Anyone can give themselves a title, and even get paid for services under that title.
But would you call someone a Medical Doctor who hasn't gone to school for medicine, just because they've forged a degree and opened an office?
Equestrians do this all the time. For example, a Tennessee horse trainer was caught on tape whipping her horse because she doesn't know how to lunge him.
Update: Trainer identified as Kimberly Smith, and a petition has begun to punish Kimberly Smith for mistreating and abusing horses.
Kimberly Smith is listed as the head trainer at the Cumberland Riding Academy in Tennessee.
And it continues after, what appears to be, a young rider brings her another whip to use.
Of course all of this occurred after a failed attempt at riding the horse, sharing the arena with another young rider. Setting a stellar example for the next generation to believe this is acceptable behavior.
Good Trainers Do Good
These clips strike me as the mistakes of a beginner, out of frustration and lack of education. In no way does this person come across as a trainer, let alone a good one. Perhaps she is a rider, but do not confuse her for a trainer.
What has she taught this horse?
Good trainers are patient, kind, forgiving, and patient. They show instead of tell. They encourage instead of punish.
Speaking of Children
Let's go ahead and switch gears to watch this relaxed clip explaining how to lunge a horse. Not perfect, she's not billing herself as a trainer (yet), it's not about perfection. It's about how you interact with your horse, and she does it without a whip even.
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This is a good article. It appears that Ms. Smith has been a show “rider” in the past, but is not a “trainer” — big difference. Hopefully the riding establishment will wisely allow her to move on to another career.
I would literally take that whip from her and beat the crap out of her…..plain and simple. ! You do not treat a horse like that and expect it to develop good habits.A real trainer knows that.
Ehm…Kimberly Smith is still working, still training, this does not seem to have affected her job at all.
I sent my horse to a local trainer last October 31, 2014, he worked with her a couple of times, she didn’t like being there and he always carried a rod along with a dressage whip. Somehow she got away from and crashed into a tree, then I was told she hurt hemlock that turned out to be a broken leg a she was found rankled in a neighbor’s tense. She has to put down. He never said anything to me except he would find me another at my expense.
Since then I have heard may stories of him hitting and abusing horses. You only find out a bad reputation after.