Sponsership for a Grand Prix Show Jumper?

[Zeneron]

I am a college student who has a Grand Prix Show Jumper. I currently do not have the funds to get out to shows and compete, but my horse has the talent and loves to jump. The bigger the better.

How can i go about aquiring spondership for an un-proven horse (at least un-proven on the circuit).

Any help and sudgestions on how to go about this would be amazing. I know that to aquire sponsership you need to have a record, and to aquire a record you need to be able to go out there and show, but without money, you can't really get out there and show, so this is where my delema comes in.

[Charlie*]

Maybe you should consider writing a letter to the people you wish would sponsor you. I wouldn't get your hopes too high though because I believe sponsors look at show records and probably even the popularity of the rider to decipher whether they are worth sponsoring. I don't blame them either, it's a lot of money that they hand over to their sponsored rider to advertise their product. They want to see that money come back in profits from all us crazy horsepeople who believe that if we have an Antares saddle, we will ride as well as Richard Spooner; or if we feed our horse's Pureform Supplements, they will all jump like Special Ed; and if we get that GPA Speedair helmet other horse people will recognize our undiscovered talent because Eric Lamaze wears one too! I too am in the same boat as you- no money to show around the circuits and no sponsors, so I have empathy for your situation. Although I do suggest you use spell check if you write a letter, its quite distracting when there are so many spelling mistakes in one post, let alone a cover letter.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I'm going to assume this is a serious question (not a troll). And I'm procrastinating on a work presentation...so first comment is when writing query letters I would use your spell check.

I guess I have a question as an answer...why would I, the owner of xyz company want to sponsor you? You have no record? How do you know how you will do in a competition? Why do you think you have a GP horse? Jumping high is one component. Sponsors want their winning products to go along with the winning horse.

Start with local business owners. Be prepared to justify why you would be helping them out...not the other way around.

[KnickerB]

I think it would be a more worthwhile use of your time to get a job to finance shows to build up a reputation...

Even if you were the next McLain Ward riding the next Sapphire, the fact is, sponsorships are not going to pay all your bills. Most sponsored riders get products for free from the company they represent and then perhaps a small payment, but that certainly is NOT paying even 15% of their bills. They have owners backing them, make additional money training and selling horses and teaching students. Or they've got money already. Nobody in the equestrian world is making millions in sponsorships...

Good luck.

[joiedevie99]

Honestly... get a job and save enough to test your horse in competition. No one is going to sponsor you if you've never so much as jumped this horse around at a show- especially not the kind of money you are talking about. If you are good enough to show in the GP, barter your services as an exercise rider or new instructor to a farm in exchange for trailering to shows and coaching. Learn to braid and stay up nights in order to offset your classes if you don't make enough exercising horses/teaching. You have to do the hard work to get yourself out there and prove you and the horse can do it first, then approach others with your successes (and pictures) and see if someone is willing to help.

[Giddy-up]

Not being rude, but how do you know your horse is a GP show jumper if you've never shown before? :confused:

Also you'll be giving up your ammy status if you accept any sponsorship.

[Jealoushe]

Can you go work for someone who might be able to help you get this talented horse out there?

Perhaps WS position?

[tuckawayfarm]

Do either you or your horse have any experience at GP level? There is a huge difference between a talented prospect and a GP jumper. If you have had past success and just can't work a regular job due to college, I think your best bet would be to talk to your trainer about a working student/assistant arrangement to cover some of your expenses. If your horse is truly competitve, stick to smaller shows where you are more likely to win enough to cover some of your entries until you have established a good record.

[findeight]

I am a college student who has a Grand Prix Show Jumper.

How can i go about aquiring spondership for an un-proven horse (at least un-proven on the circuit).

I know that to aquire sponsership you need to have a record, and to aquire a record you need to be able to go out there and show, but without money, you can't really get out there and show, so this is where my delema comes in.

Well, you really don't have anything to offer a sponsor here because you do not have a Grand Prix Horse. A GP Horse is one that competes in the GPs. You just have a horse that can jump high. And what kind of experience can you offer as a rider? Are you a Grand Prix Rider? High Junior A/O?

There are ways to get into it but they require a full time commitment and going to work full time as a Pro if you cannot finance yourself. Find a job with a trainer that specializes in the bigger jumpers and work your way up-that is what many others now showing GP have done. Turned Pro and worked their way up.

[Foxtrot's]

The first rule when sourcing sponsorship is: "Ask not what you can do for me, but what I can do for you."

There is a whole lot of difference between having a horse that can jump five foot, and having a horse that can jump clean around a course away from home in front of crowds in the big time. There is a world of knowledge in the care and training of these horses and keeping them fit for their job, and happy.

You could follow up on some of the suggestions above. You could also put on a fund raiser for yourself, with silent auction items and hope your family, community and local businesses will support it. Say, a pub night, bbq, dance, dinner, etc. Fact remains that
all athletes hit the wall at some time - knocking on the dooor but not known enough to garner real support from your Federation or government.

Working student positions are excellent - if you are good enough people will ask you to show their horses and you will work your way up. Depends if you have the grit and real determination, desire and talent to do it.

It is not all about you going off to shows to win. It is about work and deprivation. The show jumping world is a world of its own and very, very expensive. You have to have been born with either a silver spoon in your mouth, a family that will sacrifice (why?) or love it so much you will do anything to get there.

There is a local rider here who is climbing his way up. He is talented, works very hard, catch-rides a lot at shows, is very gracious and kind, and I for one will be at his functions to help him get recognized and on his way to the Olympics, hopefully.

[Freebird!]

Also assuming this isn't a troll.....

Not to burst your bubble, but just because you and your horse can do this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSkd_B0t2qo) doesn't necessarily mean your ready for FEI Show Jumping. However, it could mean that you may want to contact a BNT and consider leasing your horse out, so he can gain some experience and exposure.

[findeight]

You always wonder at the ones with 1 post-and they have not come back.

Still, it is early for that sort of thing-not the middle of the night yet.

[jse]

I'm hoping this person comes back...cause they obviously need some educating.
A horse is NOT a grand prix horse until they are competing at the grand prix level....
And you gotta be pretty lucky to get someone to sponsor you even when you have the horse, even more so when you have a horse that hasn't been proven or shown.
:yes:

[Zeneron]

I had been expecting a lot of these answers. When I was younger I was a serious competitor on the pony circuit in the Midwest and then fell out of the show world. Did many different disciplines and then got my horse when he was 9 straight out of a field with no steering or a clue on what he has been doing. I am currently riding with a trainer who has been there and done that, dropped out of the show world for a time to concentrate on other aspects of the horse world and is slowly getting back into the training and showing part of the business. He concentrated mostly on breeding so that his nephew could show them. He is the one that believes that i can do the grand prix without a problem; we have been jumping grand prix courses clean and learning exactly how to answer all the questions correctly at home.

I am currently majoring in equine training and instruction as well as web design, hoping to break into the equine web design industry as well as learning to train under my current trainer.

I was just trying to figure out the best way to actually get out into the business and get yourself known and if that way would be through getting an education, then working my way up to being a well know rider or trainer through grooming, hacking horses, so on and so forth. I am just trying to figure out what path is best to go to get my feet firmly planted in the business and to go from there. I didn't know if sponsorships would be an alternative way into the business or not.

[jse]

I had been expecting a lot of these answers. When I was younger I was a serious competitor on the pony circuit in the Midwest and then fell out of the show world. Did many different disciplines and then got my horse when he was 9 straight out of a field with no steering or a clue on what he has been doing. I am currently riding with a trainer who has been there and done that, dropped out of the show world for a time to concentrate on other aspects of the horse world and is slowly getting back into the training and showing part of the business. He concentrated mostly on breeding so that his nephew could show them. He is the one that believes that i can do the grand prix without a problem; we have been jumping grand prix courses clean and learning exactly how to answer all the questions correctly at home.

I am currently majoring in equine training and instruction as well as web design, hoping to break into the equine web design industry as well as learning to train under my current trainer.

I was just trying to figure out the best way to actually get out into the business and get yourself known and if that way would be through getting an education, then working my way up to being a well know rider or trainer through grooming, hacking horses, so on and so forth. I am just trying to figure out what path is best to go to get my feet firmly planted in the business and to go from there. I didn't know if sponsorships would be an alternative way into the business or not.

I'd say during the summer months, for starters, find someone to be a working student for. Preferably a GP rider. That should at the least get your foot in the door....stick with it and the odds of you getting somewhere will be a bit better.

Let me add, and I'm sure you already know this if you've been around the scene for a while, that the horse world is super competitive and there is never any guarantee that you will make it as a big name in the business. Just do what makes you happy and that is truly all that matters....and try your hardest every single day!

[butlerfamilyzoo]

The only people i know personaly that have obtained sponsorships received NO money. ONLY products. Which sure, can be a BIG help in the grand scheme of things... But doesnt do squat to pay the entry fees or traveling expenses, etc...

I think the best way to get yourself back into the industry would be to start trying to get some catch rides at the shows. If you are good, people will notice. You can take your jumper too and show, but just because you can ride YOUR horse doesnt mean you are good riding a different horse. So i always look at the people that are winning on multiple animals. Just keep in mind, its a whole lot easier in the Ammy world than in the Pro... You take money/products for ANYTHING, boom, you are considered a pro.

I dont know that you necesarily have to have a show record to get a sponsorship. I had a good friend in England who was sponsored by Farnam. To my knowledge, she herself did not show. But she was one of the top reining trainers in England and was promoting Quarter Horses... They sent her a butt load of products a year, things like show sheen, absorbine linaments, fly masks, etc... Her students did show however... So i guess that might be a difference.

Good luck!

[Zeneron]

I’ve found that I truly enjoy instructing and watching riders progress. I took a theory of basic instruction class. One of the requirements was to choose a rider and pick 3 things to work on, video log your work and present it at the end of the semester. It kind of got me hooked on coaching. And I know that currently i am only comfortable riding my horse at the upper levels, but that might also be because I’ve been riding him and only him for the past 4 years. Hopefully over the summer working with my trainer I can start to ride some other horses and get more comfortable on different horses.

