Trainer, riding instructor, or horse behaviour consultant: Which does your horse actually need?

What's the difference between a horse trainer, a riding instructor, and a horse behaviour consultant?

While it sounds like the start of a really bad joke, it's a great question to ask! Let's look at what each profession does.

(Updated March 9 2026)

Horse trainers teach horses new and wanted behaviours

Using a range of different training methods, horse trainers teach horses to consistently respond to set cues by performing desired behaviours. These behaviours can range from the simple to the complex: lowering the head for haltering, learning to accept a rider, performing sliding stops, jumping cross-country at the five-star level, or executing the perfect passage. Like other equine professionals, many horse trainers specialise in different aspects of horse training, such as colt starting or training for specific sports and disciplines.

Good horse trainers have excellent timing, progressively shape desired behaviours, and set training situations up so that the horse can easily do what is being asked. Good horse trainers, whether they are aware of it or not, use reinforcement to increase desired behaviours. They also avoid punishment, which simply tells a horse "no" to unwanted behaviours. Punishment can decrease a horse's desire to learn and damage the trust between horse and human, and should be avoided in training.

In Canada, there is no certifying organisation or licencing body governing horse trainers. Anyone can work as a horse trainer without having to prove their skills or knowledge through a formal testing process. With that in mind, when choosing a horse trainer take time to interview them and ask to observe them working with a horse. Avoid trainers who rely on outdated training techniques based on dominance and punishment, or those who use tack or gadgets to rush a horse through training. Also avoid basing your decision solely on results and achievements. One of the more sobering facts about horses is that they can learn through methods that are fair and kind, or methods that are harsh and punitive; either way, horses can still win shows and impress crowds. Results alone are no guarantee that a horse was not subjected to harsh training.

If you don't have the knowledge to train your own horse, you can still support your horse during the training process by educating yourself on the science behind how horses learn. That knowledge can help you make better choices when selecting an appropriate trainer.

Riding instructors and coaches teach people how to ride and/or compete in a specific discipline

Riding instructors and coaches teach people how to ride, or coach them to excel in a specific discipline or horse sport. In Canada, while certification is not required to work as an instructor, there are voluntary certifying bodies for riding instructors and coaches, including Equine Canada (EC) and the Certified Horsemanship Association (CHA). Both organisations require that prospective instructors demonstrate hands-on teaching skills and pass oral or written exams covering riding, horse management, and instructing knowledge. Certification with either EC or the CHA offers some reassurance that an instructor has demonstrated a set level of competency before achieving certification. That said, there are many excellent instructors who are not certified. Interviewing potential instructors and observing a lesson or two will help you make the best decision for you and your horse.

In addition to strong teaching skills, observational skills, and a basic understanding of human learning, good instructors should understand the fundamentals of horse training and have in-depth knowledge of the sport or discipline they are teaching. As a general rule, a dressage instructor may have difficulty coaching students over trail obstacles, while a mounted trail instructor may have limited experience teaching piaffe. Neither is better than the other; they have simply focused their expertise in very different areas.

Horse behaviour consultants and behaviourists help horse owners stop or change existing unwanted behaviours

The profession of horse behaviour consultant is relatively new in North America. While other species, such as dogs, have had behaviour consultants practicing worldwide for much longer, the horse world is steadily catching up. Horse behaviour consultants help owners understand and resolve unwanted behaviour problems while enhancing the overall well-being of the horse and strengthening the bond between horse and human.

These professionals help address unwanted behaviours such as fears (trailer loading, clipping, head shyness), phobias (needle phobias, farrier or veterinary phobias), aggression (towards humans or other horses), separation anxiety (herd-bound behaviour), stereotypic behaviours (cribbing, weaving), or even behaviours that can occur after a horse experiences trauma, among others. They do so by determining the root cause of the behaviour, addressing contributing factors, and changing or stopping the behaviour through humane and effective behaviour modification techniques such as counter-conditioning and systematic desensitisation.

Horse behaviour consultants must have a thorough knowledge of horse behaviour and ethology, neurophysiology, learning theory, and behaviour modification protocols. They must be skilled at assessments, identifying what triggers a behaviour and what maintains it, before recommending management changes or retraining protocols. Many horse behaviour consultants can also help owners teach new and wanted behaviours, such as trailer loading.

As with the professions above, there is no mandatory licencing body governing horse behaviour consultants. Anyone can call themselves a horse behaviour consultant or horse behaviourist without having to pass any exams or demonstrate hands-on skills. Many people who claim to work with problem behaviours have not studied the science of horse behaviour, learning theory, or behaviour modification. They may base their work on disproven models of dominance theory, approaching horses from the perspective that there is a "lead horse" in every relationship. This outdated and debunked model relies on punishment to address behaviour problems, which can result in behaviour suppression: making the problem behaviour appear to disappear without resolving the reason it occurred in the first place. Because many behaviour problems stem from fear, confusion, or pain, this approach frequently creates additional problems and does the horse more harm than good. Such methods are not recommended by organisations such as the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behaviour (AVSAB) and should be avoided.

Your horse, your right to know

If you are interviewing people to help with your horse's behaviour problems, ask what they have studied in regards to horse behaviour and behaviour modification, whether they hold any certification, and specifically what they will do to resolve the problem. For those who do pursue formal credentials, recognised pathways include:

• Certification with the International Association of Animal Behaviour Consultants (IAABC)

• An MSc or PhD in clinical or applied animal behaviour

• Certification through the Animal Behaviour Society (ABS) as a Certified Applied Animal Behaviourist (CAAB) or Associate Certified Applied Animal Behaviourist (ACAAB), obtained after completing graduate-level study with a focus on animal behaviour

• Board certification as a Veterinary Behaviourist (DACVB), obtained after graduating as a veterinarian and completing a residency in veterinary behaviour

In summary

You are your horse's champion. Whether searching for a horse trainer, riding instructor, or horse behaviour consultant, you have a right to know what approach they will take and how they will achieve their results. Finding the right equine professional is no different than selecting the right teacher, sports coach, or healthcare provider for your child. The right person can help you and your horse reach your goals without creating new problems along the way.

While there is often overlap between these professions (horse trainers can also be riding instructors, for example), the core skill sets and competencies are generally distinct to each role. All equine professionals have invested significant time and effort developing their expertise, and each can play an important part in helping you and your horse perform at your best, whether that means professional training, competing in a specific discipline, or resolving a behaviour problem.

Looking for qualified help with your horse?

As a horse behaviour consultant with an MSc in Clinical Animal Behaviour, 20 years of horse training experience, and credentials as both a Fear Free Certified Professional and an Accredited Trauma-Informed Horse Trainer, I bring the knowledge and science-based approach this post describes directly to you and your horse. I work online with horse owners worldwide, so no matter where you are, help is available.

If you're ready to resolve a behaviour problem, build a stronger partnership, or simply get the right support, I'd love to work with you. To get started, visit my Services page to see how I can help, or send me a message.