05/31/2026
As a business we strive to keep our page free of any political or social issues, but we do feel a need to share our concerns involving the recent incident at NBHA’s Las Vegas Show.
The young woman accused advertises herself as a trainer, regularly competed in the NBHA, and worked with a wide variety of horses.
In the U.S. there are no requirements or restrictions on who can label themselves as a horse trainer. Therefore, owners need to be informed and do proper, extensive research when choosing anyone to care for or train their horses. While everyone has personal preferences regarding training styles, here are a few things we believe are non-negotiable when choosing a trainer.
⭐️Do they have some form of business insurance? Horses are a liability, injuries are prone to happen, the least we can do is be prepared.
⭐️Are you allowed to view their facility prior to sending your horse? You should ensure their fencing and facilities meet a basic standard of safety. These are active farms, but that does not excuse hazardous fencing or materials near pastures, barns, or working areas. Water troughs should be clean, some form of forage should be available, and the majority of horses at the facility should look healthy.
⭐️Are you allowed to attend training sessions while your horse is at their facility? Your horse should not be sweaty and worked prior to your arrival. You likely can’t attend every day as trainers have busy schedules, but they should be encouraging you to attend/watch sessions weekly or bi-weekly. This helps you know where your horse is progressing, where they’re struggling, and what methods your trainer is using. For security reasons, you might not be allowed to come without a heads up or scheduled time. We need to know who is on the property and when for the safety of the horses in our care, but that does not mean they shouldn’t be open to scheduled sessions.
⭐️Can you observe their training in some capacity prior to sending a horse? Some examples are watching clinics, attending a lesson, or watching a training session with another horse. You may be expected to pay a fee for their time, but good trainers are transparent about their methods.
⭐️Do they have references that are not related or associated with them? Veterinary, farrier, and/or other client references are extremely important if your horse will be in their care.
⭐️Are they receptive to your questions regarding training and/or horse care? These are topics we as trainers should be passionate about. If a trainer is irritated by your questions or frequently can’t answer them (we don’t know everything and some days we’re overworked, but we should be receptive and be able to demonstrate that we are knowledgeable), that is extremely concerning.
We won’t argue about which methods to look for as every person and horse is different, and these recommendations can’t prevent everything, but they can help minimize the risk of hiring an unsafe trainer. Please use caution, ask lots of questions, and always prioritize your horse and those gut feelings!
An isolated incident was addressed immediately at the 2026 Official NBHA Las Vegas Super Show, and all appropriate steps have been taken to ensure the well being of all horses. We ask for respect and understanding for all involved during this sensitive time.
