How many of you really want to go to the top?

Firewell

Firewell

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 May 2008
Messages
7,817
Visit site
How many CR'ers really want to progress as far as they can in their chosen discipline(s) and go to the top?! I know we have some international riders in here and riders who do horses for a living with the aim of getting as far as possible.

How many CR'ers compete as a hobby with the aim of doing well but who just want to have fun with no real illusions of grandeur, with anything they achieve being a bonus rather than the be all and end all?

I'm definitely in the second camp. I enjoy competing but I'm happy to keep it at a fun level. Low level Aff and Int/open unaff/RC level is enough for me. If I do achieve more great and I want to do well of course but I love hacking in the sun and grooming my horse as much as I love jumping and dressage :o.

So who are serious competing bods and who compete as a hobby? Nothing wrong with either I hasten to add, I'm just curious as to what camp makes up the majority of CR :)
 
I guess i am inbetween the 2 as i dont actually compete but my horses do!!

I used to do this as a hobby but now i do it to get my horses to the top- its hard work but great when you get there

Then again i would love to have one for me to have fun on too x
 
For me personally it is a case of doing whatever you are doing as well as you can within the limits of ability, resources being financial and time, the horse and ensuring that I enjoy the preparation work, looking after the horse as well as the competing and ensuring also that the horse is happy as much as a horse can be happy.

I am at a strange point in that my current horse has more or less got to the top of his field (showing so not international eventing or anything like that I hasten to add so just the top of his own very limited competition world) and I would now find it strange I think to go back to doing more local competitions even though when I used to do them I really enjoyed it.

I have nothing like the dedication, ability, talent, etc etc needed to get to the top. I have plenty of friends who do not compete who to be honest probably put far more effort into what they do by way of the time they get up to go to the yard. I have just been very lucky with my horse.

I have a friend who says to me how dedicated I am because I will leave for a show at 4 am. I think she is far more dedicated as she hacked an hour and a half to a dressage competition at the weekend because her horse is an unreliable loader. Perceptions and all that.
 
firewell said:
... compete as a hobby with the aim of doing well but who just want to have fun with no real illusions of grandeur, with anything they achieve being a bonus rather than the be all and end all?
Click to expand...


^ This for me. I have loved horses and riding all my life, although 6 years ago I didn't even own a horse and 4 years ago I didn't have transport... The stuff I've done in the last few years has already exceeded anything I thought I'd be able to do and I've had a blast. I have been bitten well and truly by the eventing bug and would love to do more, but I am realistic in knowing that this will never be top level- eg 4*!

My aim is to complete Blair 1* well one day... although current goals are just for Hopalong to stay fit and sound enough to hoon round some intros next year! ;) I don't have the skills, time or money to make it work at a level higher than that I don't think, even getting there will take work and probably more £££ than I would like to realise!

I enjoy taking part in RC activities and being around my horse is as big a part of my enjoyment as competing is. I still love to go out a hack, either just me and Hopalong or with company, enjoy nice weather and a blast along a grassy track. :D
 
I am somewhere in the middle - I have never truly dedicated myself to horses as I would certainly not be in the position I am in now with having a house etc but if the cards all aligned themselves perfectly or I had an outstanding horse I would probably take a career break or maybe go part time. I do it all for fun but as my OH would say I am completely obsessed.
 
Definitely a competitive hobby-competitor! I will do my utmost best within my financial means to get the training, get to shows. I have a fairly talented horse and we're moving along nicely, but once we peak, I won't be upgrading him for a more advanced model. I am too old, too many years out of the saddle to think that I'll ever get to be a Grand Prix rider. But I think we have a couple of levels in us yet. ;)
 
I'm sort of somewhere between the two. I dont want to get to the top of the top because I'm under no illusions and I know I will never be a good enough rider to ride round Badminton or do Grand Prix dressage. I do like to be top of the level I'm doing though and will throw everything into that. It's fun but I am also very competitive and will be disappointed if I dont think I've done my best. I also like to progress as far as I can with the horse I currently have. I'm no millionaire and cant afford to buy a horse who could go to the top and even if I could probably wouldn't be able to ride one side of it so just make do with what I've got. My ultimate ambitions keep changing. Dressage wise I'd like to ride in top hat and tails and to do a PSG would be great and I would like to think achievable. I've ridden an Advanced Medium test through at home and competed to Medium so I dont think it would be too much more to get there but it wont be with this horse as he'd much rather be jumping. Eventing is a much newer sport to me. Last year I would have said to you BE100 would be an ultimate aim. Having completed this year I would now like to think Novice would be very achievable with this horse and maybe even a 1*. Perhaps if I have some luck in finding my next horse then 2* might be achievable. Like I say, things keep changing though!
 
I always had aims of eventing at advanced etc, but then reality struck and I know I have nowhere near the money or the skill to get there whilst having a full time job!!