[gg4918]

Doesn't accepting sponsorship money make you a pro?
I thought that there was an issue with Brianne Goutal over this

[Equibrit]

I am a college student who has a Grand Prix Show Jumper. I currently do not have the funds to get out to shows and compete, but my horse has the talent and loves to jump. The bigger the better.

How can i go about aquiring spondership for an un-proven horse (at least un-proven on the circuit).

Any help and sudgestions on how to go about this would be amazing. I know that to aquire sponsership you need to have a record, and to aquire a record you need to be able to go out there and show, but without money, you can't really get out there and show, so this is where my delema comes in.

If you want to get sponsorship you'll have to learn to speel betta !

[Filly85']

OP, don't be discouraged by some of the posters here. It is extremely hard to make it in the business, but it can be done. It takes an incredible amount of discipline and hard work. Some of the others gave really good advice. Working under a BNT during the summers is a great idea. It will make it easier for you to get a job as a trainer or riding instructor at a barn in the future because you can list that as your experience. Plus, you will learn a whole lot from a BNT.

Another idea would be to get certified as a riding instructor, or to become a learner judge so that you can eventually get certified as that too!

You may could get him out to a few shows and then lease him out to an experienced upper level A/O too. This would give you the opportunity to put some cash in your pocket since you are in college, and a chance for your horse to get out more than you could get him out to shows. In the meantime, you could improve your own riding abilities and concentrate on riding different horses.

Off topic...

The people that don't let the spelling mistakes go drive me crazy. It is a message board. It is easy for people like me who don't have very much time and type extremely fast to make errors. It doesn't mean that I'm stupid. Busy people don't have time to spell correctly on a message board. So who cares?! I don't mind spelling mistakes. It's insulting to even bring it up that someone is making spelling mistakes. A person that you make fun of could have dyslexia and can't help it! On the other hand, it's not like this is a job interview, and the OP said she was in college. She has to be relatively smart, and she wasn't looking for advice on her spelling!

[Gonzo09]

You know I think people who complain about spelling errors clearly have nothing better to do with their time except be annoyingly petty and really need to get a life! There is far more in life to complain about..

[Evalee Hunter]

You know I think people who complain about spelling errors clearly have nothing better to do with their time except be annoyingly petty and really need to get a life! There is far more in life to complain about..

All things in the correct time & place. IF you are writing sponsorship requests, it IS the correct time & place for flawless spelling & punctuation. Maybe to you the internet is not the correct time & place to worry about spelling, grammar, whatever. I happen to disagree but I usually try to restrain myself from criticizing - UNLESS it is ultimately going to be absolutely crucial to what the original poster wants to accomplish. In this case, perfectionism in regard to spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. is going to make or break the plea for sponsorship.

[Filly85']

You know I think people who complain about spelling errors clearly have nothing better to do with their time except be annoyingly petty and really need to get a life! There is far more in life to complain about..

I think you hit the nail on the coffin.

It would be important for an author or well-known professional to write properly on a message board. Steve Haskin (bloodhorse magazine) posts on message boards sometimes, and he is always eloquent with his words. However, he never corrects peoples' spelling and grammar mistakes!!!

For the everyday person, it shouldn't matter how they spell on a message board.

[galwaybay]

Is she has grand prix aspirations she doesn't have to worry about amateur status she can skip the Amateur Owner Hunters do straight level classes up to the grand prix.. Remember she has been schooling Grand Prix Courses at home w/ her trainer.

Okay not to sound like the Prez last night but HELLO are you keeping up with any current affairs right now? 41 days into 2009 the US might be saddled w/ 1 trillion in a stimulus package and another 1.5 trillion in some plan the Treas. Sec has dreamed up - the stock market dropped nearly 400 points upon hearing the news.. Thank you very much Mr. Geithner. Why do I bring this up - because with all this going on right now - I'm thinking obtaining sponsorhips are going to be rather difficult to come by (let's hope I am really really wrong)

I'm also hoping the posters spelling is because she's using some laptop w/sticky keys as opposed to her college edumacation is failing in the English dept.

[Foxtrot's]

Have you guys not read the "Please, nobody LAYS on the neck of a horse thread"??? Must be a H-J thing because all the nit pickers are out in numbers over there.

[Filly85']

Have you guys not read the "Please, nobody LAYS on the neck of a horse thread"??? Must be a H-J thing because all the nit pickers are out in numbers over there.

It's funny because those nit pickers are the ones who make a lot of mistakes themselves (I mean, just look at some of the posts in this tread at those who are criticizing the OP for her spelling!:eek:). Karma my friends. Karma. It is always better to take the high road.

[grandprixjump]

To relocate to an area, that is, if not offered where you are, and get into the $5k to $10k MINI PRIX's. The entry fee would be a lot cheaper, and if your horse is that good you should place well in them, thus saving up the money to get into the BIG CLASSES. Besides you don't want to BURN UP one horse doing the big classes every week like a Sponsor would want, but jumping around a level 5 / 6 type course isn't as strenuous and will still get you noticed and POTENTIAL sponsors (and wealthy owners) looking your way...

[MissIndependence]

Well, there are many of us out there showing in the High A/O or Jr's and smaller GPs who are also looking for and wanting sponsors to make some kind of jump to a more serious level of competiton. For me I am still years away from even hoping to make that a reality. I do believe that unless you fall into some kind of lottery situation, you are going to have to establish a pretty solid and amazing show record with you and your horse at large shows in tough competition to talk someone into sponsoring you. Certainly not unattainable, but I don't think there are many ways to cheat that time and proof of success requirement unless you just get lucky (which you COULD I suppose).

I think jumping a GP course at home is great, obviously encouraging, but nothing like going to a show, being asked repeated and difficult questions over unfamiliar courses and jumps and in tense and tough competition. Totally different world. Get out there and do your best to get showing. That will answer your questions about whether you can compete in that arena. And your success will lead naturally to other avenues for potential sponsorship. If your horse is truly amazing, you may have to sell that one to get the money to help finance your showing another green one and keep moving up. Many of the top GP riders are not only great riders, but great sales people and strategists. They have found ways to promote themselves, get out of the crowd and win people's confidence. I say study those people and look for the breaks they created for themselves.

[Foxtrot's]

Eric Lamazing is an example of someone working his way up and through difficulties. It is a competitive business - people are not going to come out and help you along just out of the kindness of their hearts. You have to have something to offer them in the way of talent and long hours. There are lots of underemployed horses out there whose owners need them to be brought along if you can just get in with the BNT. You can show these horses if you are lucky and perhaps make a name for them and yourself.

[Zeneron]

Actually as a response to an earlier statement about being dyslexic, I actually am. I tend to spell things phonetically rather than how they are supposed to sound. Wonderful thing about learning how to sound the word out instead of just spelling it!!!!

On the other topic, I know that with this horse I will never sell him just because he was about a year away from being a starvation case when I got him about 4 years ago. And with his temperament when he gets older he will be the perfect school master to place young and up-an-coming riders on so that they can have some fun riding on a horse who has been there and done that.
Since my trainer lives an hour away from my barn I am constantly traveling to go there, an since it is a fairly well to do facility there is always something going on, other lessons, break and training the young ones, other riders schooling, and cooling off. And growing up on the show circuit I am not quite as nervous as someone who is just getting into the circuit. I am as comfortable at shows as I am at home. For the longest time the Kentucky Horse Park seemed like my second home.
With the economy being the way it is, and sponsorships being the unlikely route for up-an-coming riders. What would be the ideal internship/shadowing opportunity for someone who would like to train as well as show?
Would it be wise to split the time between a rider that is bringing young horses along and also showing at the grand prix level and going to lots of shows and between my current trainer and learning how he runs his business, schedules his lessons, plans his lessons and alters his lessons depending on the riders mood, the horses mood, and the weather factors?

[jse]

Actually as a response to an earlier statement about being dyslexic, I actually am. I tend to spell things phonetically rather than how they are supposed to sound. Wonderful thing about learning how to sound the word out instead of just spelling it!!!!

On the other topic, I know that with this horse I will never sell him just because he was about a year away from being a starvation case when I got him about 4 years ago. And with his temperament when he gets older he will be the perfect school master to place young and up-an-coming riders on so that they can have some fun riding on a horse who has been there and done that.
Since my trainer lives an hour away from my barn I am constantly traveling to go there, an since it is a fairly well to do facility there is always something going on, other lessons, break and training the young ones, other riders schooling, and cooling off. And growing up on the show circuit I am not quite as nervous as someone who is just getting into the circuit. I am as comfortable at shows as I am at home. For the longest time the Kentucky Horse Park seemed like my second home.
With the economy being the way it is, and sponsorships being the unlikely route for up-an-coming riders. What would be the ideal internship/shadowing opportunity for someone who would like to train as well as show?
Would it be wise to split the time between a rider that is bringing young horses along and also showing at the grand prix level and going to lots of shows and between my current trainer and learning how he runs his business, schedules his lessons, plans his lessons and alters his lessons depending on the riders mood, the horses mood, and the weather factors?

I believe, like I stated earlier, that the best route for someone who has goals like you do is to go be a working student for a GP rider. My best friend worked for Kent Farrington last Winter and got a real good experience out of it, however her living situation forced her to quit before she should have. But I believe if you get in good with something like that, you have it under your belt and like someone else stated, it's something you can tell people later on that will help you out. For example, my husband is now a pro, however he worked for Pato Muente for 6 years and that is where he gained his experience in the show ring. Before that he was a polo player for Tommy Lee Jones, so he even has prior experience with horses. His business is very good in the summer months when everyone is here in VA and he has quite the clients at times. Last summer due to knowing good people and networking through the business, he exercised horses for Lauren Hough when she was in Europe...just an example of, your experience and your networking is what's gonna get you somewhere.
Much luck to you! Like I said, work hard, set goals...get there. Most of all make sure you are happy in what you do. And life will be goooood.

