Puppy
Well-Known Member
I'm 29 and I'm mighty jealous of any child whose parents buy them a £35k pony!
Jeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesus
- Thread starter Scheherezade
- Start date
I'm 29 and I'm mighty jealous of any child whose parents buy them a £35k pony!
Puppy
Well-Known Member
But that's exactly the point. People have different feelings on the matter. I'd maybe buy a pony in your price range (less than £1K), but never a horse. Cheap horses are cheap for a reason and I've no desire to buy a load of problems. I'm with Spottedcat when she says she'd "spend what I needed to in order to get the best fit for the job I want the horse to do, without causing myself any financial issues."
When I search the for sale ads at the mo I put a minimum price of £4K.
Honey08
Waffled a lot!
Interesting thread.
I had a naughty,cheap ex-riding school first pony that taught me half what I know today by trial and error. I got to where I did well at PC on it, and won trophies and did teams. I put 50% of my passing my AI down to that pony and what it taught me. I too adored camp etc, and lived for it. All great fun, but it never got me to the Olympics! It did get me a career with horses as an AI, but not earnng what a top level rider would earn by miles!
I worked in a riding school abroad, where we got to event the owner's two event horses too. The owner adored eventing, and admitted that he would never be good enough to do it himself, and that he got a lot of pleasure just being involved. His daughter was 10, and wasn't that keen, but happily joined in with the summer camps that we ran at the school. As I left that job she was bought a very expensive pony from the UK. Us two BHSAIs were replaced with a top trainer from Germany. Within two years this child was on the national pony eventing team. Ten years later she was at the European adult team champs - the one where Zara became European champion. There is no way that she would ever have got to that level without the finance and help from her parents.
Most of our top riders started out on junior and pony teams. Isn't it WFP's autobiography that show pictures of him doing a pc hunter trail as a kid on his dad's ex Badminton horse? I bet there aren't many of our top level riders that "played at pony club" until they were 16, then started working to get into eventing and happened to get good horses etc. Even on here, a lot of the late teens/early 20s competition riders that are doing well have several horses paid for by mum and dad. Sadly it does seem the only way to the top of our sport really.
I'm not saying its right or wrong. Would I pay that much? Can't afford to! Don't think my son is competative enough to justify that type of pony either.
A young girl at PC seems to be being taken down this route by her parents - not quite at the £35k level yet, but I wouldn't be shocked if they did when she's 14. She is a brave, determined little rider, even at 10, and has a similar drive that I've seen in the couple of top eventers that I've worked with as a groom. The child is really enjoying it, so is it that wrong if she enjoys it and is going up the levels? I have more problem with parents that pay a good medium level price (£5k) for a pony and then do nothing but local shows. Interstingly, yesterday at our PC show, the posh ponies with this type of riders were all beaten by good little riders on cobby pony types.
If you have a really keen, talented rider, I don't see why they shouldn't be given the opportunity. Its a very British thing to dismiss ambition as being crass.
I had a naughty,cheap ex-riding school first pony that taught me half what I know today by trial and error. I got to where I did well at PC on it, and won trophies and did teams. I put 50% of my passing my AI down to that pony and what it taught me. I too adored camp etc, and lived for it. All great fun, but it never got me to the Olympics! It did get me a career with horses as an AI, but not earnng what a top level rider would earn by miles!
I worked in a riding school abroad, where we got to event the owner's two event horses too. The owner adored eventing, and admitted that he would never be good enough to do it himself, and that he got a lot of pleasure just being involved. His daughter was 10, and wasn't that keen, but happily joined in with the summer camps that we ran at the school. As I left that job she was bought a very expensive pony from the UK. Us two BHSAIs were replaced with a top trainer from Germany. Within two years this child was on the national pony eventing team. Ten years later she was at the European adult team champs - the one where Zara became European champion. There is no way that she would ever have got to that level without the finance and help from her parents.
Most of our top riders started out on junior and pony teams. Isn't it WFP's autobiography that show pictures of him doing a pc hunter trail as a kid on his dad's ex Badminton horse? I bet there aren't many of our top level riders that "played at pony club" until they were 16, then started working to get into eventing and happened to get good horses etc. Even on here, a lot of the late teens/early 20s competition riders that are doing well have several horses paid for by mum and dad. Sadly it does seem the only way to the top of our sport really.
I'm not saying its right or wrong. Would I pay that much? Can't afford to! Don't think my son is competative enough to justify that type of pony either.
A young girl at PC seems to be being taken down this route by her parents - not quite at the £35k level yet, but I wouldn't be shocked if they did when she's 14. She is a brave, determined little rider, even at 10, and has a similar drive that I've seen in the couple of top eventers that I've worked with as a groom. The child is really enjoying it, so is it that wrong if she enjoys it and is going up the levels? I have more problem with parents that pay a good medium level price (£5k) for a pony and then do nothing but local shows. Interstingly, yesterday at our PC show, the posh ponies with this type of riders were all beaten by good little riders on cobby pony types.
