Is showjumping only for the rich??

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newboult51

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I've just posted looking for a local showjumper dealers, but think our main problem in not finding something so far may be budget!
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Sorry to rant but it seems that to get anywhere in equestrianism (unlike other sports) you need to have the financial means. My teenage daughter has brought on a young 14 hand pony and is now sucessfully jumping at affiliated level but has recently had a massive growth spurt and stands at 5 foot 6! It seems that to be able to reach the next level we need to spend mad amounts of money or buy into a horse which has problems. Beginning to think the only way round this is to buy a 4 year old which is not ideal for a 13/14 year old child. Any one got any ideas??
 
i agree that horse riding can be an expensive sport and i sometimes struggle, but i think in the end its all worth it
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we are looking to loan out a horse because money is quite tight at the moment and i can't really find any horses for under £3000 which might not seem alot to some people but it is to me lol!
 
oooh dont get me started... between paying for livery, training, membership to BSJA for both horse and i... travelling expenses, entry fees... you have to pay a zillion pounds for a decent horse.

And its not just SJ im afraid. There -are- bargins out there (my horse was one of them) but they are few and far between. What sort of thing are you looking for? I could keep an eye out for you...
 
Money helps a heck of a lot to get to the top in most sports I would think.
She can't look too awful on a 14hh at 5'6''? Tell her to be patient or buy a scabby looking hairy to bring on. Good luck.
 
Sadly as others have said, i think money helps a whole lot getting to the top in any sport but in regards to equestrian sports; its not just showjumping.

Dressage horses are commanding insanely high prices atm and the ponies are worse still. To give a child a really good start in the competition world (looking at team ponies and such), will cost a small fortune.

Not to mention training.. entry fees... it keeps going.
 
Thanks Castlemouse I might just do that
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We got her present pony from Co. Wexford - she's a Connemara and is a star! For senior BSJA though it seems we may need something more warm blooded?
Fee fee that would be great, thanks, we have about £4000 to spend - maybe 500 more if tack is included but I rang a few dealers who have said for that sort of money you can only get horses with problems if you want to compete.
 
Whereabouts are you? I was looking for something for my daughter who is 14 and saw a dealer who had several around the 4-5k mark this summer, all nice young horses with good breeding from the continent, needing some work but not completely green. Maybe dealers in your area are more up-market?

Another option is to buy an older schoolmaster, although you are not going to get any money back a few years down the line, whereas if you get a nice youngster and bring it on with help, at least you should be able to sell it for similar price later (or even make a bit!)
 
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Thanks Castlemouse I might just do that
cool.gif
We got her present pony from Co. Wexford - she's a Connemara and is a star! For senior BSJA though it seems we may need something more warm blooded?
Fee fee that would be great, thanks, we have about £4000 to spend - maybe 500 more if tack is included but I rang a few dealers who have said for that sort of money you can only get horses with problems if you want to compete.

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It won't be easy finding something ready-made at that budget...but it's not impossible either. I know of at least one very good BSJA horse with eellent breeding that was sold for that sort of money. You need to be lucky and to shop around. I'd wait a few months until the recession starts to bite tbh...then who knows what you might pick up
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I'm afraid I'd agree that it is very difficult to take jumping more seriously than a pleasant day out of a weekend without a serious amount of money. Ponies are going for huge amounts and horses the same. You don't say if you're selling the pony that you have - if she's as good as you say then she should be worth a good bit more than 4K which would give you more money to play with, possible? Just a thought.

There's a decent looking horse for sale on www.horses-sales.com at the moment - a bay mare that's jumped 1.20's with a girl for 5K. Might be worth a call as I think it's a straight owner?

Good luck!
 
i sold my 3 ponies for £32000 when i came out of juniors.
i had the option of;
A) throwing all that money into one decent horse meaning i risked all my money if something went wrong with that one horse or i didnt get on with

or B
i brought youngsters which is exactly what i did do.

i brought 2 then and still have one of them and i have jumped young riders and 1.30 tracks on him.

it was the only way i could afford a decent horse as even with 30k i would of struggled to buy a young riders horse! scary!

what area are you sausage???
 
There are so many talented riders out there who will never reach their true potential because of money. I personally think im capable of jumping BSJA but will never be able to do it because of the funds
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There are so many talented riders out there who will never reach their true potential because of money. I personally think im capable of jumping BSJA but will never be able to do it because of the funds
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I'm afraid that statement just doesn't hold true anymore...

My horses are on livery alongside a riding school, and i'd say most of the riding school horses could jump the smaller (80cms) BSJA tracks that are available these days. In fact, many of them could go round a BN too.

The issue of huge amounts of money only really comes to bear if you are talking about buying horses to jump on teams or ride in national finals like Newcomers and Foxhunter. There are plenty of 'average' horses around for not so stupid money that will jump up to 1.20m level. Far too many people imo think they need a £20k+ horse when in reality all they are ever going to jump is BN / Disco / Newcomers or perhaps the odd Fox/1.20m eventually.

I would never pay over £10k for a horse that was unproven...and in fact i'd expect to pay nearer £6k or £7k for something that would be competitive at 1.10m / 1.20m level
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My best horse ever cost me £500...and he won and placed at 1.30m/1.40m level
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Have you thought about using an everyday dealer? i work at a dealers' yard and although we get a lot of unschooled horses with problems etc, we've had 2 affiliated show jumpers sold for £2000 each (one of which is now mine!) and a gorgeous show hack/riding horse, the most lovely laid back horse you could ever hope to meet, sold for £1750 because he weaves.

you might have to keep going back to the same places again and again but there are some real bargains out there. my horse has turned out lovely - extremely sharp and sensitive, but excellent at everything i've asked her to do
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Thanks for your tips everyone
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We're in the Bucks/Beds/Oxford area.

Think we may have to go the 4/5 year old route to get something nice, but you never know there might just be a gem out there somewhere!

Yes we could sell the present pony for about £5000 I suspect but though she is a star in the ring she does weave occassionally when stressed. Also she has become a member of the family...sentimental I know but seriously not sure we should put all the money into one horse and have no fall back.
 
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