Ideas, thoughts, advice, all greatfully received. (grab a cuppa first)

Mmm maybe.... perhaps if you were willing to do BHS qualifications they would sponsor you. Let's face it you could fast track most of them. Not all colleges would want you to teach - although they may want you to do some stable management lectures etc. Might not be what you want but it would be a grounding for the future....
 
The other option is to take on a 'regular job' and use the cash to fund having Ernie on livery at a better yard. For example, I used to do phlebotomy (taking blood at the hospital) when I was a student and it paid £10 an hour and was pretty low stress work requiring no qualifications whatsoever. If you can do nightshift care work, that is pretty well paid as well and again, doesn't require any particular qualifications. Are you anywhere near Barnstaple? I can put you in touch with the blood lady there...
 
Oh my ears are burning!
smile.gif
hiya! *waves*

I know of the ideal set up for you, but you would have to move to my village
smile.gif
There is a lovely hunt yard with mega indoor school hardly veer used by the hunters, walker, turn out and adjascent to their other property a race yard so gallops and fast work a plenty, maybe if it would be the ideal set up giving them a call might be worth a shot (little clue - yard owner and MFH is sister of Tamarillo's breeder
wink.gif
)

Ok well I think this would be my preferred option...

keep riding at race yard, and try to get a few freebies or cheap projects to flip over the winter, and sell on for profit.

with profit put up more stables at home, and take in full eventing/hunting/competition liveries at £120 a week! cha ching!

Take in horses for boot camps, and reschooling, and problem solving too.

Won't this make you quite a bit of £££?... I think keeping him back at home is the best option because your overheads will never be that low anywhere else.

Like K said can you box to gallops/arenas? You never know after a few projects have been sold you might have the £££ to put in a school at home. (tap up your racing contacts as they are often getting rid of old gallops with can be remixed to make an arena surface, also a well know arena surface producer often sell off their 'slag heap' which is cheaper than the 'real product' There are so many ways you can save money and do what you want on a tight budget)

I think you should look to improve your existing lot, maybe rent more grazing from a local farmer if you don't have enough. Then you can really set up and get a name for yourself rather than having to be 2nd fiddle and take a big hit in wages to a more experienced eventer. I think you could work it out, you obvs have the dedication and talent to make a go of it, maybe you just need to bite the bullet to go it alone?...

I think it was Mary King that got to Badders with just a field to train in (my mother always reminds me of this when I complain about the slight slope in our arena!)

If you want to brainstorm ideas then PM me I am happy to 'storm' what little brain I have
smile.gif
 
This is probably *the* most stupid idea ever, but is there any funding (lottery, sports council, anything) you could apply for. Surely it must be out there somewhere?

I know there are some grants runners can apply for, is there anything like that for eventers?
 
I agree the idea of setting up on your own is pretty scary right now, get a couple of Badmintons under your belt first
grin.gif


I was thinking more of advertising yourself as a 3*/potential 4* rider seeking opportunities/offering schooling on owner's premises. Only a small percentage of 'normal' jobs are advertised and I'd bet its far higher in horses.

There are people with deep pockets still out there and you'll have to emphasise your achievements and work ethic, but it can be done!

Start that PM to GHE now!!!!!!!!!!!!
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Agree. GHE is pretty awesome at the whole getting sponsorship thing!! But surely even she wouldn't be able to swing an arena
grin.gif
haha

[/ QUOTE ]

Is that a challenge?
wink.gif
watch this space....
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Agree. GHE is pretty awesome at the whole getting sponsorship thing!! But surely even she wouldn't be able to swing an arena
grin.gif
haha

[/ QUOTE ]

Is that a challenge?
wink.gif
watch this space....

[/ QUOTE ]

Now you've set a challenge!
shocked.gif
 
kit279 see post above about getting a 'proper' job.. although tell me more about the 'blood' one
crazy.gif


GHE, i'll PM you...

KW33.. yes there is lottery funding, but you have to be a little more succesfull at the level i'm at than i am at the mo (ie being placed in the top 10 at a CCI***)..

