How to get into Eventing? Not a horse owner

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ShaneJ

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Hello! I really want to get into eventing! I am 16 and have been riding for a year and a half can walk trot canter jump (poles only). I don't own a horse as my parents can't afford it. I go riding every saturday and just really want to rise through the ranks in riding but have no clue how to. I live in merseyside the St Helens area. I am very confident in riding i would have no fear trying an XC Fence. At the riding school i go to currenty i feel like a 1 hour group jumping lesson where it is full of kids is not going to benefit me but i don't know how to tell the instructor i want to go into Eventing. Any advice is appreciated i am new to this forum.
 
First step,find your local ponyclub branch and join. If you are keen enough and prepared to work ,people will notice and be more inclined to help you. good luck.
 
Thank You. I'm so keen to do it, I will give up every saturday and sunday and week night to do this. I don't know how to get the attention from people to get noticed.
 
With eventing it is difficult to rise through the ranks unless you have your own horse (hell, it's difficult even if you do) but would a share or loan be an option?

Other than that, some riding schools hold shows and competitions where you can hire school horses to compete. Do you have any riding schools local to you that have a cross country course?
 
You say that your group lessons aren't enough - how about some private lessons? Perhaps alternate weeks if it's expensive. That way you can really concentrate on what you want to learn. I remember I spent around 10 years in group lessons (it wouldn't have occurred to me to have a private, that's what you did when you were starting to ride!) ;) and I never really made any progress. For me the change came when I loaned a horse, but then I couldn't afford lessons at the same time. If I could go back and do it again I'd definitely have some private lessons, and in my case have them at a different school - mine was very set in their ways and didn't really progress anyone past a certain point. If you do feel you're not making progress at your current place, don't be afraid to look elsewhere.
 
I think a share horse might be possible but it is like convincing my parents to get me one as my mum is like you are still learning but i am confident. It's like i would need to be in the olympics to convince her. But i will try and convince my mum and dad aha. Yes the one i go to atm does cross county but they want to go and work their and everything for like 3 months before they think about letting you use one of their horses. I am looking all around my area for eventing classes and everything.
 
I am looking into private lessons up their but it's so expensive ahah but i can convince my mum and dad to pay. I don't really get on good with the instructor (the poles being 12 inch of the ground). There's apparently a good center in prescot so i am looking their. I don't understand the whole loan thing like do i have to pay vets fees and ect. Thanks
 
A share would be the best option, with a nice safe horse, or private lessons at the riding school, though privately owned horses are nothing like riding school horses! Could you get a summer job to fund them?
 
Yah, I am not bothered about the horse, if it is forward (means i can concentrate on the jump). I hate the horses at the school they just take so much energy to pay attention to commands. I have been searching for weeks aha keep getting rejection emails, hopefully will get one soon to fund. Fingers Crossed
 
Why don't you try getting a job at a local eventing yard? Or even just go and help out for free. You'd probably get all the rubbish tasks at first but you'd learn about how to look after event horses and in time you might get the odd ride. It doesn't have to be a professional yard - just a friendly place where all helpers are welcome.
 
ShaneJ said:
I think a share horse might be possible but it is like convincing my parents to get me one as my mum is like you are still learning but i am confident. It's like i would need to be in the olympics to convince her. But i will try and convince my mum and dad aha. Yes the one i go to atm does cross county but they want to go and work their and everything for like 3 months before they think about letting you use one of their horses. I am looking all around my area for eventing classes and everything.
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So work there for 3 months, get lots of experience with the most important side of horses, the looking after part after all its pointless wanting to be gungho across country with absolutely no idea of what it takes to get a horse fit to do it in the first place, and then be able to keep it sound enough to stay there. Then when you've done 3 months working for them, and they are willing to lend you a horse you will be able to see if it was worth it or not.

This is one of those times when if you have no money/connections to get you there you have to work dam hard instead, there is no quick way, and even friends with the connections still work dam hard! So do the 3 months graft and then see how you feel about it.
 
Would the OP be able to find work with a local hunt? (Genuinely a question, I don't know much about how hunts work). Hunt horses would presumably be more lively than RS horses and the OP would learn to ride cross country.
 
There is a very good centre pony club branch in the Liverpool area, it could be the Prescot one. They had a rider in the regular pony club area dressage last weekend. The dressage judge said the centre deals a bit, so they get different ponies coming through, which would be a challenge.. Try and find that one, it would be a good place to start..
 
