I find that competitive trainers expect to have competitive students *shrugs*. I think that if you have a trainer who competed themselves, or has almost all of her students competing and you don't want to compete for points/the win/whatever then usually the student/trainer relationship won't work out. A very competitive trainer will be trying to get you on a mount that is going to help you get points, place well or win, why? Because, in addition to the obvious financial reason, it reflects on them: if they have a student who has a horse who does not do the discipline well and wants to show* for fun, when they go to the show "just to have fun" and not pin, or have a messy round, it reflects pretty poorly on the trainer.

Now the trainers that do not like horses because of breed, color, or whatever: that is a trainer I would not want to train with. If the horse does its given discipline decently no need to change/sell it unless the rider is planning on moving up and the said horse is incapable of doing so. Same goes for the trainers who just want to make money out of the deal with no regard to the safety or happiness of the rider.

That being said I do think that people who think that their 15.0 hh friesalooseron who can't travel on the flat without being on the forehand is going to be the next Jr/AO jumper champion, despite the trainer telling them that the horse really won't be able to succeed over 2'9", need to understand that the trainer honestly is not out to just make a buck but also help them get to the level they want to be at.

Does the horse do what you need it to do, with the capability to improve/advance**?
If the answer is "No" to that question then I would consider selling or leasing the horse or switching to a more suitable discipline.

_____________________________
* I do not have a problem with those who show purely for enjoyment, however if their riding is not to a good enough standard as would be required at a show, I do believe schooling shows are a better option for those people.

**Clearly if you have 3'6" hunter who will not be able to do the working hunters (4' I think?) but you have no interest in doing any higher levels, the need for advancing levels is not important.
______________________________

Sorry guys I'm tired and I think I may have rambled a bit.