are the regional squads for eventing worth the money spent on them

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trick123

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does anybody know if they are of benefit to the riders and their horses, what is the criteria for riders to stay on the squad, are they reviewed every year, and what help do they get? In my opinion young riders should be taught all the usual-improving their horse/riding etc but shouldn't they also be taught how to deal with owners, for now or the future if they want to become professional, eg keeping owners in touch with what their horse is doing, making sure the horses are fit for purpose etc.
I ask all this because speaking from experience as an owner I am appalled that a] i wasn't given any feedback about what my horse was doing, b] he was run this season quite inappropriately as regards his age, and he has been returned to me like a hat rack, no shoes, no passport. needless to say the horse won't be returning to said young rider. Well I asked for him back because I'd heard he was poor. When asked about the condition of the horse I was told he was 'fit'. I wish I could upload photos then I could show you all what was regarded as fit! So I can only assertain [sp?] that nobody has told him the difference.
I have to say the horse was lent to the rider in good faith, I wasn't paying any costs, and I didn't charge a leasing fee, but I still expected the horse to be cared for properly.
I'm sure there are lots of riders out there who would have loved to be on the regional squads, but I can't see any benefit on a personal level at all. Where does the money come from, is it my and your BE membership money, lottery money or what?
Bit of a ramble and I can't express myself very well I know but I would like to see genuine kids who are keen to improve in an all round way getting the benefit from training money because they are our riders, team members of the future.
 
trick123 said:
does anybody know if they are of benefit to the riders and their horses, what is the criteria for riders to stay on the squad, are they reviewed every year, and what help do they get? In my opinion young riders should be taught all the usual-improving their horse/riding etc but shouldn't they also be taught how to deal with owners, for now or the future if they want to become professional, eg keeping owners in touch with what their horse is doing, making sure the horses are fit for purpose etc.
I ask all this because speaking from experience as an owner I am appalled that a] i wasn't given any feedback about what my horse was doing, b] he was run this season quite inappropriately as regards his age, and he has been returned to me like a hat rack, no shoes, no passport. needless to say the horse won't be returning to said young rider. Well I asked for him back because I'd heard he was poor. When asked about the condition of the horse I was told he was 'fit'. I wish I could upload photos then I could show you all what was regarded as fit! So I can only assertain [sp?] that nobody has told him the difference.
I have to say the horse was lent to the rider in good faith, I wasn't paying any costs, and I didn't charge a leasing fee, but I still expected the horse to be cared for properly.
I'm sure there are lots of riders out there who would have loved to be on the regional squads, but I can't see any benefit on a personal level at all. Where does the money come from, is it my and your BE membership money, lottery money or what?
Bit of a ramble and I can't express myself very well I know but I would like to see genuine kids who are keen to improve in an all round way getting the benefit from training money because they are our riders, team members of the future.
Click to expand...


Im on a regional young rider dressage squad, so some of this is irrelevant to me but...

Criteria to stay on the squad: consistent placings, showing development as a result for gaining the place on the team. Willing to take and listen to advice and no problems with authority. Ability to progress further.
What I get from the team: Personal coaching, an allowance for further lessons and necessary equipment, subsidiaries for travel to and from comps etc.
I have not specifically be taught how to interact with owners, but I had my first owner aged 10 on the pony squads, so I figured it out :D
Our teams are part gov funded, part lottery funded, part membership/association funding.

I think that answers everything you've said. Our squad sounds better run than where ever your horse was sent to!
 
Meow-Kiss said:
Im on a regional young rider dressage squad, so some of this is irrelevant to me but...

Criteria to stay on the squad: consistent placings, showing development as a result for gaining the place on the team. Willing to take and listen to advice and no problems with authority. Ability to progress further.
What I get from the team: Personal coaching, an allowance for further lessons and necessary equipment, subsidiaries for travel to and from comps etc.
I have not specifically be taught how to interact with owners, but I had my first owner aged 10 on the pony squads, so I figured it out :D
Our teams are part gov funded, part lottery funded, part membership/association funding.

I think that answers everything you've said. Our squad sounds better run than where ever your horse was sent to!
Click to expand...


that sounds good criteria, and you have answered all my queries thank you. can i be personal and ask have you reached the criteria?
 
There is a selection programme in place and can be found on the right hand side of the page.
http://www.britisheventing.com/page...egional+Foundation+Programme+for+Young+Riders

Personally as the owner of the horse if you felt it was being run inappropriately then you should have removed the horse or discussed it with the rider, if you had a contract then you should have been allowed to give a months notice and been able to remove the horse.

The regional squad is about occasional training if the riders management of the horse is still poor then a couple of sessions will not help. Ultimately if the management of the horse is poor they will not get the results at a higher level. For me the regional squad is about making sure some talented riders are not lost from the system who are perhaps making horses for the future or who have just not quite made it into the squads but who are talented and have a guiding hand.
 
atm, i am trying very hard to find an owner willing to give me a ride or buy part of my horse. i am not too experienced as an event rider but being 16 have been taught the correct wellfare of horses and how they should be. i dont think horses should be given to riders who dont know what they are doing.. obviously, when you see a person ride your horse, you dont think oh.,, he rides well, but i am going to ask him if he knows what a fit horse looks like.!! i was extremely lucky to go and work at a top event yard this summer and seeing how fit, world games bound horses can be, it gives u a insight... i was taught so much and now know what to look for, .... an she taught me how you should keep in touch with owners!!
maybe there should be a test or exam like the pony club tests you can get to recognise this!?
 
trick123, i really hope your horse has suffered no lasting damage. tbh I don't think you can ever trust anyone, be they a junior, young rider or adult, to make your horse's welfare as big a priority as you yourself would do. If you loan your horse again, I'd suggest making sure it is close to home, and/or you receive very regular updates, and have the ultimate say in where and when your horse runs.
as for the training, it is very difficult to see the holes in someone's training & management unless you spend a lot of time watching them or with them - things that seem totally obvious can be missed out due to ignorance.
 
Personally as the owner of the horse if you felt it was being run inappropriately then you should have removed the horse or discussed it with the rider, if you had a contract then you should have been allowed to give a months notice and been able to remove the horse.

The regional squad is about occasional training if the riders management of the horse is still poor then a couple of sessions will not help. Ultimately if the management of the horse is poor they will not get the results at a higher level. For me the regional squad is about making sure some talented riders are not lost from the system who are perhaps making horses for the future or who have just not quite made it into the squads but who are talented and have a guiding hand.[/QUOTE]
i agree with you i should have done something about it sooner.
i hope they are looked at after a year to see if they have met the criteria and they are honest about the future, i hope talented young people are not lost because they can't talk the talk
 
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