Maybe offer to work the holidays only (6 weeks?) but accept that you wont be able to ride necessarily - its all good experience and you will learn loads

If at the end of the holidays you think its something you want to do then maybe a working pupil or apprenticeship could be the way forward
 
Rosiefan said:
Why don't you try getting a job at a local eventing yard? Or even just go and help out for free. You'd probably get all the rubbish tasks at first but you'd learn about how to look after event horses and in time you might get the odd ride. It doesn't have to be a professional yard - just a friendly place where all helpers are welcome.
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I agree with this - do your research, ask about etc and find someone who events locally and offer your services for free. Although you will have to learn from the ground up, and probably wont get to ride until they know you better, when you do, it will be more tailored to what you are keen to do.

I would also volunteer at any ODEs in your area, and at the PC. May be that someone has a spare pony that they need riding! It's not unusual, I was once offered a pony to ride by helping at a show!
 
The people who work on the yard are often rude and short tempered when you get something wrong. I went on a 2 week work experience their and it was so much fun (hell). I am looking into another yard in prescot for some experince. I know how to exercise, look after a horse my uncle owns them but does not live in the UK so i only get to do it on holiday.
 
I think the first thing you need to realise is that at 16 and with 18 months experience you know virtually nothing in terms of horses. That is not me intending to be negative or critical, just honest and factual.
Accept it at the outset!!!

If you are serious about wanting to go eventing then the next thing you will need to accept is that it is hard graft with very little thanks.

Firstly you will need to learn the basics of handling and looking after fit blood horses.
Then you will need to learn to ride them at exercise
Then you will need to learn to ride them to school/jump
Then you will need to learn to compete them

If you are starting out without parental support / finance then there are 3 key areas to get you started
1. Hunt yards
2. Dealer yards
3. Event yards

I think the first 2 options are your better way to start off.

My suggestion would be to offer your services for free this summer - full time - with the aim of getting paid part time work when you go back to school/college.

With another years experience under your belt you should be in a good position to apply for working pupil jobs.

Good luck!
 
ShaneJ said:
The people who work on the yard are often rude and short tempered when you get something wrong. I went on a 2 week work experience their and it was so much fun (hell). I am looking into another yard in prescot for some experince. I know how to exercise, look after a horse my uncle owns them but does not live in the UK so i only get to do it on holiday.
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I appreciate you may think you know all there is to know, at 16 lots of people do but with 18 months experience of rs horses I can guarantee you will be in for a big shock moving to professional event yards. Even if you do know as much as you think, why would someone take your word for it? You need to prove yourself to be honest, reliable and willing to take instructions, I know I wouldn't let a horse or pony of mine be ridden at a solid fence by an inexperienced rider if I wasn't 100percent sure they were all of the above.

Don't feel like I'm having a go but with no experience of eve ting you will have to work damned hard to prove you are worth it and take all the s### on the chin and plug on.

All the best
 
ihatework said:
I think the first thing you need to realise is that at 16 and with 18 months experience you know virtually nothing in terms of horses. That is not me intending to be negative or critical, just honest and factual.
Accept it at the outset!!!

If you are serious about wanting to go eventing then the next thing you will need to accept is that it is hard graft with very little thanks.

My suggestion would be to offer your services for free this summer - full time - with the aim of getting paid part time work when you go back to school/college.

With another years experience under your belt you should be in a good position to apply for working pupil jobs.

Good luck!
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This too, my friend with 15 years of experience of being lucky enough to have ponies etc worked full time (and on event yards that's pretty much a 6 day week minimum) as a working pupil living in for about £20 -50 a week (she got a pay rise!) in order to get experience and a foot in. One thing you need to work on is getting people to vouch for you, I own (admittedly lame a lot!) an all rounder and there's no way I'd let a 16yo with 18 months experience within 5 feet of him, unless someone who's opinion I trusted could vouch for them, getting that confidence and respect takes hard work, taking crap off people all day and getting on with it, keeping your head down and working on when people are rude and short tempered with you. My horse is worth peanuts in comparison to a proper 'eventer' so if I'm that protective over him, I can only imagine what it's like having an expensive horse to look after with owners breathing wn your neck too :)
 
It might sound boring, but I would get a job to give me the money to play with to have private tuition, and THEN move on to owning my own horse. Working in horses is fine, and will give you experience of course, but progress will be slooooow unless you are extremely lucky because quite frankly, everyone's bothered about their own career, why should they give you a leg up? You'll be doing poo picking for peanuts most of the time, waiting for the crumbs from someone else's table. You could do that voluntarily at your riding school while you have your private lessons if you need the experence of horsecare, safe in the knowledge that a 'normal' job brings in a decent wage.

Have your tuition before you get the horse/s, as once you do they will suck up all your money and you'll be stuck without the knowledge to move forward, Private lessons will be a revelation, and will push you forwards a LOT more than group ones, which are fine for the basics. Seriously, just try a few private lessons now and see how much further you go!
 
