Ok ... ive been taking lessons once a week for the last 3 years, and it was my first year of horse 4h. my trainer said that they would be * private * lessons but her 12 year old daughter rode with me every time! and she paid more attention too her daughter than she did too me ... i kinda felt like i was sitting on the sidelines most of the time . (im 13) We paid her like 25 dollars an hour. Her 7 year old daughter sometimes rode at my lessons, as well as her 4 year old! I dont really speak out much so i didnt say anything. Her daughter treated me like i didnt know anything about horses, and lies so much i cant even count. her 7 year old ruined my new pair of boots, too. I was riding bare back in their little horse pen, and she took a whip and hit the horse on the rear, made him lunge foward, and scraped my boot against a broken rail. My leg bled too. and of coarse she didnt apologize. Then my trainer asked if i wanted too do horse 4h with their horse, and i could lease him, so i agreed too do that. Arent you suppose to ride for 4h? because we never rode .... only paid for lessons once a week. We had meetings on thursdays ... if she was available .. which was rare. And she wrote in my 4h book that is was my fault that we didnt practice enough because of my softball schelule! which is not close too true. She was the one who cancelled, not us. and she made me lie When the question came up, "What activities or field trips have you done" We did nothing but she told me too write that we made halters. At fair for 4h, She didnt help me at all. she was with her daughter the whole time (her daughter and i were the only ones in the group) so i was left out, doing it all by myself. She didnt even remind me what to do, or told me * good job * when i was done, or even said anything, but, she helped her daughter through it all. Then their 7 year old Complained about never seeing her horse, (the one i was leasing, sort-ove) That i only rode one hour of the week. Well, now, they say i cant lease him anymore , and i couldnt do 4h with them .. What do you think? pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

Im really sorry i wrote so much .. its just ive never been able too talk too anyone about it. I know im complaining alot, which im not proud of, but i had too tell some one how i felt. Thanks sooo much if you took the time too read all of this:)

Hannah:)

YOu need to learn to stand up for yourself. Don't worry it doesn't take much, just tell your parents, you can be brief . You MUST get a new trainer. Don't bottle things up. You dont 'have to retaliate, but speak up about what is going on and sound authoritative and sure. Don't let them bully you. You are here to learn horses and if you are not learning OR having fun then you are at the wrong place. Good luck in your search, and don't worry, it'll work out!

You definitely need to get your parents involved. You should have talked to them when you realized you weren't getting enough attention in your lessons. Sometimes group lessons work for people, but if you feel you benefit more from private, you need to have your mom or dad e -mail her and explain your concerns nicely and politely, while still getting the point across. This is when, bottom line, you are her client and she is supposed to be giving you a service.

You also need to switch barns and 4H clubs. Find a club where you are either a Horseless Horse Groom or a regular member that doesn't necessarily have to show. Choosing your club is crucial to your success in 4H. Not necessarily successful in the ribbons and trophies sense , but you need to choose the right club to get the most out of 4H ... the most friends, fun, and opportunities.

i took the time to read it and thought that the lady was pretty ignorant for doing all that. im also going through something very similar.
i have been riding the same horse since i was eight and me and the horse have (i should say had) an amazing bond. the owner would let me ride for free because she needed someone to work the horse. she never taught me anything and i ended up teaching myself everything i know today. i also did a lot of training with the horse. 6 months ago my brother died and he was the one who got me into riding this horse and then i dislocated my knee not long after that.
the lady then had the nerve to move the horse to a new barn encouraging me to come riding and saying she would come get me and everything when she was going to the barn. i got over 200 dollars of new riding gear just for that and she knew and never brought me. her husband came over one day and he informed me that she was no longer bringing me because she thought i hated riding now and had no interest in it.
i have also found out that about 4 other girls my age are all riding her besides me and doing new things with her.
it was like a stab in the back because for years that woman had me convinced that i was going to train, ride and even compete on that horse and then at the time when i was falling apart and needed riding and the horse the most she striped it away in the blink of an eye, i will never forgive her and neither will my family for all the promises she broke and now i am saving every dime i own to buy that horse from her.