facilities, and i don't mean cosy kennels, any horse that come to me gets to chill for a while , on all our land , then handling by me, before i ever get on its back, id like to think i could do most things from the ground so i can then get on and ride with ease, before starting lateral work,

[fin]

I don't think I'd send mine anywhere--he takes so long to settle and is such a wreck when he's moved, that I don't think anybody would be able to do anything constructive with him. It took us ages to convince him that he could trust us and that we weren't going to pack him off into a horsebox and send him away, so even if we only sent him away for a couple of weeks I actually think it would do irrepairable harm. Plus he's so awkward to look after I don't think anyone would have him anyway!!!! ;D

[samcspottyhorses]

Ahhhhh Finn!!! Your poor boy!!!

[rhillahorse]

I would rather have an RA come out and work with me and the horse as it's so unsettling to move them.

If I had to send him away it would be to Margrit Coates' holistic therapy centre! A bit like a spa holiday for him.

[scatcat]

Rather than send away i would rather pay extra for someone to come to my yard & work with both of us.