Second to One
Insights into the Lives of Assistant Trainers
By Erin Gilmore
I remember the exact
that week, I met the trainer at a show this turn, that transition. Back home
moment that I decided I
facility on a hot fall afternoon. With I had a trail horse and a polo pony,
wanted to be a professional
my Troxel suddenly looking woefully and I rode for an hour almost every
inadequate, I perched nervously in an afternoon. I stopped thinking that was
rider. As a 23-year-old
impossibly cool canvas show setup as enough to keep me in riding shape after
equestrian writer, I got the trainer shot questions at me rapid- about five minutes of that trot work.
to attend the World Cup
fire. The Q&A session lasted under five The 'audition' horse was quiet and
Finals with a press pass in
minutes and was instantly stricken from responsive; and he certainly couldn’t
hand, take a reining lesson
memory when a dark shadow fell over help that his trot covered more ground
and call it work, and with
than my polo pony could make in six
strides. When the trainer called me into
stars in my eyes, interview
the center of the ring I braced myself
many famous trainers. for rejection – surely it was clear I was
But my cool job involved a lot of sadly out of shape. Instead, with a quick
watching and not enough ‘doing’ - the gesture at the course of 3’6” jumps in
more I watched competitors and talked the ring I was told to go do the "single
to trainers, the more I hungered to be diagonal outside line, oxer rollback wall,
in their shoes. After spectating at one four stride to outside line."
Grand Prix too many, I knew that At the end of the day, somehow I
competing as an amateur would never not only survived more jumping than
be enough for me. I wanted riding to I’d done in years, but I was hired on to
be my job, all day every day. I knew if I be a rider. There was no honeymoon
didn’t give professional riding a shot, I’d period; I instantly began riding 8 horses
always regret it. a day. My indoctrination into the life of
So I put my writing career on hold an assistant trainer had begun.
and went to work for a large sales barn. That first afternoon mirrored many
Even though I’d been working at a of the lessons I would come to learn as
horse magazine I didn’t have a real feel an assistant, beginning with the ability
for the inner circle of the elite hunter/ to be ready for anything. Since that day
jumper industry that I longed to be a I’ve learned to assess a horse’s skills
part of. I couldn’t play the name game me; it turned out to be the shadow of the first time I ride it, I can groom a
in an industry where it was all about the massive black Warmblood I would multimillion dollar jumper to Olympic-
who you knew. I realize now that this ride for my ‘audition.’ I tried to look ready condition, and I know I can step
hurt, and also helped me in getting my unimpressed as I climbed aboard the into a 40-horse show barn and manage
first job. beast and followed the trainer towards every element with confidence. But
Without anyone to steer me towards an ominously isolated arena. am I finished learning the ways of the
(or away from) certain trainers, I combed After about five minutes of trot work, hunter/jumper world? Not even close.
classified ads and eagerly drove 400 my throat began to burn as I huffed and
miles to meet the first trainer who called puffed around the ring, but I kept my Till next time, stay tuned!
me back. Since the barn was showing sight tapered only to what was necessary;
This new column will explore the countless forms that “anything” takes on in the life of an assistant trainer. It will be about the
unsung people of the sport, assistant trainers and their trials and rewards. If you know one with a story to tell, let us know.
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