As an international grand prix show jumping trainer and athlete, Freddie Vazquez Jr is frequently asked his opinions on longstanding questions in the equestrian space. One of the most frequently asked questions tends to be what qualities he believes are essential for horse trainers hoping to be successful.
Freddie Vazquez Jr acknowledges that many of the skills and qualities necessary for being a standout trainer can be honed through a dedication to learning. Still, he recognizes that many of the best trainers in the business exhibit a few qualities that help them rise to the occasion and consistently raise the bar in competitions. Here, Freddie includes a few examples of qualities that he believes are essential for any sought-after trainer.
Patience
Horses can take a lot of time to develop or learn, and their intelligence means that they may push the boundaries of what they can get away with. For these reasons, horse trainers need to be incredibly patient and diligent with their routines. Training horses also involves a lot of repetition to get horses to where they need to be for competition, and trainers need to be patient regarding the grind of doing similar exercises day in and day out. Horses also have can have a broad range of personalities as well. For example, training horses that are a bit skittish at first and do not welcome interaction right away will require a lot of patience to train their abilities.
Knowledge and Experience
Horse trainers need to have a lot of inside knowledge on how to properly ride, train, and care for a horse. The best in the business will be extremely educated on the most recent trends and practices in horse training as well as the tried-and-true processes that have long since been the standard for equestrian training. Experience is important as well as it ensures that trainers have delt with a wide variety of horses, have trained and studied under different trainers, and have a full idea of the multiple levels of competition. You want a horse trainer that has had years to hone their skills teaching horses as they will make sure that horses are ready for competition.
Dedication
The most efficient horse trainers are always students of their craft, taking every opportunity possible to increase their knowledge in all things equestrian. Trainers need tremendous drive to be successful because competition is constantly evolving, and the best are always getting better at what they do. Those who do not have the drive to practice, improve, learn, and teach others will lack the skills to keep up. Freddie Vazquez Jr recognizes that horse training, much like any other profession, can be difficult at times even for the best out there. Staying committed under pressure and rising to the occasion is a crucial skill for trainers that want to inspire horses and their riders to perform at the best of their ability.
Intuition
Working with animals can require keen intuition, especially ones that are as smart as horses. Horses may not be able to communicate with us by speaking, but Freddie Vazquez Jr equestrian reviews point to the variety of ways that horses convey their thoughts and emotions to those who work with them. A quality horse trainer will always be looking for changes in mood and behavior and be able to adapt to ensure the safety of both themselves and the horse. For example, great trainers know how to look for signs such as exhaustion that would signal that a horse should get rest. Trainers are also skilled at recognizing signs such as agitation or fear as horses undergo training for competitive circuits.
Empathy
There are some trainers out there who push horses beyond their limits. Not only is this behavior damaging for horses, but it is also far from an effective way to get horses prepared for competition. Horse trainers instead should be empathic regarding the needs of the horses that are under their care. Nurturing a horse can be stressful at times, but a kind mindset can help trainers adapt their methods in ways that best suit horses preparing for competition. As the equestrian space continues to learn more about the diverse needs of horses, there has been a large emphasis on trainers that are empathic and caring.