What does a trainer want from their clients?

From Mugwump
http://mugwumpchronicles.blogspot.com/2008/06/what-trainer-wants.html

1. Pay me. Please. At the first of the month. Like your mortgage.I have to buy hay, grain, and fuel. I have to pay my farrier and vet. If you can't afford to pay me then take your horse home.2. Bring your horse to me in good flesh.I work them hard. Often harder than they have ever worked in their life. Expect them to lose weight while I have them. If they gain while in training it means they were too damn thin when they came in.3. Have them newly shod or trimmed when they come in.It slows me down when they have two year old pasture feet or shoes clinking on the concrete.4. Don't bring me a sick horse.5. Make sure they are UTD on shots and worming. See #2 and #4.6. Let me know what you expect. If you think your five year old, uncut, unhalter broke, 1300 pound wonder boy is going to have a stop and a turn around in 30 days, I am not the trainer for you.7. If lessons are part of the deal SHOW UP! It's rude and inconsiderate to stand me up. Plus I could start whispering God knows what into Fluffy's ear. Be warned.8. Don't pick your horse up on the week-end if your time was up on Tuesday. I have to feed Ol' Fluffy, clean his stall, and turn him out, even if you don't come when you're supposed to. At least bring me replacement hay.9.Find out what the trainer's ground rules are before you commit to training. Does she have an open door policy? (I do, but I expect you to pick up a manure fork.) Can you ride your horse whenever you want? (Yes, but I don't ride Ol' Fluffy the days you do) What areas are appropriate to ride in? (Across the boss's newly planted grass is NOT COOL) Can I come on your days off? (NO!)10. Be prepared for the trainer to want to use her vet and farrier. I have a close working bond with my vet and farrier. I work best with them. If a client has a specific reason for wanting me to use theirs, I will. I won't like it though.11.Be prepared to hear the truth. You have paid good money for my opinion. Listen to me. If I tell you a mechanical hackamore sucks, don't fuss. You can torture Fluffy on your own time.12. Do not bring me the bit the guy who runs the feed store told you would put a stop on Ol' Fluffy. Try that crap out at home before you bring him. That way I'll get to train him a lot longer then you thought.13. Don't come to me and then tell me which clinician's method you expect me to use. I do what I do. They do what they do. Take your pick.14. Ask me lots of questions. Why am I doing what. How am I getting those results. But please, ask me when we're sitting on the arena rail. Not when me and Ol' Fluffy are snorting across the arena.15. Be involved. Be aware. Whether your horse is an investment, a week-end get away, or your best friend, stay up with what's going on at the training barn. It will protect all three of us.