At the moment, because I have to work hard to justify having a horse at all, I get a lot of satisfaction from just doing the best I can at the level I am at, so got more satisfaction from doing well and getting a (lowly) placing at BE90, than jumping round a 1.10m course badly! Realistically I would like to be jumping the higher end of "amateur" competition, so would like to be competitive at 1.20m's and Novice/1* eventing, and maybe have crack at something higher, but we will see!

If I won the lottery tomorrow, I would buy myself an advanced schoomaster, and train and train and train until I was good enough to go advanced, so I guess it's just realistic aims for the life I currently have ;)
 
im under no illusions-CS is not an olympic/WEG horse. Never in a hundred million years..................but I believe we can certainly get to the point of doing GP nationally and not standing out like a sore thumb.

If i can get the money together, I would like to think we could do small internationals and again not make a complete pigs ear of it.

I work more than full time but am lucky to be able to throw most of my spare £ and time at this...................and i dont intend to let life get in the way, eg i wont take on a job that will cut riding time dramatically, if i need extra £ I can pick up more teaching and fit that in round the horse, and if i stay with current OH, children are not on the cards and i think a break for kids is what really sets a lot of people back (which is fine/their choice/lovely etc, but not for me).
 
I think there are tonnes of amazing amateurs that could go to the top if it wasnt for pesky full time jobs.
If working with and competing horses at a reasonable level paid out well then more people would have the opportunities but most people I know have to sacrifice riding, training and competing due to hectic work hours.
Not only that, if you work full time you can only fit in a few riding hours per day at best, if you work with horses and ride 5 to 10 horses a day you will always improve at a higher rate and be more natural in the saddle.
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
I work more than full time but am lucky to be able to throw most of my spare £ and time at this...................and i dont intend to let life get in the way, eg i wont take on a job that will cut riding time dramatically, if i need extra £ I can pick up more teaching and fit that in round the horse, and if i stay with current OH, children are not on the cards and i think a break for kids is what really sets a lot of people back (which is fine/their choice/lovely etc, but not for me).
Click to expand...

This pretty much sums me up too. I am under no illusions that I could get to the Olympics or the international, national circuit but my dream competitive aim is to be able to compete in reasonably big classes (foxhunter, 130m) against the pros. I'm a long way from this at the mo but thats always the end game. I am horrendously competitive and my total aim is to improve, improve and improve. Having said that I do just love riding and training horses generally so its not the only reason i do it, but I certainly have a goal.

I have been lucky enough to mould my job so that i get just enough time to ride my 2 horses to compete at a decent level and to have enough money to thow at the "hobby" (a hobby which pretty much consumes my whole life and most of my waking thoughts!). Me and my husband don't plan to have kids, otherwise i imagine it would change things dramatically.
 
I think I would be happy with being competitive at BE Intermediate and PSG dressage...

However I have a little issue where as soon as I am at one level I want to move to the next- when I came through the finish flags of my first BE Novice, the first thing I said to my mum was 'I want to go Intermediate!'

So if/when I do get to Intermediate I can't guarantee I won't start checking the schedule for an Advanced after that! ;)

I am not happy plateauing at ANY level- I moved Pilfer on because he was a PN rosette machine but I wasn't happy being stuck at that level, however lovely it was getting rosettes and prizes and everything feeling really easy.
 
humblepie said:
I am at a strange point in that my current horse has more or less got to the top of his field (showing so not international eventing or anything like that I hasten to add so just the top of his own very limited competition world) .

I have nothing like the dedication, ability, talent, etc etc needed to get to the top.
Click to expand...

Even taking into account your name I still think you are putting yourself down :mad: ;) You are obviously very successful at what you choose to do!

I'm a true hobby rider (first sat on a horse at 16 and unhorsey family) and enjoy being able to compete at all disciplines at low level affiliated/rc level. If/when I buy another horse it will probably be aimed at BHS Trec/Intro/PN eventing...

Even if I won the lottery there is no way I could ever be a top level competitor and to be honest, I wouldn't really want the pressure :D Wouldn't mind being an owner though :)
 
My love is showing and its my dream to go to HOYS and RIHS. The horse that I have on loan this year and next year I'm sure will give me the basics to get there, just need to work hard and get her spot on to do it. Im already planning all the prep for next year
 
i'd love to get as far as possible if i'm fortunate enough to find an amazing horse (or two) again, but i have no delusions about how difficult it is, how lucky you have to be - as well as hardworking, talented, determined, humble enough to take instruction etc! over 10 years ago i was doing 3* and thought 4* was going to happen the next year. still waiting... no delusions!
also, i have realised i'm just not tough enough, e.g. i don't move the horses on if they're not good enough to get where i want to go.
and it takes a fair bit of money to get to the top even if you do have the amazing horseflesh... i'm lucky enough to work from home, and it fits around the horses, just need to pray for a good few years to fund the eventing!
as for aims, i still want to ride at 4*. i had the ride of my life round 3* CCI, it felt easy, really not on the ragged edge of our ability... BUT that was with an exceptional horse (who i'd made) and we knew each other inside out.
whether i ever find another as good as her is another matter. if not, i still know i was very lucky to get as far as i did, with her and others.
 
