Question? If You Work With An Instructor,..,

I am honestly shocked that she would reply in such a way and I think it is great how you responded. There is a saying that each time you get on your horse you are training it- either good or bad. And I believe this. Where would Clinton Anderson, Chris Cox, Craig Cameron and various other trainers be if they did not have those at home "trainging" their own horses - and yes, schooling your horse is training it.

Spoiled is right. I would at least block this person. I am sure her list of "horsey" friends is small.

Ok, I know I am a little late replying to this and mostly agree with what has already been said. This women sounds like a sensitive, holier than thou troll. Aka the kind of person I spend a large portion of time trying to avoid like the plague.

I wish I could find it, but a few months ago someone on my friends list posted a meme or Morgan Freeman with the caption "No, that post was not about you, but if the shoe fits lace that b!tch up and wear it" I thought of it when I read about this situation.

I have ridden and owned both 'made' horses, some where I did about 70% of the training, but hired a trainer to do the remaining finishing work, and Benny, who I have put all the work into.

I saw the same post go around my news feed as well. I personally enjoyed it.

Here is my take on it - Taking lessons with someone does not mean they train your horse or really have any material effect on your horses training. Eyes on the ground and help with timing and suggestions are definitely beneficial, but ultimately it is the rider who is actively communicating with the horse. George Morris said something to the effect of "every time you ride and are either training your horse or untraining him". While I don't agree with him on some of the things he says, I whole heartedly support that statement.

Personally, looking back, I enjoy riding Benny more than I enjoyed working any of the made horses I owned. Maybe it has something to do with personality, maybe it has something to do with training style, but Benny is much more 'my' type of horse than they ever were.

I did about 70% of the training on Apollo who I consider to be my heart horse. I was a teenager when I was training him and after his accident he was retired. So when I say training in this case there should probably be an asterisk beside it. Lol. Long story short and the point I am trying to make is that even though Apollo is my heart horse, and I enjoy being with him more than I enjoy being with Benny (and I love Benny to the moon and back, but it's just different with him) if I had to pick which I enjoyed riding more I would probably say Benny.

I think if you (or anyone) is capable and has the time, energy, patience, nerve, and ability to develop a horse on their own it is a tremendously rewarding experience and it does make the whole thing sweeter.

I guess I am a little more cutthroat with my Facebook, but if that had happened to me I would have unfriended her by now. Life is too short to deal with any sort of online negativity. You don't have to agree with what I say or post, but if you can't play respectfully in my sandbox, then you can't play in it at all.

LOL, Apollo, I love that post too!!   
I feel exactly the same, as in, 'stop telling me what I can/can not say on FB, and if you don't like it, don't read it!!'
Definitely don't make an ISSUE out of it bc she wanted to somehow, 'call me out' on getting some help.

I actually DO feel like I have put in the WORK in the saddle, and with help (eyes on the ground)
and am TRAINING my horse to respond to my cues under saddle.
He may have gone off for a very short amount of time, but 95% of ALL of his training has come from me,
from the ground up.
I literally started him over again bc of the multiple issues I kept encountering.
So, I may not have put all the miles on him, but much of his previous training was obviously negative,
as were his responses to additional training with me.

He literally had no idea what was being asked of him, and that is why we weren't making very much progress,
and had reached a plateau under saddle.
He had 'learned' how to avoid cues, and get out of work, and he was very adept at that.
Now he is a far, far more willing partner, and looks forward to his weekly lessons
and 'schooling' rides I put on him each week.
He has almost completely stopped spooking (which is incredible), he has learned to accept pressure and the bit.
He does not run away from leg pressure anymore, nor grind away with his teeth out of anxiety
(he rarely grinds his teeth now, much less anxiety). 
He has 3 speeds, not just 2 speeds and bolting away at the canter.
He lowers his head and rounds his back, steps under himself better, using his hind end
and no longer jigs non stop (walks, and walks out).
He has a consistent pace or speed at the walk & trot, with degrees of lengthening and shortening his stride.
He is better balanced all over, and his cantering is coming along where I can ask for a canter, he goes and stops
without bracing his back, head/neck which always forced me into the 2 Point position to ride it.
Now I can actually sit his canter and have him stopping more softly, underneath himself.

There was SOOOOO MUCH 'out of whack' with him, that it was really beyond my skill level
(without eyes on the ground) and I had run out of ideas.
I needed additional skills to make the improvements needed.
Not to mention, undoing some years of negative training.
I mean, really, my instructor compliments me all the time for NOT giving up on Zippy, and understanding enough 
about horsemanship and horses to know how to, at least, look for a proper solution to help him.
I'm not a complete idiot with no knowledge or skill, just took on a project that required advanced skills.
She praises me for what I have done with him, she knows what I was dealing with.

My 'friend' is obviously somewhat upset that she is not doing the same by her own horse.
Therefore she wants to discredit my accomplishments with some silly DRAMA.

Sadly, I see a pattern there with her.
I've not responded back to her, I'm letting some time pass, and keeping the 'friendship' more restricted 

FYI, now that his 'understanding' is increasing, I've totally backed off the Quietex too.
He is understanding more, without so much fear and anxiety.
HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT for my sweet Zippy!!!

You know,., I've noticed since this incident, that my 'friend' is really getting snarky toward me.
To me, the entire thing is RIDICULOUS, but I am really noticing a different side of of 'friend's' personality.
'Friend' seems more competitive and the pettiness over little things is more obvious.
Thats very SAD IMO