[bf1]

I don't want to discourage you - but you said yourself you have not had a lot of catch rides. You need much more experience in order to be successful - be able to ride anything and make the horse better for having ridden it.

I would try to find a trainer to work for - but I am guessing you will be starting at the bottom - perhaps as a groom. Learn how to handle and care for horses, and be willing to ride them whenever the opportunity arises. But that doesn't mean showing them. You have no experience to do so. You need to earn the right.

This is a tough, tough field - regardless of your degree - which imo holds little value. It is interesting to take theoretical courses, but what counts is doing it.

And as for never selling your horse - a naive statement. For most trainers starting out, almost everything is for sale at a price. Unfortunately it is what they do to make a living and build a reputation. Unless you can foot the bill to get him out there to campaign him, he is not going to get enough experience to be a proven winner. Again, there are many, many talented horses out there - but managing, caring for, and showing them successfully is an art. And being able to repeat the whole process is what makes a good trainer.

Good luck to you.

[Figment]

First, show successfully, show successfully, show successfully..........

[Rosie]

As others have stated - find a trainer that is "on the circuit" and get the experience and contacts that you will need in order to be successful. It's great that you have a horse you believe in - but as others have said - right now he is a POTENTIAL GP horse.

And, while some of the remarks about your spelling are rather harsh in tone - be aware that each and every time you communicate with others - whether that is on-line, in person, or whatever, it's an opportunity to impress or create a negative impression.

I work at a large advertising/marketing firm. Guess what? If we look at a portfolio or resume and it has spelling errors in it, we (the entire company) immediately dismiss that person as a potential employee. We've found that if people don't put forth the effort to be as good as possible/correct when they are looking for a job - it only goes downhill from there once they are hired. Attention to "details" is not only important, it's critical in most business situations.

If you want a job in the horse industry - every time you communicate within that industry, consider yourself applying for a job. Whether that is going in the ring looking well groomed and "professional", speaking to trainers, riders and owners or writing on a bulletin board. :)

Good Luck!

[findeight]

First, show successfully, show successfully, show successfully..........

Second, if you want to do big jumps at big shows for big money, go work for a trainer who does big jumps at big shows for big money.

And they are not all Olympians or household names and they all hire help.

Gotta say...there are many other opportunities in the show world then GP. Dunno why some think there is any big money it it. If there were, top riders would not have to form partnerships and syndicates to keep the horse from getting sold out from under them. Have yet to have any GP horse owner or partner say they made any money with it-barely made expenses if that. Even with the free saddle, pad, boots and fly spray from various sponsors.

Making a living is possible with a diverse base of clients, especially Juniors and Ammy-let them spend the money to keep one of these going.

Also suggest looking beyond basing a career on your own horse-if he breaks, you are done.

[TrotTrotPumpkn]

I agree spelling isn't everything and I am guilty (I'm terrible at spelling) too.

The point of my personal post though, was that I AM a business owner and notice these things and would notice them if approached by a rider for a sponsorship. I'm absolutely not trying to be mean, just to point out all the little nuances that will hopefully allow the OP to be successful in the endeavor!

Good luck to you! I think you have been given some great advice.

[Jealoushe]

I know a high end Showjumping barn in Belgium that is looking for someone to work and ride their horses, with training (they are willing to take on lower level riders with the right attitude) and the chance to compete. You wouldn't be able to bring your horse but maybe you could lease it out?

Maybe that's not your thing but something like that would get you invaluable experience on the International scene riding top quality horses.

[Equsrider]

if you're still under 21, have you thought about attending this program for your Region? They are looking for horses and riders that are"under the radar" so to speak.If you and your horse are truly as talented as your trainer believes...you will not go unnoticed, participating in this program.Winner of the program gets 3 weeks training with some of the BiggestNT's in the country.At least that would help you get some REAL exposure and professional opinion to back up your claims to a Sponsor...Look to the USHJA website for additional information...

[zahena]

I'm also a race car fanatic and several different genres of racing have talked about parking their "extra" cars. They have sponsorships that help pay their bills. Autozone, Powerade, and a vareity of multi-million dollar companies. But they don't have bottomless pockets and so they are scaling back.

So if these huge companies are seeing the obvious hit this economy is taking, our small horse companies are surely looking very closely at their sponsorships as well.

Do what you can at local shows, catch ride, follow the advice given here. No one will give an unproven horse/rider combo the money to move forward with such grand plans when the return is nill.

[Tiki]

Now see - someone on here might be able to help you.


I know a high end Showjumping barn in Belgium that is looking for someone to work and ride their horses, with training (they are willing to take on lower level riders with the right attitude) and the chance to compete. You wouldn't be able to bring your horse but maybe you could lease it out?

Maybe that's not your thing but something like that would get you invaluable experience on the International scene riding top quality horses.

That's why, even on this stupid little message board, where spelling shouldn't count, it should!!! Your original post was a request for sponsorship. If you KNOW you can't spell, use spell check. You're in college, you're looking for a big bucks sponsorship, or a big, big chance and your first communication looks very much like the Nigerian horse buying scams. You know, the "I am look to buy yur prodict for top prize. I will sned you a check. You sned me diderections to pick up hors."

Yuh, I'm going to be dealing with someone like that.

[mikali]

I don't believe that anyone should critize the use of proper grammar and spelling! Especially if someone is seeking sponsorship.
In today's computer society, who's to say a potential sponsor won't decided to do a little search on the internet on a prospective 'client'. I mean, if people can be declined jobs or students held responsible for the content of their my space or facebook pages, would it not be reasonable to imagine that a public forum could be reviewed?
Yes, I know, it's a long shot that someone could be identified by their user names; however, when discussing sponsorships shouldn't you try to market yourself to the best of your ability?

[ExJumper]

Not to change the subject, but my internet browser makes a red squiggly line under misspelled words. Doesn't everyone else's do that, too? It's not going to help with the difference between "your" and "you're" but it helps with the stupid typos. And it takes NO time at all. You see the squiggle, you right click on the word, other spelling options come up, you choose one, and the word gets replaced. 5 seconds MAX per word and it makes you sound so much better and more educated. I just got my PhD and I am an atrocious speller. But technology keeps me from embarrassing myself online. (I just misspelled "embarrassing" with one "r" and used the spell check to fix it.) And if a person claims that she doesn't have time to skim her post before she hits the "post" button, then perhaps she should make the time.

[Foxtrot's]

MY internet browser doesn't offer me a red squiggly that I can right click on :(

[ExJumper]

MY internet browser doesn't offer me a red squiggly that I can right click on :(

You should upgrade to Firefox 2.0.0.10 (or something similar). That's what I have running and it is SUPER convenient! And it's not like it underlines everything that is misspelled, which would be super annoying. It's smart enough to only underline things in text boxes where you are typing things.

[Koniucha]

I'm wondering why some of you people have to be so rude! Heaven forbid the poor girl misspelled some words. Crucify her!! How dare she a question like this as one of her first posts?!? Must be a troll. This is the reason I avoid posting questions here.

[Equibrit]

Let me put this in simple terms that you all can understand. If you are going to approach me and expect me to give you money, I am not interested in hearing how my money/sponsorship will benefit YOU. I want to know how you would represent my company, and that would include your use of LANGUAGE. I do not want to be associated with somebody who represents themselves as being uneducated or lazy. This is not rudeness, it is merely an explanation of the needs of a potential sponsor.

[jse]

Aw man guys, I'm gonna have to say that we're being a little bit too nit-picky here. I too am a crazy person when it comes to grammar but, not here...God forbid you make a mistake on The Chronicle Bulletin Board! She's not looking for a grade or for anyone here to sponsor her. She, like most people, came here for information on HOW she could go about doing something...guess she won't do that again.
I also refrain most of the time from asking questions or even posting at all here really for these very reasons. It's sad....:yes:

[Filly85']

Let me put this in simple terms that you all can understand. If you are going to approach me and expect me to give you money, I am not interested in hearing how my money/sponsorship will benefit YOU. I want to know how you would represent my company, and that would include your use of LANGUAGE. I do not want to be associated with somebody who represents themselves as being uneducated or lazy. This is not rudeness, it is merely an explanation of the needs of a potential sponsor.

So now we're incompetent.

I think what you said didn't need to be said. The OP in this thread is a lot nicer than I am.

[Evalee Hunter]

If you want to look at a professionally prepared sponsorship proposal, here is one:

http://www.laineashkereventing.com/images/SponsorshipProposal2007.swf

I am NOT holding Laine Ashker up as a model rider in any way. She is quite controversial in the eventing world due to have been aboard at least two horses that died in competition. However, the sponsorship proposal is very interesting, especially the parts (scroll down a ways) that outline the benefits of sponsorship.

I had to try more than once to get the sponsorship proposal to load, but it did load for me on the second try.

[Dazednconfused]

If you don't have time to write coherent and appropriately-spelled posts, then you don't have time to post at all. :winkgrin:

[Koniucha]

Let me put this in simple terms that you all can understand. If you are going to approach me and expect me to give you money, I am not interested in hearing how my money/sponsorship will benefit YOU. I want to know how you would represent my company, and that would include your use of LANGUAGE. I do not want to be associated with somebody who represents themselves as being uneducated or lazy. This is not rudeness, it is merely an explanation of the needs of a potential sponsor.

So because she misspelled some words on a freaking bulletin board, she is uneducated and lazy? You, my dear, are rude.

[jse]

If you don't have time to write coherent and appropriately-spelled posts, then you don't have time to post at all. :winkgrin:

Or maybe it's the other way around...if you have the time to notice, then maybe you have got way too much time on your hands?:eek:

[Coreene]

You only get one chance at a first impression.

[Madeline]

I'm just going to jump in on the spelling thing for a sec. Correct language and spelling is nothing more than a way to show respect for your reader. If you have something worth saying, and you want people to read it (and respond) you should take the time to edit your work. Sure, you don't know us. Sure, it's only a message board. But if you want your readers to consider what you write, you should have the courtesy to give us good stuff to consider.

