Sounds more like a control issue with the trainer.

I think GotSpeed said it all.... that 'trainer' first, should have encouraged the use of your boots, and/or stopped that girl from riding on rocky trails to begin with on a barefoot horse. THEN, that 'trainer' should have followed his/her own advice, and given up their own horse, instead of having someone else give up theirs to an 'obvious greeny'!!

If the trainer wanted to be chivalrous &, consequently, live up to his own "code", he'd have given the client his horse (since I'm sure he thought that was the best, lol) & accepted your offer of the backup horse for himself. This is also why I work with (4 legged) animals ;)

Dally that was way nice of you: 1) to offer boots 2) to offer her another mount 3) to offer ponying her lame horse, not everyone is comfortable doing this 4) to IGNORE that Wanna-Be trainer!! Don't know what planet that "trainer" is from but seriously they overstepped their place! Do not EVER let anyone talk you into doing a dang thing with or around horses you wouldnt do voluntarily. It is always a recipe for disaster and exactly how folks get hurt. Stay in your comfort zone, and any decision to test boundaries is your choice!! Shaming and embarassing you infront of the group says loads about how egotistical he/she was. Completely inappropriate. Personally, I would demand an appology and most likely sever business dealings. There is NO code that makes it manditory to compromise your principles, the two should concur not conflict. Thats why I am so careful with whom I ride. Tired of idiots, trainers, or otherwise will get you or your stock hurt. And it makes for a bad day...

I'm thinking the trainer may not be much of one...

I was on a trail ride with a group of people and a "trainer". The trail had some rocky places and a rider with a barefoot horse..well the horse came up lame. I was ponying a horse and offered to let her ride it and I would pony her lame horse. The trainer said I should offer her the horse I was riding since it was the better horse. I said I wouldn't do that. He kept at me about it was the cowboy code to offer her the better horse. The pony horse was my 16 yo daughters horse, was in many parades, and carried a friend many miles to a nearby lake and back without problems. I also offered to pony her on the horse. I just was not willing to give her my horse. Has anyone heard of this? I never heard of having to give up your personal riding horse to someone. I had even offered earlier to lend them some horse boots so her horse would not come up lame. The trainer didn't want her to use the boots. Any thoughts?