Dressage opportunities to get noticed

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l.b175

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I wondered if anyone could give me some advice...
I am 19 years old and live in the Channel Islands and I want to be a professional dressage rider. Where I live we have very limited opportunities. I would be willing to move to the UK but don't just want to be a groom, mucking out stables, for years on end. I have never competed in the UK but compete my current mare at med and adv med locally.We do have UK instructors who come over and I appreciate there are so many young people like myself out there but I do genuinely believe I am talented (im not much good at any other things (i'm quite badly dyspraxic) but ive always been/am being told I have a natural feel/flair when on a horse.) I have my PC Btest and my BHS AI-im hoping to have a go at my AH this summer and A riding next summer. I'm currently doing a degree locally (childhood studies) which I hate and I want to stop after my first year but I have no clue how I can have the opportunity to be seen in the dressage world. I just want ONE opportunity for someone to confirm whether I've got what it takes or not. Carl Hester was meant to be coming over to teach but he hasn't and am sure he wont be as I know how busy he is. The trouble is that it costs over £1000 to get a horse to and back from the UK and at the moment my mare is in the UK at an equine hospital and I have a 4yr old who hopefully will be lovely but he is a real baby so can't take him over to do talent spotting or anything. I just wandered if anyone could give me any ideas-My mum wants me to finish the degree but I hate it and definitely don't want to be a nursery teacher or school teacher. I know its good to have but we only have 1 life and I want to get out there are have a go at doing at what I love and what ive wanted to do since before I could walk!
Thank very much
 
Why not stick to the degree, use your childcare qualifications to get an au pair type job in the summer with a horsey family so that you are on the mainland and hopefully then you can either get yourself to a dressage yard or use the family's horses to do some clinics / comps etc.

I'm afraid unless you are startlingly talented and have some money behind you then you ARE going to be mucking out stables for years to come - unless you carry on with the degree, earn some decent money as a teacher and can afford to run your own horse.
 
To be a top rider you need 1 of two things - 1. a lot of money (ideally a rich family) or 2. to work your backside off mucking out until you get a break. That's how Carl started - he worked for free grooming and mucking out, they gave him accommodation and he had to work super hard. He got noticed and made some contacts in the dressage world, then got a phone call one day from Dr Bechtolschiemer (probably spelt it wrong - Laura Tomlinson's dad) who asked him to come and be their groom/head rider. He then learnt from Dr B who is a world renowned trainer, improved his riding and learnt as much as he could - then set up on his own.

Look at Laura Tomlinsons head rider Lara Griffith - Laura gave her the ride on one of her horses and now she is gaining momentum even looking to be on the Rio 2016 team. Just shows what hard work as a groom, then rider, can do.

It is very rare to find just a 'rider' position, more often than not you have to go in as a groom then once you have proven your dependability and riding skills you will start to get rides on the younger horses, eventually maybe even getting a break like Lara Griffith or Charlotte Dujardin.

As for your own horses - if you really want to make it you might have to be prepared to give them up. If you cant afford to ship them over to UK mainland then you have a choice, stay where you are with your horses and carry on with your degree, moving on from your dressage dream. Or you leave them behind and take the rides on whatever the yard you are working at offers you.

Sorry to sound harsh but no-one is going to give you a lesson or watch you at a competition and go 'wow she's amazing I'm going to buy her a yard so she can become a pro rider and pay for her horse's keep'. This is the real world and unless you come from a top dressage family (like the Eilbergs or Bechtolschiemers) then you have to WORK to get somewhere. So yes that does mean a few years of mucking out. And then a few years after that of falling off the young horses that the pro rider doesnt want to ride. And then eventually, when you have proved yourself, you might just get that break you have been hoping for.

As I said at the start there are 2 camps of pro riders - the ones that worked their backsides off, rode anything and everything that came their way, mucked out countless stables and got to where they are on very little money through sheer determination. Then there are the other camp who have rich parents who can set up a yard for them and buy them some horses to work their way up the levels with - then they supplement their income by becoming dressage trainers as well as competing.

