More Than Just Riding
Full training at a competitive show barn is a comprehensive program that manages every aspect of your horse's fitness, care, and development alongside your own growth as a rider. It is not a set of weekly sessions. It is a system designed to produce results in the show ring.
At most full service barns, a full training program means your horse is in work six days a week. Some of those days, your trainer rides. Other days, you ride under their supervision. The balance depends on your level, your goals, and where your horse is in its training.
What a Typical Week Looks Like
Your trainer plans each week based on what you and your horse need. Early in the week, sessions might focus on flatwork and fitness. Mid-week might bring gymnastic exercises and course work. Toward the weekend, the work often simulates show conditions so that competition feels familiar.
On days when the trainer rides your horse, they are schooling specific skills, maintaining fitness, and ensuring the horse stays sharp and responsive. This is not riding for the sake of it. Every session has a purpose within the larger plan.
The Care Side
Full training includes daily horse care that goes well beyond basic boarding. Clipping, regular maintenance, blanketing, turnout, lunging, and hand walking are all part of the package. The horse is managed as an athlete, with every detail attended to.
This level of care keeps your horse looking and performing its best. It also means you can focus your time at the barn on riding and learning rather than on chores and logistics.
Show Preparation
A major part of full training is preparing for competition. Your trainer manages the show schedule, helps you enter the right classes, prepares your horse specifically for the demands of each show, and is in your corner on show day.
This includes course walking, warm up strategy, and post round debriefs. It is a level of support that makes a meaningful difference in your results and your development as a competitor.
Is It Worth the Investment?
Full training is a significant commitment, both in time and in resources. But for riders who are serious about competing and improving, it is the most efficient path. The daily consistency, the professional management of your horse, and the structured approach to skill building compound over time in ways that less frequent training simply cannot match.
Sorella Farm offers a full training program at $1,200 per month that includes six days per week of customized training rides or coaching, regular maintenance, clipping, blanketing, and turnout. Full grooming is available for an additional $500 per month. The program is designed for riders who want to compete seriously in equitation, hunters, and jumpers.
To learn more, call Sorella Farm at (909) 851-2008.