Everyone!!! I'll re-read this thread again, as i'm sure there's a few i've missed.. just gotta dash out for a bit now tho.. but keep the ideas coming.
smile.gif
 
Get looking for a wealthy farmer
grin.gif
Sorry, not much help am I!

Re grooms jobs, I know a lady that events and hunts near me who always has several grooms. They all get paid very well, have excellent facilities and lessons and are allowed to take their own horse. I'm sure the jobs are out there, but I guess it's all about being in the right place at the right time.
 
Qualifications rarely matter these days. I left school at 16, I just couldn't wait to get out and go and work with horses. I spent the next 5 years doing various work with horses and had various dead end jobs to help pay for the horses. In the end I got a job with a very reputable company and I've now been in the same job for 6 years. It's a good company to work for, is well paid and has good prospects. Yes it's boring and I spend A LOT of time day dreaming about horses but it is flexible and allows me to compete etc.

Hope you come up with the answers anyway.
 
Thanks for your PM
smile.gif


I forgot to mention, rubble dumping netted our YO £75,000!!!!

Also there is other funding apart from Lottery, a friend of mine is hoping to get some for her PN pony. Its local funding, but lots of areas have small pots for sports and vocational training that no-one knows about and so just sit there for years, they're desperate to give it away. It might be a few hundred here and there, but might pay for arena hire/lessons for a season?

I'm sure GHE would know where to look............
wink.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
I was thinking more of advertising yourself as a 3*/potential 4* rider seeking opportunities/offering schooling on owner's premises. Only a small percentage of 'normal' jobs are advertised and I'd bet its far higher in horses.

[/ QUOTE ]

On the back of that idea - how about getting in touch with local papers/horse mags and telling your story of "How I succeeded with nothing"" (facilities/training I mean!) and your ambition to go 4 star, the suport of your parents etc. This way you can tell your story, sell yourself as available, what you are looking for. Maybe someone like Horse mag or Your Horse would do a regular feature on you as you go through 2010 season? Or Eventing mag would probably do a one off??? You might have to write it yourself to start, a bit like a press release, or get someone who has PR experience to do it.

Just another idea that would work alongside many of the others?

Edited to say: How about emailing some of the pro's asking them what they suggest - you never know they might be able to offer you something or at least ideas. After all some of them will have been in your situation in the past or something very close?!
 
Ok, my final thought for the day would be to contact your local hunts asking if anyone with private facilities might be interested in sponsoring you by offering you private DIY livery in return for help out with their hunters or what have you. I say this because I know quite a few people with private arenas who don't have a lot of time but who might have a spare stable and would be interested in coming to an arrangement where the horses get exercised by someone truly competent. When we finally get moved, this category would include me! I probably won't have the time to manage the horses myself but I'm not sure I'd want to actually advertise for a groom. I'd rather have someone by word of mouth who I could rely on and rather than pay them in cash, I'd offer them free/cheap livery.
 
What about trying to find a feeder yard for race yards, we have one round here. They are half liveries on DIY and then other half breaks in the youngsters and brings horses back into work before training. They tend to have full use of the racing facilities but equally livery is cheaper. I have known of a few of these you just have to talk to the right people
smile.gif
 
I also agree that you are under-selling yourself. For example I pay my groom 120 pounds per week for 3 hours work every weekday, so I can't see how 100 pounds a week would be fair (even including horse livery).

How about writing to all eventers around you to see if anyone has a job for you and then widening the circle until you find someone? I am certain there must be someone out there with professional facilities who would be really grateful for your help at a much better wage. Or take an advert out in H&H or Horsequest and see what happens?
 
Completely dfferent idea to the ones given but could you try and get a syndicate together to lease ernie. If you got 5 or ten people together to help you with entries, travelling etc and in return they get to be involved with a 4 star horse. Im sure youd find a few people who'd like to own a top level horse but can't afford it so being in a sydicate would be a good way to be involved.

Another option if you don't want to lease him is to find work in a local supermarket. A friend did this. Was still able to ride out before going to tescos and saved up a lot of money as a result.
 
its a long shot but have you thought of renting a yard and making a business of it????
By getting a yard of about 6 stables and school you have one for yourself and 5 to do full livery, schooling etc.....
have you thought about teaching as well, you must be a fantastic rider to have done 3*so why not teach and share your knowledge??????
Having looked into renting my yards it is affordable to rent and make enough money to train and live as relatively comfortable as you can with horses. Just a thought

good luck, can't wait to you at badders!!!!!!
 