So if your parents are not wealthy enough to buy you a yard on the UK mainland then you fall into the other camp - work your ass off if you want to be a dressage rider. So it depends how much you want it - but you dont sound prepared to muck out or get your hands dirty so perhaps the degree is a better option until you figure out what you REALLY want. If being a pro rider really is your dream then you'd do anything to get there, including mucking out for a few years. If you dont want to do that then this isnt your dream and you need to think of something else to do with yourself. Perhaps being a riding instructor might be better for you.
 
Agree with the above, if you don't have money, get a WP job at a top yard and be prepared to work your arse off. I worked 14 hr days as a polo groom but got to stick and ball on some of the best polo ponies in the world in return that cost about £100k +. I also got to ride the Girlfriends GP dressage horse. You need to think outside the box sometimes.

If your able to ride the more difficult and naughty ones it will help.

Also consider an apprentiship in Germany, they are unpaid but you get food, accommodation and livery for a horse but you will be riding everyday. They are much more structured than the uk and you will get a paid job and qualification at the end of it if you pass. It takes 2 years, you need to do a ridden exam and will have a thesis to write!
 
Hi L.B175, welcome to the forum. :D

I'm being too lazy to write out a massive reply as I'm getting distracted looking at wedding dresses. :D
If I was in your position I would be trying to finish my degree. Its only another two years (assuming you're on a 3 year course?) and it will give you something to fall back on. You only have to get launched off something or kicked in the stable and you'll be glad you did. However I say this, as someone who doesn't have a degree to fall back on but is working full time as a rider/groom.
Have a look at yardandgroom.com. See if there is anything that catches your eye, what you need to do now is make some sort of a name for yourself on the British circuit and then you can start to be a bit more picky about where you work. Your other option is to get yourself out to Holland/Germany etc, but you may find you are used as cannon fodder. Again if you are brave enough, this will give you a great grounding but be prepared to work harder than you have ever worked before. :D

Don't discount a groom position. I actually wouldn't want to not do the mucking out etc, apart from a great six pack it gives you a bond with the horses you ride that cannot be gained from just working them, you will also know exactly what is going on with each individual horse on each day.

Top riders don't just give you their young horses to ride, you have to work bloody hard and start at the bottom especially if you haven't had the exposure of U21s teams.

Why don't you email a few of the Top Tier of trainers/riders. See if they are looking for anyone.
The worst anyone can say to you is No.

Kt x

Ooops, that was quite a long reply.
 
I'd also advise you to finish the degree, but if you decide not to your best option is to go for a working pupil position. You wont earn much/anything once you've had accommodation and livery/training taken off but it will give you exposure and great training if you pick the right yard.

Good luck!
 
If you're going to go with a WP or similar position, go with the very best person you can! It doesn't necessarily have to be a "big name" (although it's worth asking them, especially if you can find some sort of tenuous connection or way to make yourself stand out from the crowd) but someone with a good rep in the industry for making nice horses, treating clients well, etc. There is a lot more to learn than just the riding and working for a successful organisation will teach you the right things. It will also, eventually, start to make you useful connections. Particularly if you don't have resources you need to meet the right people and have them see you work hard, be cheerful, and make the most of your opportunities.

You will have to do crap jobs. Of course you will - that's why established people take on WPs etc! But good people will reward your effort and give you opportunities to prove yourself and advance your knowledge. In return, you must, as a friend of mine said, "try to do it right the first time".

Don't kid yourself about the industry, either. Yes, there are people like Carl and Eric Lamaze who make it to the very top with little or no family support. But they really are freaks! Both those two had people talking LONG before they appeared on the public radar. They are not your average riders who have worked hard. But that doesn't mean there aren't lots of places in the industry for talented people willing to do the work. It's just that family support, even if it's not huge financial backing really does help. I know lots of people whose parents have very average resources but devote a great deal of time, effort, and what money they do have to their child's career. (I would put Charlotte in this category. It doesn't take away from anyone's talent, it's just part of seeing the industry clearly.)

Is your mother actively against you pursuing a horsey career? Or is she just worried you won't finish your degree? Can you perhaps feel out what she might be willing to help you with if you stay in your program and show the dedication to see it through? Would she be happier if you went to Germany or Holland and into their much more organised educational system?
 
