The Client Trainer Relationship - Communication is Key!

By Laureen James

Are you thinking of hiring a horse trainer but feel lost in the process?

I interviewed two horse trainers to get their professional advice about the most important aspects of the client trainer relationship. Johnny Lukacs and Hailey Trainer offer their insights on finding a qualified trainer for your specific needs, tips on training contracts and what services a good trainer should offer.

Johnny Lukacs (JL) specializes in cutting horse training and colt starting for various disciplines. Raised near Olds, Alberta he started his first colt when he was just 10 years old. It was the beginning of a passion. Johnny has worked with great horsemen such as Al Dunning, Jade Keller, Cody Lamont and Doug Reinhardt. His own training program has consistently turned out great competitive horses in non-pro and amateur classes. His horses and clients compete in Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan and have won many championships in the cutting pen.

Hailey Trainer (HT) grew up in beautiful British Columbia. Her first horse was a 30-year-old paint horse named “Booger,” that her grandfather purchased for her. After “Booger’s” death she rode her grandpa’s ranch horses that had some undesired habits and issues which made her feel unsafe at times. When she was 12 she attended her first Down Under Horsemanship Tour, which she says was, “life changing.” In 2019 she became a Certified Method Ambassador and an approved colt starter for DUH in 2020. She is located in Alberta but is in the process of moving her training operation to BC.

Q: How do horse owners find trainers and learn about the different services offered in their province or area?

JL: There are many different ways to find trainers. Many breed associations or club associations have a trainer directory. You can also get out and talk to people and use social media sources.

HT: To find out about different training services in a particular area or province you can ask staff at local feed and tack stores, ask your farrier, your vet and any friends or family for names of trainers they would recommend. You can also attend competitions and events to watch trainers that interest you and speak with them.

Q: Do you use training contracts? Do they reduce potential communication problems between clients and trainers? Can owners negotiate the details of a contract?

JL: Yes, I use training contracts. We use a basic generic contract. Usually it is set, but depending on the horse and owner’s needs, certain parts can be negotiated.

HT: I always use a training contract. I feel that the contract and my personal vetting of potential training horses and clients, absolutely stops potential communication problems. Changes to a contract can be modified if the request is reasonable and possible to accommodate.

Q: What would a standard contract consist of?

JL: Name and all the owner’s contact info, the horse’s name. I also include any extra information that might be useful, the duration of training and how much the training fee will be.

HT: My training contract outlines exactly what exercises I will be teaching the horse, what I will be exposing them to, and how often and how long I will work with the horse. I also include information about how the horse will be cared for, and how it will be fed and stabled along with scheduled owner updates and training fees.

Q: What measures do you have in place to help with owner success since their success is your success?

JL: I make sure I do the best possible job educating the owner about their horse. I make sure they understand if there are any specific areas where their horse has issues or struggles. I want the clients to come back and take some lessons to learn about their horse’s training. I encourage clients to keep an open relationship with me so they can call me and ask for help.

HT: I like to give clients a private lesson with their horse when they come to pick it up. I demonstrate all of the exercises that I have taught the horse and then have the client do the same exercises with their horse. The lesson lasts as long as the client wants it to. I tell them to call me anytime with any questions that arise once they get home. If the client is local, they can book more lessons with me, if they like.

Q: Have you had to tell clients that their horse might not be suitable for them?

JL: Yes, for sure, it’s really important to find the answer to this question as quickly as possible for a client. Some horses are just not meant for a certain job but that doesn’t mean there’s no suitable job for them. It’s really important that you put the horse in a position to be successful. It’s not always what a client wants to hear but for the well-being of the horse a different direction is required. Sometimes I can see that a horse and rider are not a good fit and I need to share my thoughts with the owner for safety reasons.

HT: In my contract I outline that not all horse’s temperaments and physical abilities are equal. Some horses may not be compatible with their rider’s ability or future goals. As soon as I detect that a horse is not a good match for the client I inform them. I continue to work with the horse if the client wants me to and we re-evaluate their future partnership at the pick-up lesson. In some cases, not all, horses can make tremendous changes and improvements in their attitude, confidence and athleticism as training progresses.

Q: Any last bits of advice?

JL: I think at the end of the day it’s really important to do your research and find a trainer and program that will compliment you and your horse. It’s important that you and your trainer succeed, so ask a lot of questions. If something seems off or you’re wondering about something, talk to your trainer about it. Also, remember that there will be bumps and bruises along the way because both you and your trainer are only human, and humans make mistakes. It’s our job to learn from them.

HT: Make sure that the trainer you select has a good reputation. If possible, watch the trainer work with some horses and tour their facility. It is crucial that you have an open and honest conversation with them about your needs and ability. I highly recommend that if they do not offer a training contract, you ask for one so you are both on the same page regarding the details of your horse’s training and care while in their program.

Laureen James, currently residing in Calgary, is an equine industry journalist who has written for many equine publications such as: Horses All, Citizen Pet Magazine, and The Chestermere Anchor as a columnist. She bought her first horse without her parents’ knowledge at age 16, and still rides and competes today. She loves some of the newer equine sports such as Cowboy Challenge and Western Dressage. www.laureenjames.com