This issue seems simple to me - each trainer runs an independent business, and has the right to develop their own business plan and contracts.

As long as the percentage expectations are clearly stated in the contract that the owner signs, there should not be an issue. 

If an owner does not want to pay a percentage to a trainer, they should take their horse to a trainer who doesn't charge a percentage.  I definitely do not think this is anything that should be legislated by any organization.

-Sharon Strong
Colorado

When a trainer does well on his/her client's horse the split is a bonus or an added incentive for the trainer, although I believe most trainers would do their best regardless of a split. My relationship with my trainer (and best friend) sometimes makes me think more like a trainer, but as a business person. I think this is all right; most people expect a bonus from their employer for a job well done, why should a trainer be any different? It seems that many non pros will complain about trainer charges, but there are very few successful non pros who are not working with a trainer on a regular basis, and the successful non pros who are working alone usually are doing so due to a former relationship with a trainer.

-Jim Lane

I don't have a problem with the trainers getting a percentage after the owner deducts expenses. Owners are paying the trainers way to the shows and all their expenses at the shows, so I feel the owners should get something back. I also think the trainer would be less likely to show a horse that shouldn't be recommended for showing.

- Linda Hinson

I think that since this practice is agreed to ahead of time the owner shouldn't have a gripe about it. It is not uncommon to share the prize money in sports. A top trainer deserves to share in the profits if he/she has put the time in and (in essence) staked their reputations to the horse. Yes, I know they draw a monthly fee, but that just covers the bills for the most part.

I have gladly paid a portion of my winnings to the trainer in the past...just make sure its prearranged.

- Nick Walters

I am new to reining, a converted roper. My horse has been at the trainers for 8 months now. Last week my trainer suggested that we split the earnings that my horse has made. I was dumbfounded, as this was not our current agreement. Only after my horse had done well was this brought up. I pay fuel travel expenses and sometimes haul his horses as well and he has the nerve to ask for more money.

There are other trainers in my area that would bend over backwards to ride my horse, and I will be interviewing them this week to do so. Take a stand- spend your money where and how you want to. If your mount is worth the training then there should be others willing and able to do what you want!

-Andrew Platt
Lafayette, La

As a horse owner, I would never allow a trainer to show my horse if he or she told me they expected a certain portion of the winnings after I paid for the horse, paid their expenses, paid them to show the horse, paid the entry fees, paid the shoeing, vet, gas for the trainer to get to the show, and to train the animal every month. If they want to earn winnings, let them foot the bill for their own horses. It is arrogant for a trainer to proclaim that if they had not trained and shown the horse then it would not have won in the first place. If the owner had not paid all the bills, they would not be in the show pen riding that horse. If a horse has enough talent to win, the trainer is benefiting from being the one privileged enough to be able to be chosen by an owner to ride that horse to the win. The "glory" gained by the trainer, if he or she wins, gives them even more opportunities to be privileged with owners bringing their talented horses to their barn to be shown by that trainer. This is what gives them an increased monthly income, as well as being blessed enough to be able to do what they love for a living. Being a talented trainer is not the only factor in creating a winning run. There are plenty of talented trainers who have made careless mistakes and cost the owner a win. If the trainer desires to receive a percentage of the winnings when the owner gets their check, it would only be fair that if the talented trainer who makes a careless mistake that cost the owner their win reimburses the owner that percentage amount spent taking the horse to the show.

If they want to take the financial credit where it is not due them, let them take the financial hit when they fail the owner who is footing the bill.

As a horse owner, I am not spending my husbands' hard-earned money so I can promote the trainer, but to promote my horse. I have paid the trainer what is due him. When the time comes that he has earned all the money he has been paid by teaching the horse to do what it has the talent to do, his work is done. Because he produced a product that actually does what he has claimed he could get it to do, he doesn't get extra for accomplishing it. It was expected every time the owner wrote him a check.

- Erin Miller
Hempstead, TX.

Obviously the trainers aren't going to like this topic. It is time that the owners stood their ground and put a stop the nonsense of the trainers wanting half of the winnings. After expenses, a trainer shouldn't get more than what is given to him by the owner. If the owner want to give 40%, that should be the limit. Even the cutters aren't this greedy, and there is more at stake. There are a lot of young, up and coming, new trainers on the horizon. They would love to have the chance to ride a good horse. These riders are more willing to do business the correct way, and not so greedy.

In these days and times, the trainer needs to remember that horses are considered a luxury. In trying times, the first thing to be cut out of the expenses are luxury items. Meaning, no more money for the trainer.

As owners of great horses, we need to take back control. Stop letting the trainer dictate "how it's going to be". If you truly have a nice horse, the trainer will want to ride it. The trainer becomes more well known riding great horses that some one else is paying all the bills.
Take control.

- Hempstead, Texas

I'm probably going to upset a few trainers here, but having been a professional racehorse trainer where our percentage was only 10% of a much, much larger stakes pool than that of the reining horse industry, it annoys me that performance horse trainers have their hands out for so much. Remember that they are being paid to train and the show expenses are covered by owners too. There has to be as much as possible left for owners to provide incentive for them to keep horses in work.

These days I'm simply a budding breeder of cutters & reiners who is training his own horses so it is not really an issue for me personally, but I have observed the same situation across the whole performance horse industry. Ultimately, I believe trainers would make more money and train more horses if they let the lions share of winnings go back to the owners who deserve it.

-Brett Wilms
Australia

I don't have a problem with the concept of "sweetening the pot" for the trainer when he/she operates as "exhibitor"; they are different roles requiring different skills and I actually think it can have good effect for all concerned.

But, I think that to take the split before expenses are deducted is a disservice to all parties because it inherently creates a conflict of interest. If the split comes before expenses, there is an incentive for the trainer (in advisor mode) to recommend showing even if the horse doesn't have a legitimate chance of recouping the costs.

I have had the best experience in my dealings with one of the most accomplished NRHA riders. His approach - "I get 40% of everything after the first $3,000". That's fair and reasonable for a big event and I'm sure that some variant would be appropriate for other events.

- Dave Connor