[Gonzo09]

Are you guys still going on about this? Mmm let me see famous bad spellers in history. So I guess all of you perfect spellers are so much better people than oh I don't know JFK, Dan Quayle (let me think about that??) Tom Cruise, Benjamin Franklin, Einstein, Churchill oh the list goes on and on..Now to think if the people who gave them their first start in life were all as petty as you then God help the world..

I sponsor a number of riders and I can say I couldn't care less how they spell, it does not affect the way they jump a course or their dressage test..My experience of people who are this petty is they live their lives jealous of other peoples success because they often do not achieve anything themselves. The girl is dyslexic, so is my sister who chose to live her life as a victim of her dyslexia. This girl has had the guts to go to college and try and make something of her life. But all you want to do is her knock her down...

Can we please get back to what she originally asked?

Move it along there is nothing to see here...

[KimPeterson]

I had been wondering about sponsorship for the upper levels as well as for junior riders. Do they have a website where riders can post that they are seeking to be sponsored? I also believe we need some sort of non-profit here in the US to help juniors that would like to make up the ranks but do not have the funds for a capable horse. This could be something that riders and breeders could work on together...or just a crazy idea I had at 5 am...without coffee...

[Alterageous]

So because she misspelled some words on a freaking bulletin board, she is uneducated and lazy? You, my dear, are rude.

You would be amazed what potential sponsors and employers can dig up on the internet. The probability that her future sponsor would see that post is pretty high, never mind the fact that there are undoubtedly several well connected individuals reading this thread and maybe not commenting--people who COULD have helped this person find something, except that she sounds like a child in the first post.

Also, miraculous how the spelling and whatnot cleaned right up as soon as people criticized it. Sounds like a lazy first post to me. If you can spell and write properly, but you don't bother, what would you describe that as, exactly?

[KimPeterson]

Foxfire browser has an addition that will underline poor words and auto spell check for people. Posting on the internet the foxfire browser has saved my bum most of the time.

[lauriep]

You know I think people who complain about spelling errors clearly have nothing better to do with their time except be annoyingly petty and really need to get a life! There is far more in life to complain about..

I recently read a report that the netspeak and spelling errors we see here ARE showing up in increasing numbers in high school and college work. So yes, it IS important to practice constantly.

[Zeneron]

Just to make a comment on the spelling. Since everyone has been complaining about it I have been transferring everything I write into a word document before I put it on here. Kind of anal if you ask me, but because it bothers all of you o so much I decided to make it easier for all of you who grew up reading whole word instead of phonetically so that you can't actually read a word unless its spelled correctly.

That being said… When this forum is on topic this information has been a great help and any more help that you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
The information on the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program is something that would be a great way to get my horse and my name out there. Does anyone know with this program if your age is gauged the same as with the normal H/J circuit?

With the Belgium Show Jumping job possibility I would love to learn more about it. One of the things that my school does is encourage all students to do an exchange program at a European college, or facility of their choice that will help further their education. This was something that I am looking into but I am not quite sure where to start and what facilities would be a good place to start looking. Any more information in this department would be great.

On the other topic of selling the horse that I currently have to pay for another. As I stated before I am not going to sell my horse. That’s just not going to happen. As naive as people will perceive it. When I bought this horse he had been stuck in a pasture for 9 years doing absolutely nothing, had no steering and was scared of absolutely everything. I have videos that show him doing all of these things along with being a very skinny under muscled horse. He is 18hh for goodness sake and a thourghbred to top it off. When my mother asked me if this was the horse I wanted I looked at her and responded “Mom, I just want to tell you that I will never outgrow this horse.” And that statement has help firm. Applying to his height and his talent. The more I work with my horse the better he gets.

The thing with my horse and my way of looking at it, this horse is my ticket to excelling in any discipline. Ex) Dressage, Hunters, Equitation, Medals, Jumpers, Eventers. The reason that I am looking more into the Jumpers is because he gets bored very easily in the hunters. It is the same over and over again. When my trainer has me warming up over 3-3’6 that puts a stop on most of the Equitation, Hunters, and Medals. With dressage it has been a tough road seeing how he was under muscled, under-nourished, and had no idea what he was supposed to do.
Yes, people will look at it as a waste of money to continue to work with the same horse and not sell him now and make money off of him and get another horse and use the excess money to get to the shows. My stand on this is that in 4 years I have taken my horse from no steering to being completely comfortable showing at the Grand Prix heights. I can firmly stand behind my horse and say that my trainers have only gotten on my horse 2 times to try and fix something and gotten off and stated that my horse goes better for me than he does for them. And these are trainers that like you would all like me to do, sell him and get another for profit sake. They know what they are talking about and are good at what they do. Otherwise my horse wouldn’t have excelled as well as he has so far. I will be able to confidently look at someone and say this horse is a product of my hard work, my dedication and taking training techniques from western team penning riders, dressage riders and trainers, show jumpers, hunters, trail riders and many other people that I have come into contact with. He is 100 percent what I have made. Everything he knows and everything he does is because of the hard work I have put into him, no one else. And if people want to look down on me because of that then I have a problem with them.

When I was showing on the circuit I showed in Pony Finals in 2002. I had a large green pony and ended up being reserve large green champion in Zone 5 that year. My large green pony was a Leopard Spotted Appy. Now let’s take a look at this. Appys are looked down upon in the hunter world and yet my pony was constantly beating ponies that were being bought for a lot of money. One mother turned down my pony because his face wasn’t pretty enough and bought your typical beautiful bay pony. Next indoor show I got champion and beat her daughter on her daughters new bay pony. Now that being said, when I got this pony he was a run-down school pony who reared if you went to slow and bucked if you went to fast. Through diligence and hard work this old run-down school pony turned out to be pony finals quality and reserved green pony champion for zone 5.
And because I didn’t sell my pony when he showed talent in the hunters, I worked at getting him comfortable in the ring and good at what he does, it paid off. Even though he was an Appy. That is how I’ve always been and how I always will be. There is no point in selling my horse just because I could make some money off of him now when there is so much more I can learn from him in the dressage area and when he has so much more potential.

Sorry for the rant, but I felt like getting my point out there. You can think what you want and respond with comments on how this is not the way to approach this business and this situation. But I am quite firm in not selling my horse.

[jse]

Just to make a comment on the spelling. Since everyone has been complaining about it I have been transferring everything I write into a word document before I put it on here. Kind of anal if you ask me, but because it bothers all of you o so much I decided to make it easier for all of you who grew up reading whole word instead of phonetically so that you can't actually read a word unless its spelled correctly.

That being said… When this forum is on topic this information has been a great help and any more help that you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
The information on the USHJA Emerging Athletes Program is something that would be a great way to get my horse and my name out there. Does anyone know with this program if your age is gauged the same as with the normal H/J circuit?

With the Belgium Show Jumping job possibility I would love to learn more about it. One of the things that my school does is encourage all students to do an exchange program at a European college, or facility of their choice that will help further their education. This was something that I am looking into but I am not quite sure where to start and what facilities would be a good place to start looking. Any more information in this department would be great.

On the other topic of selling the horse that I currently have to pay for another. As I stated before I am not going to sell my horse. That’s just not going to happen. As naive as people will perceive it. When I bought this horse he had been stuck in a pasture for 9 years doing absolutely nothing, had no steering and was scared of absolutely everything. I have videos that show him doing all of these things along with being a very skinny under muscled horse. He is 18hh for goodness sake and a thourghbred to top it off. When my mother asked me if this was the horse I wanted I looked at her and responded “Mom, I just want to tell you that I will never outgrow this horse.” And that statement has help firm. Applying to his height and his talent. The more I work with my horse the better he gets.

The thing with my horse and my way of looking at it, this horse is my ticket to excelling in any discipline. Ex) Dressage, Hunters, Equitation, Medals, Jumpers, Eventers. The reason that I am looking more into the Jumpers is because he gets bored very easily in the hunters. It is the same over and over again. When my trainer has me warming up over 3-3’6 that puts a stop on most of the Equitation, Hunters, and Medals. With dressage it has been a tough road seeing how he was under muscled, under-nourished, and had no idea what he was supposed to do.
Yes, people will look at it as a waste of money to continue to work with the same horse and not sell him now and make money off of him and get another horse and use the excess money to get to the shows. My stand on this is that in 4 years I have taken my horse from no steering to being completely comfortable showing at the Grand Prix heights. I can firmly stand behind my horse and say that my trainers have only gotten on my horse 2 times to try and fix something and gotten off and stated that my horse goes better for me than he does for them. And these are trainers that like you would all like me to do, sell him and get another for profit sake. They know what they are talking about and are good at what they do. Otherwise my horse wouldn’t have excelled as well as he has so far. I will be able to confidently look at someone and say this horse is a product of my hard work, my dedication and taking training techniques from western team penning riders, dressage riders and trainers, show jumpers, hunters, trail riders and many other people that I have come into contact with. He is 100 percent what I have made. Everything he knows and everything he does is because of the hard work I have put into him, no one else. And if people want to look down on me because of that then I have a problem with them.

When I was showing on the circuit I showed in Pony Finals in 2002. I had a large green pony and ended up being reserve large green champion in Zone 5 that year. My large green pony was a Leopard Spotted Appy. Now let’s take a look at this. Appys are looked down upon in the hunter world and yet my pony was constantly beating ponies that were being bought for a lot of money. One mother turned down my pony because his face wasn’t pretty enough and bought your typical beautiful bay pony. Next indoor show I got champion and beat her daughter on her daughters new bay pony. Now that being said, when I got this pony he was a run-down school pony who reared if you went to slow and bucked if you went to fast. Through diligence and hard work this old run-down school pony turned out to be pony finals quality and reserved green pony champion for zone 5.
And because I didn’t sell my pony when he showed talent in the hunters, I worked at getting him comfortable in the ring and good at what he does, it paid off. Even though he was an Appy. That is how I’ve always been and how I always will be. There is no point in selling my horse just because I could make some money off of him now when there is so much more I can learn from him in the dressage area and when he has so much more potential.

