general training question

The place I will soon be sending my 2 1/2 yr old gelding for training basically doesn't want us around for a couple weeks. After that, we are expected to go once a week and learn and ride the horse while he is still in training. This gives the trainer an opportunity to work with us on properly dealing with him so when he comes home, we don't go backwards.

[quote=chelsea]

I'm having my horse trained by professionals (my goal is a safe horse for trail riding) and having never done this, would like some opinions.  I know there are many, many factors involved but given the following about my 7 yr old mare and myself, I'd like to get an idea of when I should be able to ride her.  She was abandoned and I just got her about 5 months ago and she's been in training for 2 months.   She was pretty much untrained and the trainer started from scratch.  They say she's calm, easy to handle, and a fast learner.  I've only ridden old, calm horses on the trail, but I've been riding for about 9 years now.  I still consider myself a beginner, and after a bad horse accident about 5 years ago, it doesn't take much to make me nervous.  The trainer says I shouldn't  be riding her yet at all, as I will confuse her and I can understand that up to a point, but it seems that there should be some exercises that I could practice, but I don't know.  I watch them working with her and she looks great and it looks so easy, but I know they see and know far more than I.  So I'm just wondering how long it takes to train a horse good enough so that I could at least just walk her around the stable without interfering with her training.  Based on this little information, does anyone have any opinion on what I can expect?  How does training normally go?  Train the horse, than the rider, than both together, or just what?  Thanks for your help.

If they know that you are prone to getting nervous they are probably thinking along the same lines I would about now.  By that I mean they are wanting to make sure that the mare is confident enough to bring you through, and that even if something does get her in a whirl that it is so ingrained in her head of what to do next that she will hopefully ignore any feeling of nerves from you.
 
There are some important things to remember here as well.  First she is a mare and most mares have more energy than geldings so teaching her what to do with it is going to be very important.  Its not their fault.  LOL They were ment to be that way!  Second she has had 7 yrs on her own to learn how to handle situations and if she were with a group of calm horses then chances are she reacts to new situations very well, but if she were in with nervous horses then there is a chance her first raction is going to be save myself.  Third is her willingness.  Does she try to do it because you asked her or is she doing it because she knows if she doesn't it just means more work?  The reason I say that is because the horse that wants to please isn't going to test another rider near as hard as the one looking for the easy way out.
 
Even though most folks around here think 2 months Wow man she should be spinning a hole in the ground and shooting a gun off of.  60 days here is 30 on the ground and 30 undersaddle starting with the most simple of cues.   The mare I am training now has 60 days on her but I definatly wouldn't want the owner taking her out on a trail ride yet, or even ride her outside of the arena.  She moves smooth as glass for me but even my co trainer didn't beleive me till he rode her, she is testing all the time and I'm sure she would take her owner where ever she pleased.  She is calm and a fast learner as well but isn't as willing as some to just do as asked.
 
Ok, Ok enough babbling hu what I am trying to say is to give them a week or two more then start hounding them.  Ask to take a riding lesson on one of their horses then ask if they can do the same thing with YOUR horse when they think she is ready.  REally drill them for info on why and how as everyone rides different and everyone's hands and timing are different so it is very important for them to show you every detail of her training.  If they don't want you riding her ask if you can, or demand that they let you tack her all up and do the groundwork prior to them doing the riding.  I have my clients do that all the time so that they get a feel for their horse before they ever climb on.
 
Hope that answers your question a bit.  Good luck with her and stay safe!  Is this the little mare that was pulling back before?  How is that going?

I agree with sitting out the riding aspect, but there are things you could work on with her without riding. I would investigate "sacking out" or de-spooking training. Example- tossing a rope over her back, around her legs, etc. Just getting her used to things touching her legs and coming at her. She might be very nervous at first, but trust me- this training has saved me more than once. Also I'd introduce her to music (boombox), walking over logs, tarps, plastic bags tied on the end of a lunge whip, etc. Go slowly and make sure she's 100% used to and not nervous of one item before you progress to the next one. This can be a lot of fun, and this training is an absolute must on any trail horse I train. My gelding is 9 now- I raised him from a yearling. He's had pheasants fly out under his legs, a turkey flew right at us, deer spook in the ditch, cars flying by 50+mph.... everything and he's spook proof. I credit it to sacking him out in the begining stages. See what your trainer says and have him/her watch to make sure the training is going along correctly and smoothly. Good luck and keep us posted!

Thanks so much for the help.  I feel a little better now about it taking so long.  Actually, they have shown me a few ground exercises but I will need to learn more.  And this week, I will be getting on her for a while.  I don't mind the arena, as long as we can learn together. 
 
And yes, this is the mare that was pulling back before.  She's much better now, although I must admit I don't really tie her anymore, just sort of loop the reins around the rail.  Once in a while she'll lift her head up to test, but is fine as long as she knows she's not restrained.
 
I'll let you know how things progress.  I know she has great potential (at least that's what I'm told - and she really does look great when the trainer lopes around the arena, which is not enclosed)  He says she's very good at maintaining her speed and does not seem at all interested in "taking off", which of course is great news for me!