When sending a horse away for training, that horse may be away for a few weeks or even a few months. And while you may have done your homework before sending your horse away for training, there’s still room for things to go wrong. Monitoring your horse when he’s not at home can be tricky, but it’s also important to ensure that he is safe and training is progressing as it should.

Take Trips to Visit

If at all possible, it is best to make some trips out to the trainer’s facilities to visit your horse and check on his condition and progress. You may wish to bring along a camera so that you can document and monitor your horse’s physical condition through the training. Seeing your horse in person will give you a sense of whether he is holding or losing weight, and you may need to discuss dietary changes with the trainer if your horse is losing weight. You will also want to keep an eye on the condition of his hooves, and may need to schedule farrier work.

Taking a trip to visit your horse can give you a sense of how well the training is progressing. Watch your horse’s attitude and behavior when you are with him – is he interested in the activity around him, and does his attitude seem to be the same as it is back home? If you find that your horse is unusually moody or if he appears significantly tired or sore, then you might want to ask that adjustments to your horse’s training schedule be made.

While most trainers welcome visits from owners, they can also be distracting. Make sure that you are courteous of the fact that the trainer is running a business and that his or her time is tight.

Schedule Lessons

If possible, schedule some lessons at the trainer’s facility with your horse. The trainer will be able to show you what your horse has learned, and can give you the chance to work with your horse yourself. Lessons can help you to understand the trainer’s methods and how your horse has been trained, so that you can replicate that training once you are home. The more consistent that you can be, the better, so scheduling a few lessons before your horse leaves the facility is a great idea.

Enlist Help

If your horse is so far from home that it’s difficult for you to get there, see if you can enlist the help of an impartial horse person who lives near the trainer. Ask the person to make a few visits to see your horse on your behalf. Request that they take photos or videos to send to you, so you can still monitor your horse even if you can’t physically get to the location.

Sending your horse away for training can be a positive experience, but you need to be vigilant about monitoring your horse throughout the process.

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Original Source: How to Monitor a Horse Away in Training