Sorry for the rant, but I felt like getting my point out there. You can think what you want and respond with comments on how this is not the way to approach this business and this situation. But I am quite firm in not selling my horse.

Sweetie..enjoy your horse. But know that the business you would like to get into does not warrant holding onto him. So, with that said, maybe you should be looking for another career because you will get eaten alive by the wolves, so-to-speak, of the horse world. This world has two sides. Business, where money is the focus. And it's a hobby where most of the time you either struggle with your every day life to take care of your beasts, or you just have money to enjoy them.

If your horse isn't getting the dressage, forget about it. My personal opinion is without dressage, you have no jumper. As young horses, the FIRST thing we teach them is dressage, then we jump them. Maybe you could show him on the local level, but at the GP level on the big A circuits, I don't think so. Without that dressage how are you going to maneuver yourself around a crazy designed jumper course with tight turns and weird distances?

Sorry for being so blunt but, this is our world, and it works the way it is. Some of us WORK with horses and some of us HAVE horses. Two totally different worlds. You probably will never sell your horse, but I'm gonna tell you, that even if you tried you'd probably not make a profit from what it sounds like. Sure, he can jump around a 3'-3'6" course but how beautifully does he do it? How effortless is it for him? Does he make it look like an equine ballet? If not, I wouldn't place my bets on him anyhow...because I personally as a Jumper person like to see a freak of nature. Something that snaps those knees up to his eyes and makes it look easy. Big is not always better, your 18H horse would probably be NO competition to my tiny little 15.2H cat-like creature and she hasn't even shown yet...and he definitely wouldn't be as fast as her!

I am in this business to work, and that is my opinion. But like I said, by all means, enjoy your horse, enjoy riding, there's nothing better in the world. But it's quite possible from what you've said that you shouldn't make it your career....

[bf1]

Well, we only suggested selling your one in a million horse to help you attain your goals. Great - if you want to keep him, by all means keep him and enjoy him!

Another thing he has against him is his age, in addition to his lack of show miles. Like it or not, at thirteen, his career, once it begins, will likely not be very long. Yes, we all know of horses showing at a high level at an older age, but it can be a challenge to keep them sound at that level, at that age.

As far as sponsorships go, which was your original question, as a pro you will be expected to get out there, on a major circuit, with more than one horse. Companies want visibility - one horse, in 3 classes a week isn't very much exposure. And as you have not shown since the ponies, I would not be willing to sponsor you until you have a record to back up your words.

Apparently you have many ways to go. But if you accept sponsorship, you will not be able to compete in equitation, except for USEF.

And I would think that you need to concentrate in one area - either dressage, or jumpers as far as showing. To claim he can be excellent in all areas......WOW. What a horse! And it is nothing to brag about IMO, that a trainer gets on him, hands him back and says you ride him better. I think a well trained horse should accept different rides. It makes him sound quirky.

Good luck with your horse - and enjoy whichever direction you go with him! That is what it is all about anyway - the journey.

[DRSsporthorses]

I have to agree with many of the previous posts here on the difficulty in obtaining sponsorship. I also agree with all that recommend that you gain experience and a name working for others in the game as it continues to be one of the best roads to success. However with all that said, given the current status of the economy, the fact that many well-known riders with in-place sponsorships today will most likely see their own sponsorships reduced or rescinded, I believe you are going to have an extremely difficult time with this effort.

The reasons for this are partly economic, partly due to being an 'unknown' name and lacking experience (yes, I read all that you have done in your past, but many of us have done the same and far, far, far more...), and partly due to the mere fact that your horse is not exactly young. You mentioned he lived out in field for 9 yrs, you have had him 4 yrs, that puts him at a minimum of age 13. Not that that is old for an actively campaigning horse today that is currently tuned and at the top of their game, but for one just breaking into the game, that is getting up there in age and will present a risk to a potential sponsor. Add to that a couple years working for someone else (especially if you go to Belgium or elsewhere in Europe) and two more years of age on your horse as you are waiting for your big break...thus placing your horse at appx. age 15, and now you are beginning your campaign?

The plain fact is that the odds are seriously stacked against you. I am not trying to intently hurt you or to discourage your quest, but that is reality. The risk vs. value quotient here would not make you and your horse viable candidates for most sponsors. Keep in mind, many insurance companies will not insure horses aged 15 and up, and that translates to you being an even larger financial risk than many sponsors will willingly consider. Sponsors require value for their money. They don't do this for nothing. That means that they will more likely sponsor a big name rider with an up-and-coming horse that will potentially have a number of years to represent that company and provide years of spotlight advertising.

Sorry to say, but I think your hopes are higher than your chances. I suggest show your horse, do the best you can with him and enjoy every single minute, but don't count on the big windfall sponsorship as it will most likely not appear.

[S A McKee]

The reason that I am looking more into the Jumpers is because he gets bored very easily in the hunters. It is the same over and over again. When my trainer has me warming up over 3-3’6 that puts a stop on most of the Equitation, Hunters, and Medals. With dressage it has been a tough road seeing how he was under muscled, under-nourished, and had no idea what he was supposed to do.
.... My stand on this is that in 4 years I have taken my horse from no steering to being completely comfortable showing at the Grand Prix heights. .. .

When I was showing on the circuit I showed in Pony Finals in 2002. I had a large green pony and ended up being reserve large green champion in Zone 5 that year. My large green pony was a Leopard Spotted Appy. .. and yet my pony was constantly beating ponies that were being bought for a lot of money. Next indoor show I got champion and beat her daughter on her daughters new bay pony. .
.

By giving your zone result from 2002 you have provided your identity. Pony was Res Ch in zone 5. There were 12 ponies with points that year in that zone. So 2nd of 12 for the year.
Your horse is not USEF recorded at present, just a HID. Until this year a jumper needed to be recorded to show in classes with over x amount in prize money. This is true no matter what the jumper division. Your horse has no USEF record as a hunter or a jumper. I was able to find one result from a dressage show in June of 2007.
Your USEF membership is inactive. Makes sense because you aren't showing.
In order to be taken seriously you need a serious show record.
Show the horse as a jumper and then get back to us.
Or see if he is bored at 4' by trying working hunters.

[Vandy]

The reality is, there are many talented juniors/young pros actively and successfully showing out there who would love to have sponsorships. Very few actually get them...and we're talking about people with extensive show records and lots of wins. Success in the ponies seven years ago is a great start, but totally irrelevant in this context. An unproven rider, no matter how talented, no matter how promising, is going to be competing with these riders for very limited opportunities - right or wrong, it's a fact.

Another point: to me, looking for sponsorship is akin to writing a job resume. Is poor spelling/grammar appropriate in a job application? Is it "mean" to suggest correcting it? Please. I think everyone who is pointing out spelling/grammar as an issue here is right on target if the OP wants to be taken seriously by potential sponsors.

OP, I think looking for a working student position is the way to go. Many pros who offer working student positions will allow you to bring your horse. This could be the ticket to getting your horse out there showing. You said in your last post that the horse was showing at the grand prix level. Is he showing or schooling at that level? BIG difference, as many others have pointed out. And it's unlikely that if you hook up with a legitimate pro that you'll go right into the Grand Prix ring, even if your horse is a freak of nature. While you are discussing potential WS positions, it would be much more appropriate to describe your horse as having Grand Prix potential rather than calling him a "Grand Prix Horse". I fear that if you do this, you won't be taken seriously either. Not trying to crush your dreams, just honestly presenting the facts as I see them.

[DiablosHalo]

Honestly- even if you did have a GP prospect- in this economy and with no record I would not bank on a sponsorship from anyone except locals. I have a Level 4/5 jumper in the field I can't give away and an imported ISH prospect that has the bloodlines and scope to be an upper level horse and again- can't give them away right now, let alone ask people for money to feed them for me!
Start by getting out there and showing to build your record. The more you have on your record, the more people with the money/goods will take you seriously.

[Jumphigh83]

Honestly I have not read the whole thread. Having said that, if I had buckets of extra money to spend on sponsoring an up and coming rider, I would NOT EVEN READ any further than the opening comment with it's GROSS spelling error, made by a "college student"...OMG! You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Harsh? Yes. Unfortunately, TRUE! (zipping up flame suit......):eek:

[findeight]

OP, you asked and you got answers. They were not what you wanted to hear but they did offer some ideas to further your aspirations. Suggest you seriously sit down and think about what you want to do here.

Far as keeping your horse....it is unrealistic to want a career, have to start from the ground up and want to support your horse forever-or have your parents do it as I suspect is happening now.

I will gently, and not meaning to hurt your feelings here, suggest it is time to start looking at this as an adult.

Frankly, hooking your wagon to this one, mostly unshown 13 year old horse that will be lucky to have 3 or 4 good years left to drive your career is just not going to help what you state your goals are. Neither is touting a Pony you had 7 years ago (and maybe misremebering what you did with him).

Decide if you want to be a Pro trainer or an amateur and take steps in that direction.

For a Pro, you need to seek employment with a working, circuit Pro-and you will be starting on the bottom. A degree is "equine training" is worthless, you need contacts within the show world that have excellent reputations and alot of show horses. Really should switch to some kind of business or marketing major and FINISH SCHOOL.You need to be a member of various organizations to paticipate in the horse show world and be eligible for any help offered, so join.

As an Ammie-switch your major to something you can get a job in that will support a horse, like a business related degree or Accounting or something else that will dovetail with the web design.

Like I said, not trying to be hurtful here but you ned to act like and adult here and look at things the way they really are.

Contacting that poster who mentioned a stint at the sales yard in Belgium is the best thing that has turned up. But you cannot take that horse and, really, polish up any written communication with them.

Good luck. Really.