FigJam said:
^ This for me. I have loved horses and riding all my life, although 6 years ago I didn't even own a horse and 4 years ago I didn't have transport... The stuff I've done in the last few years has already exceeded anything I thought I'd be able to do and I've had a blast. I have been bitten well and truly by the eventing bug and would love to do more, but I am realistic in knowing that this will never be top level- eg 4*!
Click to expand...

Gosh this could be me! I have no desire to go to the top - I know I don't have the ability or dedication to compete at top level. For me it's about being the best I can be, and enjoying myself on the journey. I'm not particularly competitive, except with myself. But I just love everything about horses so I'm happy as long as I've got a big furry one in my life (even better if they're sound and in work!).
 
I think I am somewhere in between the two as well although I'm looking to move away from the day job and into horses so having more time would give me more chance.

I want to go as far as I can do but I am not going to go for it to such an extent it ruins the fun of it. My OH is not horsey so I make sure I keep a good balance between horsey stuff and non horsey stuff.
 
Another who is somewhere between the two.
My main discipline is now dressage, however I have a Welsh Cob (who is also my first horse) and he really isn't a super natural dressage horse. What I mean is his natural way of going/conformation etc is always going to impede us when we compete and the higher we go the harder thing become for him. But for now that's fine, as he has already surpassed anything I had dreamed of doing before I had him!!
I do think that whenever the next horse is on the cards I will seek something more naturally suited to the discipline in the hopes of becoming a serious amateur.
 
Well I'm going to be brutally honest and say Yes, I would love to get to the top! I dream about it and think it would be amazing.

Likely to happen? Very doubtful due to money, time, skill, horses etc but my God it is great to fantasize about!

I always wanted to be a top showjumper as a kid and I guess the desire to be the best has never left me, so I'm enjoying the journey, will not feel bad at the end if I never made it, but would I want to stop dreaming about it - never!
 
I do it all for fun too. I have neither the talent or the focus to get to the top. That said, the more I ride my little horse the more I want to do better and better for him. I would love to get him to advanced medium (and this is from someone who a year ago didn't understand what a half halt really meant and is terrified of dressage arenas), but i also want to try Trec, unaff eventing, tent pegging, trick riding, garrocha, side saddle and horseball with him, amongst other things so it wouldn't be realistic to expect a pleb rider and her 14hh pony to be top level at all of it.

As long as he is happy, I am happy.
 
I've always been mega ambitious, the dream since I was 9 yrs old has always been to ride round Badminton and still is! I also have a new ambition now of riding some decent PSG tests on one of my boys (dressage was never 'my thing', but it can change when you have a horse that shows pure ability!).

They are still my aims/dreams and probably always will be, but I am also sadly aware that it takes a a lot of financial funding behind it to get there, not just good riding, a super horse and hard work. The sort of financial funding I don't have access to.
 
I just want to be the best I can be in whatever I do. But within my ability. So when I next do a Prelim, I want to get the best score I am capable of. Then the same at Novice. I have lots and lots of teeny goals, I don't know what the end goal is yet
I do have the stubborn attitude and the determination, but my nerves and lack of belief in myself prevent me from going further. I am probably capable of doing a lot more than I think I am. TBH I just love riding, and getting that perfect feel when schooling is enough for me, but I like the competing as it is proof almost of what I can do. If that makes sense!
 
I'm another that probably falls somewhere between the two. I am a very competitive person, but realistically do not have the talent/money/time to get to the very top. However I will always strive to improve and move on and up - my older horse is really only capable up to 90cm - fine, but I want to go clear/win at 90. Young horse much scopier, would like to be competitive at top end of 'amateur' scale ie 1.20/1.30. I would like to do a medium test on him. My main motivation is training and competing and improving, and as long as I am physically and financially able that is my plan.
 
to be truthful, i know never in a million years i would have the chance to get to the top, i want to do horses full time but either running my own livery or riding school, that is possible as im still young, but im happy spending time with taz just having fun would love to get round a full BE80 and then i would be truly happy if not give me the transport to get to all the border commonridings and rc events and i'd be the happiest person there with my horse, for me thats the main thing...having fun
 
I think if you'd asked that question in this forum five years ago you'd have had a lot more openly ambitious answers. Whether that's a reflection of the users, or times in general, I don't know. It seems suddenly it's not ok to be ambitious, better to be a big fish in a small pond etc. I think with horses it's difficult anyway, ambition alone will not get you anywhere. It was when I stopped trying to achieve xyz though that I managed. I've achieved childhood dreams of riding at 4* and in a World Cup leg, I have my doubts that riding at a senior Championships will happen, but what realising those other ambitions has shown me is that I'm still the same person, my friends and family whilst proud for me do not really care whether I'm a success or a failure by the standards of competition. That was quite a surprise for me I think, it wasn't a life-changing experience.
 
I have no desire to get to the top but I'd like to be a competent amateur in all three disciplines. For me that's Intermediate BE, Foxhunter BSJA and Medium BD. I've competed at those levels at two out of the three but I think it'll be a while (if ever) before I'm particularly competent at any of them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top