I rarely respond on here.. but I lurk (sorry.. I realise that nearly makes me a stalker)..

But do you have to stay in the UK. I think someone on here in in Belgium where things seem much cheaper and the facilities are good. Maybe get a TEFL qualification to supplement it or do private english lessons?

That way when you came back you'd a, have teaching experience and b, have a usp.
 
Do you have any spare rooms in your house? Could you run a B&B ? My mother runs one, she only has 2/3 rooms charging £50- £70 a night,and the demand is unbelievable, she is always booked up to the hilt. Its very easy to set up. Even if you are far away from everything, it would be worth setting up as you never know- even if its just one person staying with you here and there, its a bit of extra money.
Anyway, I hope that you find a solution-- I am sure that it will work out somehow!
 
Chloe, have just send you a PM
smile.gif


Re the bed and breakfast, being mum and dads house, a) it would be up to them, and b) if they were to do it, they'd obviously get the money...

aregona.. obviously i'd love to rent a yard!! 6 stables, one for the boy, the rest paying guests would be perfect.. but i don't want to comit to a yard, only to not get the guests..
 
I am so sure that you can get a job paying more than £100/week even including you and your horse. Have you looked on careergrooms? There are lots of hunting/eventing well-off professional people who need someone to live in, muck out, keep their horses fit etc but many will pay up to £250/week, and then you get their facilities too. You don't sound like on site training from an eventer is your main priority so a private yard with decent facilities and a better wage would probably suit.
 
My OH is in a slightly similar situation , but in dressage so he has been and is looking for another position in germany.
At some point you need to spend time at a 4 star yard to really see how it is run as'a business'. Named riders in your background will also add to your credibility and introduce you to a new realm of contacts. Either stay at home and race to store some more money up over winter (or sainsburies!) and go to a pro yard in spring, or go to a pro yard now to increase your earning capacity and give you more ideas for the spring ?
 
I know i'm no way near your level, but I am trying to think waht to do in my gap-year.

One idea I have come up with is to apply as a wp for a top eventing schooling/selling yard-e.g AV horses, Vere Phillips type place, then you can ride, compete and have a job.

Obviously, the likelyhood of getting in is slim-I hope to do a 2* next year, and then may well try my lick.

Not much great advice, but an idea.
 
If i ever got to where you are now my advice would be to write or email all the well known four star riders around the country and ask for advice re how they managed, and maybe look out for the amateur riders who made it to 4 star level and try contacting them. You could find yourself with some really useful advice and even new opportunitys. Good Luck x
 
I know this predicament well........ When I was working full time I had the money to event, but not the time required to ride and event at a good level... Also it was difficult to get specific weekends/days off for events. so I went part time and then still didn't have enough time or then really enough money. Now I don't have a job I can barely afford to keep eventing.... if a difficult situation thats for sure!! I think making money with horses is difficult and very hard work, but I think of it that I need to keep riding to be able event and like you I think I've got one good horse and I'll do anything, well within reason,
tongue.gif
to get as far as I can!!
I'm very interested in listening to everyones replies!!! Good luck with it, I'm sure you'll soon have the money pouring in!!!
grin.gif
grin.gif
 
MdM - there are a lot more grants out there than the lottery, for all forms of diversification and equine is a big target, thinking about arena's, stables etc if staying and improving your home set-up was an option - PM me if you want more details, i work kind of in this area so hopefully know a bit about it!
grin.gif


Ooo Chloe, I've just worked out where you live reading your statement about "ideal" job - I'm working in your village at the mo - I'll look out for 'smexy Soap'....
grin.gif
wink.gif
 
This would mean getting paying guests in but i know of a very nice yard down the road thats empty with 6/7/8 stables. No arena but very flat fields, there is an arena down the road (someone else's but rarely used) International dressage rider on the property next door, BSJA coach a short while away an eventer 10mins away and a very good racing yard about 10 mins away!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top