[ExJumper]

After seeing where this thread is going, I felt like I had to comment. I agree with findeight -- the OP needs to decide if she is going to be a pro or an ammie and then she has to make decisions based on that. I'm really starting to get the "but I work SOOOO much harder than the rich girls on their made horses that I deserve it SOOOO much more" vibe here.

I had an experience in 1999 that is somewhat similar. I consulted with a VERY big BNT about the possibility of campaining my horse at the highest levels. Did she have the potential. The short answer was yes, but the long answer included the time and money and sacrifices that it would entail.

I had to make a lot of decisions. I decided that the best thing for me to do was enjoy the horse I had and try my hardest to finish college (I was a freshman at the time) and aim to get a job that would allow me to continue doing horses as a paying amateur. My jumper and I did have fun and actually spent the next summer showing with the BNT who had evaluated us, but after that I focused on school and growing up and did the Ch/Ad jumpers until my mare retired.

It's ten years later now and I've never regretted that decision. I wonder sometimes what my life would have been like if I'd made other choices, but I look at my degrees and my husband and the babies that my jumper had and I think that it all turned out alright in the end.

Back to the OP, though. It's admirable how you feel about your horse, but I think it is juvenile to really think that you are going to get sponsored for any of this. The previous posts have said it all well. There are people with much more experience and many more miles in the show ring than you -- and THEY aren't finding sponsors. Although your horse may be excellent, we all look at our horses through rose colored glasses, and no matter how much you school GP courses at home, you can only prove yourself at shows, which you haven't done.

And your pony stuff? Interesting, I suppose, but again it smacks of the "I try harder therefore I deserve it more" sob story. And honestly, no one cares about weird colors in the ponies. Spotted ponies, dun ponies, appys...you're not seeing prejudice in ponies for color like you might claim in horses. I worked my ass off as a junior. I rode my one horse. I trained my one horse. She was a rescue, too. She was on the way to the auction and was probably destined for slaughter if I hadn't gotten her. She had horrible habits and terrible personality quirks when I got her.

Although your story is nice, it isn't unique. It also isn't enough to get people to fall over themselves to give you money for things. I didn't try to make this sound harsh, but I feel like maybe it sounds meaner than I had intended. It's only that I have firsthand and personal experience with the EXACT situation that you are describing, and I think that I've learned enough in the ensuing 10 years that I should speak up.

[CallMeGrace]

findeight's reply is, as usual, spot on! There are truly many talented riders and many talented horses in the world. It's a hard lesson to learn. GHM said my son was "a young Rodney Jenkins, but more talented". Guess what - my son has never shown in a "A" show, owns a broken 5 year old OTTB - we cannot support a show home. Yet, he wants to ride. So, he is a WS for a local trainer and is happy that he is learning so much, and that he gets to ride some beautiful horses. He has worked almost every weekend since he was 12! But it's been wonderful for me to see that he has a passion and has found a way to pursue it. He has also been given some fabulous opportunities because others have recognized that he is willing to put in the sweat equity that this dream requires. It sounds as though you also have a dream. Take the practical suggestions given here from "those in the know". Good luck! :yes:

[LetsChat]

Even though I think it is a bit overdone to go after the spelling mistakes because of course, we are discussing sponsorship for riding not editing, I do think you only get one chance to make a first impression. That said, do ALL you can to make a great impression, if it means cutting and pasting into and out of word for a spell check so be it. That isn't my point though. I know this is off topic but did anyone watch American Idol last night? They picked the top 36 and Simon said something that I think could be taken out of the singing context and put here. He said, "There are a whole lot of talented singers out there in the world. What you have to do is differenciate yourself, be original and stand out." I would say for this post you are probably standing out in a negative way, just going off the majority of comments. Also, not to make light of it but EVERY year there is a Zone Champ and Res and MANY times it is quantity vs. quality. I just mean, you are in a boat with A LOT of others, you need to differenciate yourself, you need to show you have more grit, talent, drive, determination, skill.... whatever, but there are a whole bunch of riders with good show records. Good luck, I think for anyone sponsorship is going to be hard to get this year. I think you should find a job with a BNT and see if they will show your horse a bit for you.

[findeight]

Might mention one other thing...the actual cost of maintaining a GP level horse. I don't think many realize what that entails.

You actually have to show a GP horse in the GPs on a regular basis to gain any kind of reputation at all, or to get any good at it. These things are expensive to enter and you can't just haul in for the day and do it out of a trailer.

Many have a pre qualification round on Wed or Thursday with only the top ones invited back for the bigger money GP. There is a need for a warm up class (in the same ring if possible). Jumper nomination fees are up there at big shows and are in addition to the actual entry fee-which can be in the thousands for a big purse.

Then you have vet and farrier needs on the road where they are at least double what you pay at home. Transportation costs. The fact that the big money classes that might actually pay your expenses are no where near your area. The need to go to Spruce and Europe to be taken seriously.

No. GP looks like it would pay for itself from the outside but those inside say you have to be really lucky and SELL something for it to really pay it's way. Even those partners with a really top horse you all would know say it is a black hole financially. Talking 100k and up to campaign one seriously.

So, it is fine and good to dream but, as an adult, you need to adjust your dream to something that is possible and be realistic. Then you got a shot at realizing that dream.

[Filly85']

Are you guys still going on about this? Mmm let me see famous bad spellers in history. So I guess all of you perfect spellers are so much better people than oh I don't know JFK, Dan Quayle (let me think about that??) Tom Cruise, Benjamin Franklin, Einstein, Churchill oh the list goes on and on..Now to think if the people who gave them their first start in life were all as petty as you then God help the world..

I sponsor a number of riders and I can say I couldn't care less how they spell, it does not affect the way they jump a course or their dressage test..My experience of people who are this petty is they live their lives jealous of other peoples success because they often do not achieve anything themselves. The girl is dyslexic, so is my sister who chose to live her life as a victim of her dyslexia. This girl has had the guts to go to college and try and make something of her life. But all you want to do is her knock her down...

Can we please get back to what she originally asked?

Move it along there is nothing to see here...


EVERYONE GOING ON AND ON AND ON ABOUT SPELLING ERRORS NEEDS TO READ THIS POST. YOU JUST OVERLOOKED IT IN YOUR DESIRE TO MAKE THE OP LOOK BAD!!

Personally, if I had was going to sponser someone, I wouldn't turn down an excellent horse and rider combination just because the rider had spelling problems. That would be, well, stupid to turn down a fabulous pair. Just because someone can't spell, doesn't mean they don't speak clearly and certainly doesn't mean that they can't ride.

Sweetie..enjoy your horse. But know that the business you would like to get into does not warrant holding onto him. So, with that said, maybe you should be looking for another career because you will get eaten alive by the wolves, so-to-speak, of the horse world. This world has two sides. Business, where money is the focus. And it's a hobby where most of the time you either struggle with your every day life to take care of your beasts, or you just have money to enjoy them.

If your horse isn't getting the dressage, forget about it. My personal opinion is without dressage, you have no jumper. As young horses, the FIRST thing we teach them is dressage, then we jump them. Maybe you could show him on the local level, but at the GP level on the big A circuits, I don't think so. Without that dressage how are you going to maneuver yourself around a crazy designed jumper course with tight turns and weird distances?

Sorry for being so blunt but, this is our world, and it works the way it is. Some of us WORK with horses and some of us HAVE horses. Two totally different worlds. You probably will never sell your horse, but I'm gonna tell you, that even if you tried you'd probably not make a profit from what it sounds like. Sure, he can jump around a 3'-3'6" course but how beautifully does he do it? How effortless is it for him? Does he make it look like an equine ballet? If not, I wouldn't place my bets on him anyhow...because I personally as a Jumper person like to see a freak of nature. Something that snaps those knees up to his eyes and makes it look easy. Big is not always better, your 18H horse would probably be NO competition to my tiny little 15.2H cat-like creature and she hasn't even shown yet...and he definitely wouldn't be as fast as her!

I am in this business to work, and that is my opinion. But like I said, by all means, enjoy your horse, enjoy riding, there's nothing better in the world. But it's quite possible from what you've said that you shouldn't make it your career....

Who do you think you are to proclaim that your horse is probably better than hers without even seeing her horse? A professional wouldn't say that she couldn't sell the horse or make it in the business without seeing the pair go. Just because she is confused about how to get started in the business does not mean that she can't make it.

Yes, I am a professional because I make money off of training horses. You might be in the business to work, but I am in it because I love to ride.

And I didn't get the feel sorry for me feeling from the OP at all. She is young, and at a very confusing time in her life.

And sometimes, the kids that make it to the top like Margie Engle do work harder and have to overcome more obstacles than the rich kids. I have a friend that is well on her way to GP with a horse she only paid 1500 for as a three year old. She is by no means rich, and she had to be twice as good as a rich kid her age because she couldn't afford the training and had to have the ability to pick out a great young horse on a very limited budget. He is only an 8 year old Appendix QH, she has schooled over 5'6", and she was winning consistently at level 4 jumpers before she was injured. She trained the horse herself, and he is 16.2. She is only 20 years old. My friend's horse has limited dressage training, and how come her horse is winning? It's because they have a connection, and he has learned over time to do almost half canter pirouettes to do the tight turns that she wants. He will collect and extend at the canter when she asks. Good horses come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Just because her horse is big and came from a nowhere background like my friend's horse, doesn't mean he can't outjump your horse.

OP, I think findeight said it best. You have to decide what you want. Unfortunately, keeping your horse may not be the best decision if you want a career in the business. I am torn between three worlds right now...the racing world, the academia world, and the hunter/jumper world. I do not know which path I want to take either, so I know how you feel. Anyway, good luck in whatever you decide to do.