If you have a really keen, talented rider, I don't see why they shouldn't be given the opportunity. Its a very British thing to dismiss ambition as being crass.
BSJAlove
Well-Known Member
well if i had that kind of money sitting in a bank, i sure as hell would 
SophieLouBee
Well-Known Member
These are kids we are talking about, they are bought up to think in a certain way. If parents think that a competition driven way of life is the way forward, so will the kid, they won't feel like they are missing out on pc or whatever, because everyone else in thier social circle will be in the same boat. Same applies for vice versa, a ten yo girl that does ponyclub on her dear old welsh section b everyweek, isn't exposed to dreams of fei world championships, so she isn't missing out in her world either!
Personally, I don't think I could justify paying that much for a horse even if I became rich, because I have always had to earn the things I want and work towards them, and that is how my mind works. But if I was born into a wealthy family, who knows what i'd think then!
I'm not making assumptions about how wealth affect peoples values before anyone jumps on that bandwagon! Just giving an opinion.
Personally, I don't think I could justify paying that much for a horse even if I became rich, because I have always had to earn the things I want and work towards them, and that is how my mind works. But if I was born into a wealthy family, who knows what i'd think then!
I'm not making assumptions about how wealth affect peoples values before anyone jumps on that bandwagon! Just giving an opinion.
bexcy-bee
Well-Known Member
But that's exactly the point. People have different feelings on the matter. I'd maybe buy a pony in your price range (less than £1K), but never a horse. Cheap horses are cheap for a reason and I've no desire to buy a load of problems. I'm with Spottedcat when she says she'd "spend what I needed to in order to get the best fit for the job I want the horse to do, without causing myself any financial issues."
When I search the for sale ads at the mo I put a minimum price of £4K.
No, exactly, it is my personal opinion. Ive just brought my horse for way less that £1k, and at his first comp, admittedly only diddy jumps, he came 2nd, so there not all bad! With a good eye, and a sticky bum, I dont see a problem with it myself. But then, I was out looking for something I could break in myself. My parents brought my sister an eventer when I was younger, been there, done it, placed every outing type, passed down to me when she went to uni, and I was bored of him! He's now out on loan to a lovely little boy, who competes him, and is having a whale of a time doing PC, and getting himself into the eventing scene. But I personally dont want a ready made horse, wheres the sense of achievment in that? lol
bexcy-bee x
Puppy
Well-Known Member
Personal opinion indeed
Even with 'a good eye and sticky bum', as I said on your previous thread, there's no way I would touch a broken down ex racer with behaviour problems and questionable conformation. Never mind 'achievement' I want fun from my time in the saddle.
I did 'problem horses' when I was a teen and had quite a reputation for doing well with them but once you're permanently injured they very definitely lose appeal. I want a horse that is a pleasure to deal with; one that is well mannered at all times, and well schooled. I'm more than happy to spend a large sum of money to get that. I'd feel very much the same if I were buying a pony for my children.
bexcy-bee
Well-Known Member
Personal opinion indeed
Never mind 'achievement' I want fun from my time in the saddle.
Good job my 'broken down ex-racer' doesnt have behaviour problems, and questionable conformation, maybe pain issues, and personal dislikes...
Maybe when Im out of my teens, I will be looking for something more sedate, something to have fun with, but then I will still have Smokey, so will be having fun [=
I definately agree though, I wouldn't buy my child something dangerous, unless they were capable and wanted a challenge, even then I wouldnt get something stupid!
Each to their own as they say [=
bexcy-bee x
FMM
Well-Known Member
In which case your steed must have been worth a small fortune if it was good enough to compete internationally with a 12 year old child in an under 21 competition!!!!
caterpillar
Well-Known Member
Puppy
Well-Known Member
LOL! Indeed! You could buy a trillion ex racers for the money such a horse would sell for.
I, for one, would love to see some photos of said horse.
SpottedCat
Well-Known Member
SophieLouBee - what makes you think that those with the money to buy an expensive horse have not worked hard to get the money to be able to do that, and what makes you think they have not instilled the same work ethic in their children. It's perfectly possible to have to work hard in order to get something expensive...
bexcy-bee
Well-Known Member
Touche
Actually, for England isn't internationally, its National, He was a loan pony from a very good family friend, who still own said pony, and give me 2 mins and I will upload a photo, with the border around for all you delightful people [=
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bexcy-bee
Well-Known Member
That was me at 12 years old. I also did the same competiton at 14, on my coloured boy, but if anyone was there, the weather was dreadful, and the ground collapsed, so they replaced it for showjumping.
At 12, I was doing Novice (which at the time was under 21's, not sure if it is now) [=
At 14, there were people from Canada, America and somewhere else (apologies, I cannot remember currently) competing with us [=
caterpillar
Well-Known Member
I'm disappointed, I thought you meant national level competition ie BSJA not pony club.
I know several people who at 12 competed at PC Novice Champs.
I know several people who at 12 competed at PC Novice Champs.