Which island are you on Jersey or Guernsey? Although tbf doesn't make huge amounts of difference! You can do talent spotters without a horse in the UK I know because I did. The year I went to pony finals I rode my own pony at area comp (Jersey), borrowed a pony at regionals and again at nationals from the venue. The year I went to YR finals I borrowed a horse for areas (travelled to Guernsey), borrowed a horse at regionals and at that point no one brought their horse to nationals although I know that has now changed but again people do borrow horses.

My suggestion if you are properly serious is to go the WP route or if you can the BD apprenticeships route. To get to the top you need 3 of the following, money, luck, skill, determination. As you don't have the money you will need luck, skill and a huge skipfull of determination. It will be bloody hard but if you put yourself out there you can get noticed but as you say it won't happen whilst in the channel islands.

I would also echo others about finishing your degree. You can continue your training and do talent spotters and the like (I was offered a job after the YR nationals I wished I had taken up!)

Good luck
 
Hi
Thank you so much for all the replies...ive only just checked it now as to be honest I didnt think anyone would bother to reply!
I have hopefully got onto the Pony Club development pathways which is a bit like talent spotting but also training and have hopefully found a horse to ride to do it on as I wont get very far without a horse! (My mare's in an equine hospital in wales ;(

I am prepared to work my butt off and will go to England...that job that someone said sounded right up my street but at the moment I really need to try and finish yr 1 of the degree as then at least I will get a certificate of higher education. I dont think I will do the 2nd yr as I really do hate it but I have some serious decisions to make over easter-thanks for the advice though.
MY mum is very horsey and is extremely supportive of whatever I want to do-she just wants me make sure I make the right decisions but can understand why I dislike the degree and will definitely not force me or anything to go back next yr.

I am aiming to do my Pony Club AH test this summer and am currently thinking of using next yr to stay in Jersey to try and get my A riding and BHS inter teach to try and become an BHS II. With the teaching qualification I would then always have something to fall back on if the rider career didnt work out. I am not the bravest of riders and am not used to naughty horses but I really want to do this and my parents have just bought me a 4yo which is such good experience for me :)

I would love to have a go at proper talent spotting, esp if you can do it on another horse. Anyone know how to go about this-is there a website with dates and venues for 2014??? Im guessing its BD which does this?

I am very hardworking and dedicated so just need to try and do things where I can get noticed as ive never competed in the UK before or anything.
I appreciate your help-thank you very much x
 
I can't help with advice on the horsey side of things, but on the uni side, if you really hate your degree, why not change to a different degree that you might not hate? Or change to a university or other institution on the mainland? One year more or less at this point won't change things either way for you; if you're in the wrong programme, it's better you find out now and do something about it. If the point of the degree is purely a job qualification for you, then it makes sense to me to look into getting qualifications in something you actually enjoy.
 
Thanks for the advice...where I live we only have one university centre in the island with very limited degrees. I dont want to do another degree in somethign else as horses is all I want/have ever wanted to do...thats why I am hoping to be able to focus on getting my teaching qualifications as at least its a qualification doing something that I LOVE! :)
 
With regard to your A riding you need to be riding lots of different horses before you even consider it I took (and failed mine) and along with a bad back that really didn't help matters I simply wasn't riding enough variety of horses at that point of time. The ones that passed were all working with horses riding at least 2 if not up to 5 a day.

With regards to Talent spotting it appears it has been rebranded/structured and now called the Young Professionals Award. A quick search has brought up this

http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/under_25s/young_professionals
and this
http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/news/show/1948-u25s---looking-to-build-a-career-in-dressage

Who do you have lessons with currently? There are some very good dressage riders and trainers on the island and it is worth talking with them and getting training from them where you can. :)
 
I do think it's a waste of your time, and your lecturers' time, to persist with a degree programme in a subject you hate (though I would finish off the year while researching and securing where you are going next). From your posts, it sounds like perhaps you might find yourself a yard that is accredited to help you work through your BHS qualifications and coaching certificates. This would have the advantage of training you for formal qualifications in the area in which you want to work, as well as allowing you to make contacts and gain experience that would be useful if you to manage to make a go of it as a pro.

Speaking as a uni lecturer, there are far too many students that go to uni just because the government wants them to, and not because they really have the inclination for academic life, or the career aspirations where a degree is really helpful.
 
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