[poog]

By giving your zone result from 2002 you have provided your identity. Pony was Res Ch in zone 5. There were 12 ponies with points that year in that zone. So 2nd of 12 for the year.
Your horse is not USEF recorded at present, just a HID. Until this year a jumper needed to be recorded to show in classes with over x amount in prize money. This is true no matter what the jumper division. Your horse has no USEF record as a hunter or a jumper. I was able to find one result from a dressage show in June of 2007.
Your USEF membership is inactive. Makes sense because you aren't showing.
In order to be taken seriously you need a serious show record.
Show the horse as a jumper and then get back to us.
Or see if he is bored at 4' by trying working hunters.


I also dug around a bit - the one H/J show I found rider was 4th out of 6th in the child/adult 3'6 division - out of 6. I'm thinking you should be the winner in the lower divisions before you look to move up to the grand prix. Maybe rider should venture into the low a/o's and see if her horse can make it with some of the professional ammies first.

[jse]

EVERYONE GOING ON AND ON AND ON ABOUT SPELLING ERRORS NEEDS TO READ THIS POST. YOU JUST OVERLOOKED IT IN YOUR DESIRE TO MAKE THE OP LOOK BAD!!

Personally, if I had was going to sponser someone, I wouldn't turn down an excellent horse and rider combination just because the rider had spelling problems. That would be, well, stupid to turn down a fabulous pair. Just because someone can't spell, doesn't mean they don't speak clearly and certainly doesn't mean that they can't ride.


Who do you think you are to proclaim that your horse is probably better than hers without even seeing her horse? A professional wouldn't say that she couldn't sell the horse or make it in the business without seeing the pair go. Just because she is confused about how to get started in the business does not mean that she can't make it.

Yes, I am a professional because I make money off of training horses. You might be in the business to work, but I am in it because I love to ride.

And I didn't get the feel sorry for me feeling from the OP at all. She is young, and at a very confusing time in her life.

And sometimes, the kids that make it to the top like Margie Engle do work harder and have to overcome more obstacles than the rich kids. I have a friend that is well on her way to GP with a horse she only paid 1500 for as a three year old. She is by no means rich, and she had to be twice as good as a rich kid her age because she couldn't afford the training and had to have the ability to pick out a great young horse on a very limited budget. He is only an 8 year old Appendix QH, she has schooled over 5'6", and she was winning consistently at level 4 jumpers before she was injured. She trained the horse herself, and he is 16.2. She is only 20 years old. My friend's horse has limited dressage training, and how come her horse is winning? It's because they have a connection, and he has learned over time to do almost half canter pirouettes to do the tight turns that she wants. He will collect and extend at the canter when she asks. Good horses come in all shapes, sizes, and colors. Just because her horse is big and came from a nowhere background like my friend's horse, doesn't mean he can't outjump your horse.

OP, I think findeight said it best. You have to decide what you want. Unfortunately, keeping your horse may not be the best decision if you want a career in the business. I am torn between three worlds right now...the racing world, the academia world, and the hunter/jumper world. I do not know which path I want to take either, so I know how you feel. Anyway, good luck in whatever you decide to do.

I never said my horse was better than hers. That's petty, I was just making the example of how most people think that big horses, means JUMP! But it doesn't necessarily mean that. Please, read for comprehension. Not once did I even utter that I was better than anyone...NOR did I say I was a pro...my HUSBAND is the pro. Lord, you people complain that people can't spell...but can you READ?
And yes, love what you do, that is extremely important, but you also gotta know that just because you love doing it, doesn't mean you're any good at it and that's what you need to explore around to find out!
Oh and one more thing, I too came from a background very similar to that of your friend's. My horse (whom I owned for 15 years before he tragically died back in 2005) was nothing without me, in fact he colicked a time or two when I wasn't around. I had to compete with the girls who had $$, but guess who ended up on top every time? Me. The fact that I didn't have everything given to me on a silver plate made me work harder than everyone else around me and it paid off. I brought him from a horse who absolutely had no talent in jumping to jumping 3' with ease. But the fact of the matter is that he had all of his flat work nearly perfect before we even started to jump. This is my point with the dressage, I (like I said in my post) PERSONALLY (which means, it is MY opinion and my way of doing it) think that you gotta have that dressage to have a good jumper. But to each his own...

[Foxtrot's]

Some of the posters will know that I do see things from personal experience. It IS a long row to hoe. However, it is the same for a lot of people. Don't be discouraged but be realistic. Nobody can make it happen but yourself and if the desire is there you will make something out of the horse business. There is some good advice here - it just won't happen from the top down. Big dreams are not a bad thing. Don't give up your college though!!

The stories of sheer luck in landing a sponsor abound - facts are about l:l00,000. When a door opens, go through it. If you can handle the nitty gritty and hard work, good luck.
I hate to discourage anybody who has ambition - lots of rags to riches stories out there.
In fact that would make a thread of its own.

[MLP]

I never said my horse was better than hers. That's petty, I was just making the example of how most people think that big horses, means JUMP! But it doesn't necessarily mean that. Please, read for comprehension. Not once did I even utter that I was better than anyone...NOR did I say I was a pro...my HUSBAND is the pro. Lord, you people complain that people can't spell...but can you READ?
And yes, love what you do, that is extremely important, but you also gotta know that just because you love doing it, doesn't mean you're any good at it and that's what you need to explore around to find out!

your 18H horse would probably be NO competition to my tiny little 15.2H cat-like creature and she hasn't even shown yet...and he definitely wouldn't be as fast as her! (your exact words)

Your not saying your horse is better than hers... How's that, at least faster if not better and cattier if not better. Size doesn't mean anything either way, but don't say no big horses are good, isn't the Chronicle Horse of the Year a 17.3h Irish horse. Maybe you should READ, and not just posts, real articles that are relevant to the sport. Each animal is individual and without really seeing the animal go NONE of us can speculate accurately.

[Giddy-up]

My stand on this is that in 4 years I have taken my horse from no steering to being completely comfortable showing at the Grand Prix heights.

So I thought the whole point of this was the horse hasn't shown cause you don't have any money thus the need for sponsorship?? :confused:

[ExJumper]

My stand on this is that in 4 years I have taken my horse from no steering to being completely comfortable showing at the Grand Prix heights.

So I thought the whole point of this was the horse hasn't shown cause you don't have any money thus the need for sponsorship?? :confused:

I believe the OP means "comfortable schooling Grand Prix heights." She said that she schools full GP-height courses at her home barn, which I believe she trailers to, so it's like showing.

[jse]

your 18H horse would probably be NO competition to my tiny little 15.2H cat-like creature and she hasn't even shown yet...and he definitely wouldn't be as fast as her! (your exact words)

Your not saying your horse is better than hers... How's that, at least faster if not better and cattier if not better. Size doesn't mean anything either way, but don't say no big horses are good, isn't the Chronicle Horse of the Year a 17.3h Irish horse. Maybe you should READ, and not just posts, real articles that are relevant to the sport. Each animal is individual and without really seeing the animal go NONE of us can speculate accurately.

How many SUCCESSFUL 18h Jumpers do you know? My point is, FROM MY EXPERIENCE the smaller horses have a better go if they can actually jump. Less body to carry around means quicker time, easier ride. The big horses have and can do it, but you gotta be one hell of a rider to maneuver them through a difficult Grand Prix course.

And from what I can see The Chronicle Horse of the Year is an eventer.....NOT a GP horse. So what's your point?

[Foxtrot's]

Big Ben was a big boy .. and successful. That's one.

[bascher]

Hidden Creek's Perin is somewhere between 17.1 and 17.3 depending on what source you look at (although I'm not good at digging up information on the internet.)

And I really don't think you can make a statement about the horse based on size only. I've seen small horses in the GP's do really well because they are fast and can turn, and I've also seen huge horses in the GP's do really well because they just cover such a huge amount of ground and can still turn well.

[jse]

Hidden Creek's Perin is somewhere between 17.1 and 17.3 depending on what source you look at (although I'm not good at digging up information on the internet.)

And I really don't think you can make a statement about the horse based on size only. I've seen small horses in the GP's do really well because they are fast and can turn, and I've also seen huge horses in the GP's do really well because they just cover such a huge amount of ground and can still turn well.

Yeah but then your question is...WHO was riding the horse? You gotta know how to ride to get a big horse around a course of jumps. Sapphire is a huge mare, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Ward is about the only person who can get her around a course of jumps like he does.
To the person who said something about The Chronicle Horse of the Year, well here's a quote from his rider Gina Miles "Want to ride for fun? Ride a carousel." Sure, like I said before, love what you do but...you gotta be good to be taken seriously.
And about the dressage, the great señor Marcus Ehning once said to a friend of mine "If my horses don't have dressage, then they don't jump." But, like I said, that's everyone's personal opinion, and I believe you're not getting what I mean when I say dressage, I'm not saying the horse needs to get out there and do a perfect dressage test, I'm saying that it's gotta have more than what you call flat work under it's belt. More than just walk/trot/cantering around before it jumps every day...
Sorry to those who have taken my opinion and chopped it up on the cutting board...it's merely my opinion. I don't claim to know more than the next guy cause I learn something new every single day, JUST like the rest of you.

[MILOUTE55]

To the person who said something about The Chronicle Horse of the Year, well here's a quote from his rider Gina Miles "Want to ride for fun? Ride a carousel." Sure, like I said before, love what you do but...you gotta be good to be taken seriously.


:D :D :D a "quote"... it's in a commercial that all of us have read in the paper version of the Chronicle! A cool commercial with a cool quote, but still a commercial, meaning she got paid for it... bad example in my opinion, especially in a discussion about sponsorships!

[bornfreenowexpensive]

Only "sponsors" that I've known of in either Jumpers OR eventers were OWNERS of the horse. Yes, there are some corporate sponsors out there, but mostly give products.....tack, vehicles, clothing. And a non-established rider is not going to be very attractive to them. The ones that pay your bills...pay your horse's bills....they are the ones with an ownership interest in the horse.

The deals vary. Some riders will keep partial ownership. This has the advantage of keeping control over the horse to a certain degree. But that usually has its limits. You have to be giving something to an owner to make this worth their while. Either an agreement to sell in the future....or you need to produce the wins...get them a part of the big time. And if you retain partial ownership....expect to pay part of the bills.

