HUH???

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MerryMAL

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Excuse me, people who I mention in the rant that follows hereafter:

I have seen people who only compete at sort of BE90/BE100 and Novice level eventing but they have loads of sponsors and their own corporate websites. I have two issues with this:
1. How on earth do they do it?
2. How on earth is it useful, surely sponsors want high profile riders to create brand awareness etc.?
3. Isn't it a little excessive?
 
I think sponsors are not so bothered as to what level you ride at as to how well you do at that level and how often you go out (the more you go out the more their stuff is worn and advertised!)

But yes i think its rather exessive to have sponsorship at that level unless you are plannin on moving up the levels with your horse, not that novice eventing is rubbish at all - i am no where near that level!!
 
And why does it bother you? Is that not the decision of the sponser and the sponsered? If that is what they want to do, so what?
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I think though in some instances it could be who you know - if my daughter ever got good enough to compete I'd certainly embarass her by plastering my company's name on anything I could if I was still paying for her - even though my company has no connection whatsoever with horses! Already have the domain name for daughters website (she has a unique name), and have our own server for the business so hosting costs would be not a lot, and either daughter or I could write a corporate website so no costs there

For 3), putting my company head on, I don't think the corporate sponsors would think it's excessive - you certainly saw and noted them, so in answer to 2 it definitely made you more aware!
 
I have sponsored in the past, and will probably do so again in the future. The rules as far as the tax man goes (and this is basic as others deal with the details), is that one has to be able to prove, if challenged, that one is getting as much coverage/brand exposure if one spends £5,000 on sponsorship as if one were to spend £5,000 on an advert.

I am happy to sponsor someone from the lower levels up. If I find someone who has the determination to succeed, then I see no reason not to.

I hear quite often that people want to be sponsored, etc etc etc., and they all think they have what it takes. However, I have noted a few people for consideration, and over the months I have realised that they aren't as dedicated as I initially thought.

It costs the sponsor in backoffice expense as well as what actually gets seen, e.g. the rugs, jackets, fees, etc., and is not a decision to be taken lightly.

To add to this, the one being sponsored has to keep the sponsoring party fully informed of results (good and bad!), provide photos, full schedule of classes, and generally be around to help promote the business.

We have sponsored one person who I would sponsor again (in discussion now), but it's which business to promote and how.

It's also how the person being sponsored behaves, which is why I think it's good to start from the lower levels as it gives the partnership time to gel. Any 'mistakes' are not as publicised and can be dealt with on a lower scale. If anyone we sponsored were to be seen or it to be known that they were being out of order with their horses, sponsorship would be withdrawn immediately and due process followed.

I know I've gone on a bit, but the subject of sponsorship often comes up. I find that people think it's just about wearing a jacket, or having a rug with a company name on, and having class fees paid, but it is so much more than that from the sponsors point of view. We are putting our company name into what can be a highly emotive arena, and we have to trust the person implicitly that they will do nothing that will bring that name into disrepute.

Right. Off to find a hot choccy and a sticky bun.
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Why are you ranting about this mimi146, you just sound jealous!

I compete at novice (CIC*) level and BSJA 1.20m, so an ok level IMO but hardly spectacular. I have "support" from 3 companies, by support I mean they very very kindly provide me with free products. One of them would like to help financially in future but this isnt set in stone. Why shouldn't I have help? I am an amateur but I've worked damn hard to get to the level I'm at, I would love to go up the levels but realise I cant financially because the entry fees etc. start going mental! So no, I dont believe its excessive by any means. If you don't ask, you don't get. If someone was willing to give you free stuff or free money towards your entries then I doubt you'd say no!! Perhaps you have loads of money in which case this wouldn't benefit you...

Some sponsors are more than happy to support us amateurs because IMO it is far nicer to see them support what MOST people are. I'd be more likely to support a company who helped out lower level riders than pro's all the time. Amateurs work harder for their sponsors as well because they have to! And they are proud to have them. Pro's have so many sponsors already.

I love having my "supporters" and am proud to wear their name especially as I like their products. I'm always excited to hear about new products their planning to release etc. as well. I also enjoy giving them feedback on their products and anything I'd love to see made! I have made several friends this way too as they always love to hear how I'm getting on.
 
