06/05/2026
Agree! Well written.
I’m not into that customer stuff, Stonewall Ponies- Emily Elek writes.
You know what I mean. There are so many in this business who refer to their “customers.” And the customer is always right…right? Except the barn is not an outlet mall. Our customer support team is run by small ponies with an agenda.
And I’m not the general manager. I’m the trainer.
In my program, you stop being a customer the minute you sign your boarding agreement. That monetary exchange pays for your horse’s room and board, so to speak, and serves as a promise that your animal will have a safe, comfortable, and healthy living arrangement.
But with everything else, you are a student and an athlete. I am your teacher and your coach.
I believe this is an important distinction to make, because it sets the tone for the relationship moving forward. I see the people who board and ride with me as students first and foremost. All good equestrians, including professionals and trainers like myself, need to be lifelong learners. Every barn should have the mantra, “Be a learner not a knower” blasted above the entry. Because it’s here where you open your mind and accept your vulnerabilities in the pursuit of learning alongside the ultimate teachers—horses.
📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2022/01/19/you-are-a-student-not-a-customer/
📸 © Andrew Ryback Photography
