scoped out horse

Question
My trainer seems to think that my 17 hand appendix gelding is scoped out at the 3ft hunter level. He is 9 y.o's and healthy. When i purchased him 1.5 years ago, he was doing dressage and the owner did say that he was very lazy.  He will tap the poles and knock a pole down while on course, but not all the time.  I have heard he is not picking up his back legs.  My trainer has never liked the horse because she did not find him for me and thinks i should sell him and let her find me a consistent 3'6" horse which of course there would be a commission for her on the price. When she rides him, he tends to jump the 3 foot jumps a bit higher than when i do it.  She is a professional rider, while i am still a average rider. What are your thoughts and suggestions? Thanks

Answer
Good Day Myra,

Well, there will be a lot of 'it depends' in my answer to you.
Believe it or not, I went through the very same thing at one time. I have two different outlooks on this as a result.
First of all, dending on the amount of time you have to spend training this horse for 3'6, it is possible to do. There are several methods I'm sure your trainer has mentioned to you. (if not,please let me know and I will follow up with my sggestions.)
This all also depends on the trust you have on your trainer. Have you been training with her very long and how well does she know you and your abilities? There is the chance that she simply assumes that being an intermediate rider, you will automatically do what she says and in the process she will make some comission for herself.  I hope that this is not the case as most trainers really do have their riders' best interest at heart when making decisions.

She may be right and be doing just that. Maybe it is time to move on to another horse comfortable at these heights and with more experience. That was the decision I made and I am glad I did.
She most likely feels the same way that my trainer and I did, that being this:
-it is easier making a horse that actually wants to jump;jump, and let someone else deal with your horse on the lower 3ft.
-he could be of much use to someoneone at the 3ft level, but it's time for you to have a more advanced ride
-you have nothing to lose (and instead, more opportunity)by moving up to another horse , as opposed to much patience and time to lost training your current horse
-an even better way to look at the situation is this: your trainer must have a tremendous amount of confidence in you as well as hopes for advancement to make such a suggestion. If she is like any other trainer that cares, she only wants you to succeed and this is her way of helping you do so.

She is well aware that trying out new horses gives a rider much experience. Not only that,but actually adjusting to a new one of your own is not a simple task for an intermediate rider. She obviously feels that you are able. From what I understand, I truly feel that she feels you are ready to have the proper horse for your level and height.

All circumstances aside, I feel that she is making the right choice. She is your trainer and I'm sure doing what she feels is right for you. However, I do not know your level, abilities, nor do I know hers and her training experience. I simply see it this way, what do you have to lose by giving it a try? Go slow, look around at different horses (allowing her to be a part of the decision-making)and when you find one that you are comfortable on, go for it!
Maybe this will help; trainers really do know best. (I know, I know, I found that hard to believe too!)Surprisingly enough (although most tend not to show it!) they actually do care.
I had enough confidence in my trainer and allowed my trainer to go across the contry to find me a horse. She brought it back, and after never even trying her out or seeing what she looked like before purchasing her, she was perfect. That mare turned out to be the my all-time favorite of any horse I had ever had. (I still feel a bit of sentiment!)It took time getting used to her and it wasn't easy at first, but because my trainer knew my abilities, she knew that that was the right horse for me. And know what? She was!

I wish you all the best of luck, and please don't hesitate to ask or follow up,
Kathryn