£125 to enter an ODE!

It is so expensive. I'm hoping to affiliate my youngster next year but at this rate I'll only be able to do about 5 a year which is a shame beacuse he could really go a long old way.
 
Yeah that's exactly my point - there are a handful of people that do so much and then people have the cheek to moan at the price (along with the way its run etc etc)!

There never seems to be a happy medium you either do loads or b*gger all. Its the lazy people that moan about the price that really get on my t*ts.
 
I see that JRN horses are also now going to be eligible for prize money and will be awarded points - interesting to speculate about the reason for that policy change!
There are exactly the same issues/uproar about point to points both from owners (entry costs) and people simply going to watch - with costs inluding medical cover, insurance, fence/ground management etc. let alone staffing - they rely on volunteers too. I guess we have to put up or shut up but it's gonna be tough and we'll probably see several eventing venues giving it a miss in the future sadly
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I cannot believe you are all so naive or tight or both.....

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I help out at many local events. I agree, events dont make money. But BE take a large chunk of the money and people like me who arent total grassroots but arent pros either dont seem to get a lot back, esp with only one horse and having to withdraw through lameness etc
 
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We have a cross country course, it's shut.
I don't want to pay or labour myself for over 2 weeks to get it ready, have the field trashed, then have more idiot jumped up mothers (PC) than you can shake a stick at and for what... usually less than £500. This doesn't pay for new jumps, the preservative, time, strimming, topping and generally making the farm public safe.



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Someone seems a bit sour about something?!
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My two instructors who compete BE can only afford it due to sponsorship from the clients they're teaching every week.

wouldn't actually surprise me that the reason why lessons are so expensive is so that some of the money can go into a BE fund pot of some kind
 
It would be really interesting to see if they "buy" their services in well, any company that works would look to use their buying power etc for printing services, not sure if they do that now and make arrangments locally

For amateurs, personally RC & PC are a stepping stone at PN level for young horses to get a couple of rounds in without having to pay to enter an intro etc. However to get a decent re-sale price for an event horse you need the points and record so doing it long term isnt really an option.

Its a real shame, I would love the opportunity to see if I could help them save money and see if we could not necessarily lower the price, but keep it at a level where its reasonable and if you manage to get a place you dont walk away feeling a bit disheartened when you get a headcollar in bright pink! If they want some help....i'd love to try and assist

Just to add, it was also very interesting when I took my mare and foal out to a county show a year ago. I entered 4 classes at a cost of £40, coming away with 3 places I got a cheque for £125 and didnt have to do much more than 30 mins effort, plait up (which you normally do anyway) and run round and hang on to a foal!
 
Entry fees are a little hard to swallow these days, it's not just BE that's expensive, though I do agree with many people on here that the prizes given are taking the piss at many of the events. Sorry to those that are generous at Intro and PN as there are a few about that are.

But, I can't whinge as I love Eventing and feel while Rosie and I are young enough and fit enough we should have our fun, so that we have good times to look back on, reminisce, whilst I slave to pay my National Debt!!!
 
CotswoldSJ - If you don't make much money out of it then you should complain to BE (who take most of the £) and not taking it out on us! It is damn expensive to do BE these days, and it IS very difficult for amateurs to do it! Personally, I don't complain about the organisation because I think BE events are generally the best. And I have also helped jump judge in the past at BE things (as Im sure others have too).

I also BSJA which is pricey as well, but at least you get quite decent prize money back whereas BE, you get feck all at Intro & PN and have to be right near the top to get anything in N.

We competitors are the ones who support these events, so putting people off with steep entry fees is surely shooting themselves in the foot?! Lower the prices and Im sure they'd get more entries... I would love to try an Intermediate next year but plan to only do 1 and then stay at novice for the rest because its just too expensive (especially when I BSJA as well).
 
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Im another moaning minnie who helps out - So I thank you kindly to not call me that or anyone else who DOES help out
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Did you even bother to read my post properly??? I was referring to people who do not help and then moan, not ones that do. Although it is only ever a small handful of the same people that organise and make these events happen.

No sour grapes, why on earth flog my guts out for little profit, I now have a course to myself and no hoards of idiots that come and trash the place!
 
CotswoldSj, you sound a lovely person, you are a very lucky person to have such facilities .I hope you enjoy them.Most of us flog our guts out at work and get very low wages. I work with disabled people for minimum wage so it is hard to afford to event and to get the horse fit it means hiring a course or gallop every week as well.
We know we do an expensive sport and are grateful for venues but most of us have given time to the sport ,I examine and teach pony club and train riding and road safety.
I would love to have the facilities to train people and if I won the lottery I would have such a place and would welcome all that wanted to learn.
You must be VERY lucky!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
So why not get a better paying job and do the disabled stuff on a part time basis?

Being a venue you have to get the proper insurance and do your best to minimise risk to users. This is not free, therefore venues can never be free unless you have oodles of cash - which I don't, but thanks for judging me anyway!
 
I think that comment's out of order but I do understand what you're saying about costs. Hope you haven't lost yourself some customers
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btw - I don't even own any horses so don't buy tack etc.
 
Fine I'll tow the line!

Its an outrage to be charged £50 for a BE entry, everywhere should be free or a tenner at the most.

I am going to quit my job (that I hate, but pays the bills) to work with children in poverty.
 
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I now have a course to myself and no hoards of idiots that come and trash the place!

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Excuse me? Hope you aren't referring to anyone who competes in BE as "idiots"...? If so then you may be about to become very unpopular.
 
Actually no - I was referring to the pony club and hangers on.

We've had to stop them letting our animals out, clambering over 2 strands of barbed wire and cotswold stone wall to avoid using the gateway 100 yards away. We have had stuff 'borrowed' without permission and not brought back. Gates left open, people letting dogs off the lead and letting them wander in front of competing horses.

To be fair RC and BE are a walk in the park compared the PC!
 
I'm sorry you hate your job (been there, got the T-shirt etc.) It's one thing being a bored with what you have to do to pay the bills but quite another actually hating it. Might be best to find something you really want to do rather than working with poverty stricken kids though.
 
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