Hey, I'm not jealous! But isn't it a little unfair that there are hundreds of amateur competitors at the same level and only a few get sponsored? I'm not saying these people SHOULDN'T be sponsored, I just wondered how they get sponsored when there are many like them! And I take back my comment about it being excessive, now I realise sponsorship is more done than it was and not so much a big business international thing. Please don't get angry at me!
 
I am an Novice event rider and i too have support of a company who give small gifts to kit me out with, rugs, coats for me etc etc....
It amazes me that ppl think lower levels shouldn't be supported. for staters how many of us own our horses?????
How many of the pro riders rid other ppls horses??? so does this not mean that not only are they getting a horse to ride they have its keep paid for too???? I dont, i have 4 on competition and i pay for everyone of them from fed to entries.
Ontop of that, how much prize money do we get at grassroot level???? How much do pro's get at Badminton????
 
If the other amateurs put the effort in in order to get it they might get sponsorship. I think you'll find its not that easy to get and takes dedication and lots of letter writing on the part of the sponsoreed.

(ps am not sponsored in anyway, v little unaff stuff for me
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Why is it unfair? I can't sponsor everyone. I've looked at loads of amatures and quite frankly am limited in my choice of who to sponsor. They have to turn out for every show (no hang-overs, etc. - not counting horses injuries in that).

Very, very few of them are able to, or want to, take the added stress of being sponsored - I'm sure I'm not the only hard task master
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If you, or any other amature or professional, wants to get sponsorship, you have to work hard at finding it, proving yourself time after time, having a professional attitude, etc.

And for those that think that it's unfair if parents who own companies sponsor their kids, etc., then think again. The usual reason a company is succesful enough to spend money on sponsorship is because, as a generalization, the parents work literally all hours to make that company successful.

Must be time for another hot choccy
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[ QUOTE ]
Hey, I'm not jealous! But isn't it a little unfair that there are hundreds of amateur competitors at the same level and only a few get sponsored? I'm not saying these people SHOULDN'T be sponsored, I just wondered how they get sponsored when there are many like them! And I take back my comment about it being excessive, now I realise sponsorship is more done than it was and not so much a big business international thing. Please don't get angry at me!

[/ QUOTE ]

Unfair? You make it sound as if the sponsored riders sit around on their arses, just bumbling around and somehow, as if by magic, a nice business comes along and says 'hello, would you like some money/freebies?'

Businesses that choose to sponsor riders to do so because they want exposure, and they want their brand promoted in a way that suits/complements their existing marketing strategy.

For some, this means that they choose to only sponsor established names competing at the upper-level, so that they can try to establish a link between getting results and their product in their marketing campaigns (think of the full-page colour adverts that appear in H&H the week following a major competition, when the winner's sponsor features a picture of them winning, and then the business' association with said rider).

For others, this means sponsoring lower-level riders who may compete at different venues to the upper level riders, and hence expose the brand to a wider base. So long as said rider doesn't show the business up, and succeeds in getting the brand name announced by commentators etc, then it's a win-win situation.

Additionally, it's not just the exposure that lower-level competitors offer. Product feedback, photos and vidoes of products in use etc etc are all 'added value' to the sponsor.

Further more, not all businesses need to sponsor an established name in order to fulfil their requirements; a local saddlery for example, that doesn't sell online and hence is limited to a local market, is better off sponsoring someone who is out competing regularly in that area, than someone competing at bigger events but in a different region.

Getting sponsorship is a long, hard slog in most cases and involves marketing yourself to masses of potential sponsors, showing them how you can help them to achieve their marketing and advertising aims. For every one sponsor gained, most people will have been rejected by at least half a dozen other businesses.
 
I second what Megan2006 said. At the end of the day, I dont believe its "unfair" that some people get sponsored and some don't. ANYONE can get sponsorship if they work hard to get it! As Megan said, its not actually that easy to be sponsored as you have to make sure you try and get them mentioned on commentary at events (which can be difficult in itself), make sure you wear their clothing all the time when warming up / walking about etc., be sure to get them mentioned if you get any press coverage and also take numerous photos of you using their products / wearing their branded clothing and give them testimonials etc.
 
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