How Much Should You Pay for Horse Training?
First of all, horse training is as diverse as it is popular, so you're going to find all kinds of different price structures. Some horse trainers charge by the hour, while others charge by the month for a set number of rides. You'll also find that some tack on extra fees, such as cooling your horse out after a training ride or an equipment fee for using the trainer's tack.
Before you decide how much you should pay for horse training, conduct a survey of popular trainers in your area. For example, in Houston, horse training usually costs between $300 and $800 per month, while horse training in Kentucky is much less (rarely more than $200 per month). In addition to geographical locale, it will also depend on the age and breed of your horse. Many trainers will charge more for a young Arabian than for a seasoned Quarter Horse.
You will probably be asked to sign a horse training contract that includes the price and any additional fees. Ask to see that contract before you decide on a trainer and have your attorney look it over. As with any business, there are unscrupulous horse trainers who will try and bury hidden fees in complex legal jargon.
It is also important not to be talked into training you don't need. For example, if your horse has been giving you trouble with tossing his head at the canter, you might want to have a trainer work with him. This small problem doesn't require two months of training, however; I would agree to no more than three or four rides. You'll get the same results paying $40 per ride as you will paying $400 per month, so don't waste your money.
In most cases, you'll be expected to pay for horse training in advance, which means making the assumption that the trainer knows what he or she is doing. This is why I recommend finding a referral from a friend who has used the trainer before. Most will not give you a refund even if you are unsatisfied with the work, so again, don't throw your money down the proverbial drain.
If you are going to pay for horse training from someone you don't know and don't have a referral for, my best advice is to pay for one or two rides, and watch both sessions. Pay attention to how the horse trainer works and whether or not your horse is responding. It is possible that even a qualified, experienced trainer won't work out simply because his or her personality doesn't mesh with your horse.
Tipping is not expected when you pay for horse training and you shouldn't allow yourself to be talked into other services unless they're something you want. For example, many horse trainers make extra cash by offering to bathe your horse after training. This isn't necessary and too many baths can dry out your horse's skin, so be wary of these sales tactics.
Horse training is a great way to get your horse in shape and teach him new things when you don't have the time or ability. Just make sure you're not paying too much for horse training and that your horse is well taken care of.
Published by Steve Thompson
Steve is a full-time freelance writer. In addition to the more than 3,000 articles he's written for AC, he has also written articles and other materials for more than 100 happy clients. He enjoys writing abo... View profile
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4 Comments
Post a CommentPrices are all relative depending on the area in which you live. And I am a firm believer that you get what you pay for. Training fees are the least of my worries when I receive my bill every month from. Of course all cases are different, but I take 2 lessons a week - 1 flat lesson and 1 jumping lesson. At $80 a pop in one month I am paying $480.00. Depending on the month I usually have that + board (@ $1,600) + massages (2 @ $90 each) + fly control + Misc. Medications (i.e. worming etc.) my bill is never less than $2,000 per month. If I want my trainer to get on that's $75 or if I need my horse hacked by any of the professionals that is $35. We won't even mention the shoes ($200 every 4-6 weeks) - but that is a separate charge. The list goes on and on. Horses are a disease. Because no one in their right mind could TRULY make an effective argument to a non-horse person as to why spending this much $$ is sane.
Guys, $400 in training fees would not include board. Board is a separate issue, though some trainers combine them with training fees to make it easier. For example, my wife often drove to her clients' barns to train their horses, so her prices did not include board (obviously). Thanks though.
Wow, you would be very lucky to find any training less than $400 a month, and even then, I would be skeptical. Feed alone is about $100 a month, depending on the horse could be more. Kentucky has some of the highest rates around because the horse industry is so big. You may find cheaper training if the trainer is willing to come to your own barn and just charge for the training session and gas. Also, four or five training sessions to stop "head tossing" is not going to do it. That's a habit which is not going to be broken in a few rides. Any problem that would require training for a horse will take a few weeks to fix.
Your horse is going to eat $100-$150 of grain and hay in a month. Someone has to feed him twice a day, so $5/day labor is fair which is $15o/month. Your not gong to find partial board where you supply the feed and feed your own horse for less than $150/month. So $450 is what it'll cost someone to just to keep your horse for a month. Maybe you can find a trainer who'll board your horse for that and then train him for free. You get what you pay for. You say $40/ride is fair, then $40 X 5 rides/week X 4 weeks = $800 for traing. $800 Training = $450 board + $1250 for one month. That is a fair price for professional services. Maybe you find someone who doesn't carry insurance and doesn't have to pay an accountant or state business fees. If you care about your horse, don't send him to the cheapest guy in town!