Getting Sponsorship as a showjumper

L

littlebea

Active Member
Joined
9 April 2009
Messages
47
Visit site
Ok, before I go any further, this is just day dream time lol I am not a professinoal showjumper, infact me and my pony have only got round a 65cm corse once lol so not for me, just interested in the way it works...

So, if I was a professinal show jumper (without the name of whitaker or any other showjumping family name to fall back on), how much would you say I had to achive before looking for sponsorship? would winning a few GP classes be enough? or would I need to be compeating internatinaly? or would I have to wait until I had jumpped for the national team?

And who would you ask for sponsorship? would you just approch every company I could? Or are the people who are like sponsorship brokers?

Anyway, like I said, I doubt I would ever be in that position, just interested in learning how the business side of being a pro show jumper works.
 
You have to write and beg to every company you possibly can... There is a competition on equiports website for a great looking sponsorship deal for young riders at the moment...Have a look if you are interested in trying to get some sort of help!

Just to clarify... I am NOT in anyway connected with Equiport and am NOT advertising ( Allthough wish I was something to do with the business - They make a bloody fortune! )

xx
 
I think you can be at any level- but its relative to what sort of company may be interested. For example, you may only compete locally but find a company that is local so doesnt need national exposure.

Where people go wrong is that they think sponsorship is a donation- they forget that businesses need something in return. A rider needs to offer effective marketing and good value for money for what they are given (goods, services, money).

There is no set formula, except that it needs to work both ways, contracts are essential and a rider needs to be different or better than others in some way to attract attention from potential sponsors. This could be by being an amazing rider but it could also be by being a good ambassador for a company, for example and bringing in new customers.
 
I don't think there is a level, it's whoever wants to spend their money and if they think they'd get the required exposure from it.

There's a trailer locally that has the legend 'Sponsored by Daddy' under the names of the ponies.
 
You need to send out as many letters as you can and hope for the best. Obv the higher the level the more "impressive" it is for the sponsors and amatuer riders (and unaffiliated ) will always find it harder to secure sponsorship, although it can happen.

I have managed to secure a deal but it was after many letters being sent and many being rejected. :)
 
Thats cool you managed to get sponsored boogles :)

So, basically sounds like its worse than applying for jobs lol Just ask everyone and then aske them again by the sounds of it haha

Kind of think though (although is might already exist) that there should be some one at BD, BE and BSJA (sorry, still strugling with calling it BS) who should be there to help put together those riders who have potential for national teams and potential sponsors.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top