Pigeon said:
With eventing it is difficult to rise through the ranks unless you have your own horse (hell, it's difficult even if you do) but would a share or loan be an option?

Other than that, some riding schools hold shows and competitions where you can hire school horses to compete. Do you have any riding schools local to you that have a cross country course?
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This. Perhaps ask around and see if anyone has a pony they want to share or that they need exercised, that would be a start. If you get quite good then if you're lucky to be small enough there are always people out there who have ponies and no riders (me for example - I have a 13.2hh I've wanted someone to come and ride for years as I'm too big for him but nobodys interested, I'd even take them to shows etc. if someone wanted to!).

Otherwise, if you dont feel you're getting anything out of group lessons - ask the yard if you could do private lessons but maybe work mucking out or something for a morning a week to make up the extra cost?
 
When I was 16 I left home and went abroad to work at a very busy event yard. I quickly found out how little I knew haha but I worked damn hard and earned my way up the ladder until I was given several horses to school, fitten and compete. My parents are not in the least bit horsey and I had no money but I was desperate to work with horses. I ended up also working freelance for a local professional showjumped and got the chance to ride some incredible horses and competed all over Canada and USA, so if you're willing to work hard and learn, have the guts and the patience, anything is possible.

You'll be surprised who will give you a chance if you are willing to take a low salary, are honest about your ability and don't mind doing all the menial tasks to begin with. I spent a year just mucking out, watering, feeding etc but jumped at any chance I was given to watch schooling sessions, set jumps, groom at shows, cool off the horses etc and was always asking questions. I would be at the yard for 7am and sometimes not leave until 10pm when clients lessons were finished and last checks done. I had to prove myself to my employers, I never complained just did as I was told! And in the end I learned more than I ever thought I would and had some amazing opportunities.

I totally agree with what others have said about helping out at any yard in your area. Just call them up and offer your services for mucking out or whatever. You never know what it could lead to.
 
*sprinkles* said:
When I was 16 I left home and went abroad to work at a very busy event yard. I quickly found out how little I knew haha but I worked damn hard and earned my way up the ladder until I was given several horses to school, fitten and compete. My parents are not in the least bit horsey and I had no money but I was desperate to work with horses. I ended up also working freelance for a local professional showjumped and got the chance to ride some incredible horses and competed all over Canada and USA, so if you're willing to work hard and learn, have the guts and the patience, anything is possible.

You'll be surprised who will give you a chance if you are willing to take a low salary, are honest about your ability and don't mind doing all the menial tasks to begin with. I spent a year just mucking out, watering, feeding etc but jumped at any chance I was given to watch schooling sessions, set jumps, groom at shows, cool off the horses etc and was always asking questions. I would be at the yard for 7am and sometimes not leave until 10pm when clients lessons were finished and last checks done. I had to prove myself to my employers, I never complained just did as I was told! And in the end I learned more than I ever thought I would and had some amazing opportunities.

I totally agree with what others have said about helping out at any yard in your area. Just call them up and offer your services for mucking out or whatever. You never know what it could lead to.
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Best reply yet :) Don't be discouraged by a bit of negativity - if you are truly committed and prepared to work your socks off for no money it is possible - Jock Paget is a great example (google him to find put more about his background if you don't know already) Best of luck :)
 
Just a thought - I'm into my western more than eventing, but the big names in western are always floating about in the UK doing demos and clinics and things, there must be an eventing equivalent surely? Ask for them for your birthday!
 
I think Sprinkles has given you an excellent answer. The only thing I would add is don't kid yourself you're going to succeed WITHOUT that level of dedication. I quite often meet kids who tell me all they want is to be a professional but when we actually start talking about it they won't leave home, won't consider giving up their horse, won't do this or that job, etc etc etc. I'm not saying you should allow yourself to be treated badly or put in peril but it's a tough old world, horses. :)

sprinkles, now I'm trying to figure out 'who' you are and who you were with to have competed in Canada - it's a small pool! :D
 
im not an eventer, not even a horse owner!! but the advice I would give is be honest about your ability! you may think you know everything but trust me, you dont. I dont know everything and i doubt most people on here do either!! i had to ride at a riding school for 6 years, was so boring and i didn't progress, i then found a share horse and my riding improved so so much in 6 moths, but it was full livery and i wanted to be more hands on, so got a share on diy livery where i got a shock! i didnt realize how much you needed to know, from what to feed, to how much hay to give, to knowing when the horse wasn't sound/'right'.

your best bet is finding a share, most arn't that expensive, I pay the same for mine as what i was paying for lessons at the riding school. look on facebook groups that are local, but please dont advertise yourself as an experience rider as it could end badly!!
 
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