endurance question

[TheNatMonster]

Hi all, I'm new - I came in to ask you all a question.

Always been interested in endurance but have never had enough money to even own a horse let alone compete! I met an endurance lady recently who has competed abroad and was shocked to find out thats theres no sponsorship or anything, it's all self-financed.

Is this true? Is there no such thing as a fulltime endurance rider like a fulltime showjumper/dressage rider? is it all just a horrifically expensive hobby? How do you fit competing abroad etc around work? Maybe the prize money could provide an income?

Hope someone can answer me!

Thanks,

Nat

 

[rara007]

People can get sponsored by companies(i know endurance people do). I expect that there are full time endurance riders but they also teach, produce horses to make money. Abroad the prize money for endurance is good, but not enough for a living and in england the prize money is poop.

 

[Jemayni]

Generally what she has said is true. But don't let it put you off; my mum does Endurance, nothing to serious but graded rides & her competition fees are far far less than my dressage and negligible in comparible with my eventing fees!

 

[TheNatMonster]

well the sponsorship thing is good...not so much the prize money here! hopefully as it gets more popular the money will go up!

Thanks for answering!

 

[mrdarcy]

Hopefully not. Sorry to disagree but endurance is the only truly amateur horse sport left in this country and I'd like it to stay that way. Anyone, and I mean anyone, can get on the GB teams if they get the right horse and put in the hours of work - and that means doing the work themselves not paying someone else to do it and just get on board at the competition. You don't need expensive horses, a flashy wagon, a posh trainer or even to know the 'right' people. And because no money is involved horse welfare is paramount. To complete is to win is the motto and thank god for that. How many other horsey sports have so many equine champions who only start competing in their teens and go on well into their twenties?

Compare this to the situation in France. Endurance riding is much more a professional sport. There is prize money and the consequence is that horses are brought on much quicker, burn out much sooner and the wastage much higher.

Keep GB endurance amateur - it's much more fun for everyone that way

 

[TheNatMonster]

Okay, but the lack of return at the top end stops people being able to devote the time to get there, if you see what I mean? e.g: I would have to work fulltime in order to afford the horse, the travel, entry fees etc etc, which restricts the amount of time I can spend training and competing. So how can any of the british riders hope to get to the level of the french if only the super rich are able to spend the time getting there?

 

[mrdarcy]

I totally see what you mean. And you're right we'll never be able to compete with the French on an international level. But I'd rather that than see endurance horses treated like commodities as in eventing (resulting in things like the AT debacle) and dressage. Besides endurance isn't about winning, its about personal achievement rather than rosettes, prize money or public acclaim. At the end of the day the best prize is having a happy and sound horse and your own sense of accomplishment at having completed anything from 25km to 160km in a day.