I wholly support the idea of scouting young talent and officially reporting findings up the chain toward the goal of professional internships. Putting young riders in close proximity to professional grand prix horses and trainers is brilliant. To support the idea that this sport is financially crippling to the pipeline of potentially talented riders that could help regain the international stature of our competitive past let’s put dollars to the cost of an average persons competition year.
I wholly support the idea of scouting young talent and officially reporting findings up the chain toward the goal of professional internships. Putting young riders in close proximity to professional grand prix horses and trainers is brilliant. To support the idea that this sport is financially crippling to the pipeline of potentially talented riders that could help regain the international stature of our competitive past let’s put dollars to the cost of an average persons competition year.
I am a parent of an extremely talented young rider. She has been riding for 4 years and is 11 years old. She comes from a long line of amateur Jumpers so I suppose it’s genetic. She however rides 6 days a week and spends 30 hours a week at the barn riding her horse and any horse her trainer puts her on. She’s learning how to take care of her horse from our vet, the great grooms and of course her trainer. Two years ago we began getting our feet wet with showing. For the 2010 competition year we heavily hit the show circuit for the first time. At the end of this year she ended up 5th in Zone 10 Childrens Jumper – Low and was invited to pony finals too.
But to get there we spent thousands and thousands and thousands of dollars. Between Training, Board, Vets/Farriers, Grooming, Clinics, Equipment for horse and rider, Shows, Travel expenses for my family and her trainer, Feed, Clothing for horse and rider, etc. we spent easily $75,000.00. Truthfully it could be more in miscellaneous expenses I don’t want to remember! But, with that said my husband and I made a conscience decision to support my daughter (and now my son coming behind her) in this sport. We sold our dream home, we pulled them out of private school, downsized our cars and other things and make choices about how we spend our money. People think we are crazy and maybe we are but there is nothing that can compare to the enjoyment we have as a family going to shows and watching these kids do what they LOVE! The tangible/intangible benefits far outweigh the sacrifices. If they quit think of all the money I’ll suddenly have to buy my dream home again. If they stay with it think of the amazing future we will have never mind the life lessons along the way. How many of us truly do what we love to do everyday.
With all of that said my husband and I are not independently wealthy. We are working people living in Southern California. Our industry keeps us here in one of the most expensive places to live in the world. We together make a great deal of money by anyone’s standards. But to compete in this sport we spend 35% of our after tax salary!!!. And, the prospect of how to find the money to get her the next horse to take her to 1.20 and beyond seems impossible! We spend every extra dollar on the current expenses. This is not to say what a sad story we have because I am acutely aware of how blessed we are but it is to say with all of the resources we have how does someone less financially advantaged have a prayer of competing? How do I as a parent of an Olympic hopeful or Grand Prix hopeful have a prayer of keeping pace with the expenses of this sport? While we are fortunate we are not mega rich.
She needs to get to the next level and without some kind of scholarship, internship, sponsorship, grant I have no idea how to help her. It’s no wonder there is no pipeline of talented riders developed here in the U.S if it is only open to the mega rich as Mr. Morris states. Talent scouts work for every major professional sport why not ours?