Getting "sponsorship" isn't necessarily a wonderful thing. It will likely NOT solve your financial problems and will create additional pressures that you may or may not be ready to handle. You will have someone else to consider besides just yourself and your horse.....and that someone may or may not be difficult to deal with.

Personally....get an education in business or accounting (not equine science)....medical or real science degree. Those are just as appealing...if not more so than an equine science degree for most equine employers. It sounds like you are doing that to an extent with the Web Design. Your real "in" into the business is who you work for and train with....that will open more doors....along with a lot of sweat, talent and even more luck.

ETA: I ended up pursuing a career NOT involved with horses not because I couldn't make it in the horse world, but I looked around and decided that I had the brains and ability to make my own money doing something else and then would be able to sponsor my own horses. I have friends who are pros...extremely talented....but they do not own a single horse. Horses that they love and care for could be sold out from under them (and have) at any time. It is very hard to make a career in the horse world and own your own competition horse from a business perspective. You need to love what you do regardless....but reality is, horses and competing are very very expensive. There is nothing wrong with either choice (doing horses for a living or not) but the OP needs to look around and look closely at what it takes to survive in the horse world and what are her priorities and goals.

[PineTreeFarm]

:D :D :D a "quote"... it's in a commercial that all of us have read in the paper version of the Chronicle! A cool commercial with a cool quote, but still a commercial, meaning she got paid for it... bad example in my opinion, especially in a discussion about sponsorships!

I think that is a good quote for this discussion.
The rider is well known so makes an impact in an ad. But she is well known because she takes riding seriously and has a winning record thus she is valuable to a sponsor. It really is about what the sponsor gets out of the arrangement.

And in the OP's situation she is lacking the qualities that a sponsor is looking for. Name recognition.

[Coreene]

I have said in this BB 100s of times in the past that people need to look to how European sponsorships are set up, where the rider gets a regular salary from the sponsor as oart of the package. Sponsors' names appear before the horse's name, but quite often that horse does not belong to the rider or the sponsor. And so on.

[jse]

:D :D :D a "quote"... it's in a commercial that all of us have read in the paper version of the Chronicle! A cool commercial with a cool quote, but still a commercial, meaning she got paid for it... bad example in my opinion, especially in a discussion about sponsorships!

Well in the advertisement what she has said is "quoted" (meaning it's in between quotation marks) which meant she said it, paid or not. And since this thread has gone everywhere from sponsorships to spelling bees, what does it matter anyway?

Only "sponsors" that I've known of in either Jumpers OR eventers were OWNERS of the horse. Yes, there are some corporate sponsors out there, but mostly give products.....tack, vehicles, clothing. And a non-established rider is not going to be very attractive to them. The ones that pay your bills...pay your horse's bills....they are the ones with an ownership interest in the horse.

The deals vary. Some riders will keep partial ownership. This has the advantage of keeping control over the horse to a certain degree. But that usually has its limits. You have to be giving something to an owner to make this worth their while. Either an agreement to sell in the future....or you need to produce the wins...get them a part of the big time. And if you retain partial ownership....expect to pay part of the bills.

Getting "sponsorship" isn't necessarily a wonderful thing. It will likely NOT solve your financial problems and will create additional pressures that you may or may not be ready to handle. You will have someone else to consider besides just yourself and your horse.....and that someone may or may not be difficult to deal with.

Personally....get an education in business or accounting (not equine science)....medical or real science degree. Those are just as appealing...if not more so than an equine science degree for most equine employers. It sounds like you are doing that to an extent with the Web Design. Your real "in" into the business is who you work for and train with....that will open more doors....along with a lot of sweat, talent and even more luck.

ETA: I ended up pursuing a career NOT involved with horses not because I couldn't make it in the horse world, but I looked around and decided that I had the brains and ability to make my own money doing something else and then would be able to sponsor my own horses. I have friends who are pros...extremely talented....but they do not own a single horse. Horses that they love and care for could be sold out from under them (and have) at any time. It is very hard to make a career in the horse world and own your own competition horse from a business perspective. You need to love what you do regardless....but reality is, horses and competing are very very expensive. There is nothing wrong with either choice (doing horses for a living or not) but the OP needs to look around and look closely at what it takes to survive in the horse world and what are her priorities and goals.

Very well put. In a sense this is what I was trying to say, however obviously what I said came out wrong and everyone took offense to it. I think the OP should follow her dreams, attempt what she seeks out to do, but in all honesty anyone who has been there and done that can tell you, your chances (based on the OP's details) are slim...sure there are some rags to riches stories out there but they are one in a million. Finish school! Support yourself and pay for your own GP horses some day, that will be the most rewarding experience ever if you get there.

[bascher]

Yeah but then your question is...WHO was riding the horse? You gotta know how to ride to get a big horse around a course of jumps. Sapphire is a huge mare, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say that Ward is about the only person who can get her around a course of jumps like he does.
To the person who said something about The Chronicle Horse of the Year, well here's a quote from his rider Gina Miles "Want to ride for fun? Ride a carousel." Sure, like I said before, love what you do but...you gotta be good to be taken seriously.
And about the dressage, the great señor Marcus Ehning once said to a friend of mine "If my horses don't have dressage, then they don't jump." But, like I said, that's everyone's personal opinion, and I believe you're not getting what I mean when I say dressage, I'm not saying the horse needs to get out there and do a perfect dressage test, I'm saying that it's gotta have more than what you call flat work under it's belt. More than just walk/trot/cantering around before it jumps every day...
Sorry to those who have taken my opinion and chopped it up on the cutting board...it's merely my opinion. I don't claim to know more than the next guy cause I learn something new every single day, JUST like the rest of you.

I'm still not sure how it is right to claim that just because one big horse is ridden by someone good, all big horses NEED to be ridden by someone good to do well. It seems like a huge generalization, and one that you could also make for smaller horses, because big name riders ride small horses too, but you aren't saying that only BNRs can be successful on them. I just don't agree with the generalization about all large horses doing the upper level jumpers; it seems too broad to see that ONLY BNRs can ride them well. I would much rather judge a horse in person as to it's talent rather than judging it based on what someone says about it on the internet and it's size.

[over the moon]

I'm still not sure how it is right to claim that just because one big horse is ridden by someone good, all big horses NEED to be ridden by someone good to do well.

I dare say that any one person successfully riding a technical 5'+ GP course can be described as a "good" rider.

[jse]

I'm still not sure how it is right to claim that just because one big horse is ridden by someone good, all big horses NEED to be ridden by someone good to do well. It seems like a huge generalization, and one that you could also make for smaller horses, because big name riders ride small horses too, but you aren't saying that only BNRs can be successful on them. I just don't agree with the generalization about all large horses doing the upper level jumpers; it seems too broad to see that ONLY BNRs can ride them well. I would much rather judge a horse in person as to it's talent rather than judging it based on what someone says about it on the internet and it's size.

Well I mean, isn't our goal as rider's to be a GOOD, wait, GREAT rider? Sure you don't have to be a big name to be good, but those people who have the name in the spotlights didn't get there by being bad rider's did they? Sure a lot of them aren't the prettiest of riders, but they get the job done and they win the classes.
And we are talking about the highest level of show jumping here, it's not Level 3 or Level 5. The courses get harder, not to mention higher, here and it takes a good rider to get any horse through some of them! My point is, at this level, point blank, you gotta know how to ride in order to succeed. Big horse or little horse.
So you want an example of a small horse ridden by a big name, take Touch of Class for instance. She was small, but Joe got her to the Olympics and won a bronze! Can you imagine setting a little horse like that up to such big jumps? They can barely even see over them! And just like with bigger horses, it takes some skill to get them to the other side...
The OP is saying she schools GP levels at home...but who is designing her courses? How complicated are they? Could they compare to the ones at GP shows? Who knows. But I'm gonna guess no...but like you said, who am I to judge a horse I can't see? I too would much rather judge a horse after seeing it but...seeing as we ARE on the internet, we don't have much else to go by and she came here asking for opinions so...what else do ya do?

I dare say that any one person successfully riding a technical 5'+ GP course can be described as a "good" rider.

And what exactly do you mean? That people riding 5'+ GP courses aren't good?

[bascher]

I am sorry that my post gave off the wrong impression about riders having to be good, etc. I understand where you got that impression after rereading my post and I admit that if I had read my own post after posting, I might have come to the same conclusion as you did. I did not articulate what I was trying to say very well. All I was attempting to talk about was how you shouldn't knock a horse just because of it's size, but somehow the rider got involved in my discussion as well :) If I may, I'll blame my inability to articulate my point on an overload of physics and move on :D

[jse]

I am sorry that my post gave off the wrong impression about riders having to be good, etc. I understand where you got that impression after rereading my post and I admit that if I had read my own post after posting, I might have come to the same conclusion as you did. I did not articulate what I was trying to say very well. All I was attempting to talk about was how you shouldn't knock a horse just because of it's size, but somehow the rider got involved in my discussion as well :) If I may, I'll blame my inability to articulate my point on an overload of physics and move on :D

Don't worry, I have a four month old child, lack of sleep often deters my ability to even walk straight from time to time, let alone type. lol I have no clue how us women do it, but somehow we do. Good Lord I couldn't imagine the woman with 8 babies' life...whew.

[over the moon]

And what exactly do you mean? That people riding 5'+ GP courses aren't good?

I said the exact opposite...

[used2]

look kid it sounds like a great dream. call Disney, sell the movie rights to your life in advance. If that doesn't work live like you ride - keep going forward you'll get there.

[jse]

I said the exact opposite...

This is what I originally thought but...just was making sure. Read my above post, you'll understand, lol...I got like 2 hours of sleep consecutively last night. No fun.

[over the moon]

This is what I originally thought but...just was making sure. Read my above post, you'll understand, lol...I got like 2 hours of sleep consecutively last night. No fun.

Haha, not to worry, we all have those days, and with a young baby you're allowed at least double. :)