Trainer's Value or Not?

So you have a trainer in your barn.  For purposes of this discussion we are not speaking of a barn or in-house trainer.  We are speaking of the independent contractor that has no relationship with the barn owner or manager.  They may rent a block of stalls from you or train some of your boarding clients.  They may haul in horses or clients and pay an arena fee to use your facility. 

The questions I pose today are as follows:  Are they worth having around?  What kind of rights should they have while plying their trade in your facility?  Are they easy to work with or not so much?  The questions could go on and on.  And they do. 

As in other articles I like to provide different scenarios to support the story.  This article will be no different.  Because I am generally the boarder I like to see some kind of control on the trainer using a facility I help pay for.  I don’t wish to deal with egos or arena domination by a trainer; however, with every situation there are two sides to every story. 

So….The trainer rents a block of stalls consistently through out the year.  Many trainers elect to rent stalls on a rough board or self care situation in an effort to control costs and increase profits.  They have a number of stalls, use the facilities, and the cost for the barn owner is limited to utilities and normal upkeep

    Pro’s:  The trainer not only is paying for stalls that might otherwise be empty but they may bring in clients who in turn may bring additional horses for boarding.  They may bring in horses to use the facilities resulting in additional arena fees.  The trainer may hold clinics which generate barn revenue.  They may provide a certain amount of publicity in a difficult to make a profit industry.  The trainer usually uses arena time during the day which is not IMO considered peak time like evenings and weekends.  A good trainer can be a wonderful option for a struggling facility.

    Con’s:  Boarders can be intimidated by the presence of a trainer.  Not all trainers work well with others in the arena and complaints from boarders can ensue.  Sometimes training horses offer an  unsafe environment for boarders.  Trainers can bring in so much traffic that the arena becomes unavailable to the regular boarder.  Some trainers feel the need to “share too freely” their training theory which may or may not be compatible with boarders.  Multiple trainers in a barn can create friction.

Scenario 1:      A small barn with a covered arena.  The barn is maintained by its boarders in a co-op situation.  The stalls are full and the barn has a waiting list of prospects.  The barn members consist of amateur riders and persons providing limited lessons to boarders and their families but are not training or giving lessons for a living.  Trainers are allowed to use the arena after paying an arena fee.  Payment is on the honor system.  There are no controls on the trainers and trainers could dominate arena time.  Boarders may be unable to use the arena as intended.  Parking is limited at the barn. 

Scenario 2:      A large facility has over 40 stalls and two boarders.  There are 40 empty stalls.  A trainer is offered a block of stalls at premium price and despite the high cost of stalls elects to accept the stalls because of the facility’s amenities.  Soon the stalls begin to fill not only with training horses in the self-care stalls but with barn boarders.  Arena use increases with outside riders.  Other trainers start using the facility for lessons, training, and clinics.  The barn owner refuses to decrease the cost of the stalls to the trainer renting a block of stalls training horses in self care stalls cost him money.  He does, however, begin offering discounts to outside trainers. 

Scenario 3:      A  20 stall barn with jump field and outdoor arena does not allow in house trainers or outside riders.  They are ½ full with amateurs and professional riders.  Outside trainers pay a training fee to train boarders only.  No outside riders are allowed in the facility.  The facility is unable to attain full status and trainers become reticent to work with boarders at that facility. 

Three very different scenarios with three very different challenges.

Scenario 1:    In this case the barn does NOT need the income of a visiting trainer.  Stalls fill easily despite the economy and the wear and tear, not to mention mental anguish, from the visiting trainers and clients causes additional upkeep to this barn.  That upkeep sometimes exceeds the income.  The trainers have become authoritative and dictatorial causing issues with boarders.  I am intimately familiar with this situation as my former barn had similar concerns.  There is no value in a trainer for this barn.  In fact, if I were involved with the co-op I would request that outside use by trainers be declined or at least strongly controlled.

Scenario 2:    Trainer value was present in this scenario.  The trainer renting the block of stalls brought in business.  Unfortunately the barn owner felt there was more value in outside persons than the trainer who jump started barn business.  After investigating this scenario I discovered this barn owner had previous issues with trainers and boarders.  Any success at boarding for him was short lived with months of empty stalls.  So in an economy where horses are often considered discretionary income perhaps decreasing the stalls prices for the trainer who brought in the bucks may have kept that trainer in residence.  As I understand it the trainer has selected more economical housing.

Scenario 3:    In this scenario it would appear the barn owner had a reason for restricting traffic.  I did ask and was given a couple of reasons for the closed facility attitude.  The owner had an unpleasant past with a trainer who had been dishonest.  While the owner wanted her barn to be full, she was unwilling to allow trainers access or to open the riding areas to outside riders. 

Without at doubt where ever people are present challenges will exist.  Depending upon controls or parameters having a trainer can increase business and keep existing boarders happy as they do not have to travel to their trainer.  In other cases it can cause unnecessary stress for the boarders that pay your bills.  Personally I like having the option of my trainer coming to my facility but I do want some assurances that trainers including my own follow certain parameters.  Trainers who interfere in the function of a barn they visit are often more trouble then they are worth.  Trainer’s clients who do the same or are inconsiderate of barn members can provide a less than congenial atmosphere.  On the other side of the coin, trainers can be a source of barn income and fun.

So in closing - decide as a barn the parameters you will require the trainer to stay within.  Communicate those parameters to the trainer and revisit parameters at a regular basis.  If the situation does not work, end it before damage is done to your facility.  Your barn provides a trainer with a means to their livelihood.  They should pay for that privilege and act in a courteous fashion.  However, recognize that trainers can have value and reward the courteous trainer for their hard work.