FMM
Well-Known Member
No need to see pictures. I am not disbelieving you. However, if you represent your country then presumably you are competing against people from other countries which makes it international?
Cross posted!
Lovely pony. And I bet was worth a small fortune had they decided to sell him rather than loan him to you!
Cross posted!
Lovely pony. And I bet was worth a small fortune had they decided to sell him rather than loan him to you!
bexcy-bee
Well-Known Member
Please note the argument, I was saying I competed higher than 75cm in PC, I went on to say I competed nationally at 12, the sentence kind of gives away the fact its with PC. And Its funny you know so many people, when I did it, I was told I was one of only 4 ever to do it so young, though may have changed by now of course. (This is tetrathlon, not SJ or eventing, where you cant buy your position on the team, you actually have to be good, though I did also do SJ)
Look, Im not trying to cause an argument, get called a liar etc, Im merely stating you dont need lots of money to get a good horse to a good level. Also, that PC isn't so boring that you only ever jump 75cm...
charlie76
Well-Known Member
My last horse cost me £500, he has just one his first event, the one before that cost me £1, I schooled him to advanced medium, however, if money was no object I would buy the best horse I could afford and if that was Moorland Totilas at £££££'s millions or NZB LAND VISION then bloody hell I would, I would go and get them tommorow! (having said that I doubt I could ride one side of them!) I would then keep them in my top of range yard and transport them in my beautiful lorry with double pop outs! And I couldn't give a t*ss who was jealous, would just smile as I floated on by!
DragonSlayer
Well-Known Member
If I was loaded, and my son was highly competitive, and I didn't have to work so could devote all my time to it, then I'd buy a pony that cost that much. Why wouldn't I?
If I was UBER loaded, I'd think nothing of blowing £500,000 on an 'oss, doubtful I would have the skill (until I paid for a top instructor!) to take meself to the top, but I wouldn't bat an eyelid..
If I was UBER loaded, I'd think nothing of blowing £500,000 on an 'oss, doubtful I would have the skill (until I paid for a top instructor!) to take meself to the top, but I wouldn't bat an eyelid..
bexcy-bee
Well-Known Member
We were competing against Wales, N Ireland and Scotland.
He would be worth a small fortune, though was the horriblist pony on the ground, and kicked if you needed to get off, and get back on for any reason - for example doing a slip rail in a tet, had many a bruise from that little moster!
bexcy-bee x
FMM
Well-Known Member
I love what you have just written - encompasses absolutely everything in one paragraph!!!!
Turitea
Well-Known Member
Absolutely reasonbably priced for a pony of such class. Such ponies are sold on for an exorbitant amount of money in Germany, you wouldn't believe how much money parents are willing to spend. Crazy!! They should advertise it in Germany.
Lanky Loll
Well-Known Member
At the end of the day if you had the money and a good enough jockey - what wouldn't you pay for your kids to excel?
Here's the great Colton Maelstrom in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1dlhbrnpdI
Here's the great Colton Maelstrom in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1dlhbrnpdI
charlie76
Well-Known Member
FMM, might even add a little wave as performed my one time changes around my olympic sized indoor school!!!
anyone who says differently is not being truthful IMO, lets see you have all the money you could want, some one offers you and ex racer for £200 or the next Olympic prospect for £200K, honestly ,which would you choose!!!????
anyone who says differently is not being truthful IMO, lets see you have all the money you could want, some one offers you and ex racer for £200 or the next Olympic prospect for £200K, honestly ,which would you choose!!!????
FMM
Well-Known Member
absolutely right!!! It is like houses. No matter HOW much money you have to spend on one, the one you want is always a bit out of your price bracket. But we don't have a go at people who buy a large house when they could easily fit into a caravan ...
bexcy-bee
Well-Known Member
If money were no issue, and I was a good enough rider to actually help the horse around the course, then yes, of course I would go for the £200k one, who wouldnt?
But as my riding will never get to that level, then the £200 ex racer everytime, after all, whats that bad with ex racers? Some go on to become the next olympic prospect being sold for £200k
bexcy-bee x
SpottedCat
Well-Known Member
Amen to that charlie76!!
There's nothing wrong with the cheaper horses - but anyone who thinks Mary King spends a few hundred on a horse is delusional
There's nothing wrong with the cheaper horses - but anyone who thinks Mary King spends a few hundred on a horse is delusional
Scheherezade
Well-Known Member
Well.. yes. But as I have reiterated many, many times. It's not about spending £££££'s on a HORSE, it's about spending £££££££'s and putting children thruogh a life of strict competition.
have written this 1000 times already, but if the parents spent £500K on a horse for themselves, I wouldn't bat an eyelid, and would definately do the same for myself or OH, but would never do that for a CHILD, who should be playing and enjoying being a CHILD, not strictly tied down to the international competition lifestyle. You hear of some schools not running any competitive sports (eg races) on sports day - this is like the opposite end of the spectrum!
*wishing people would READ what is written*
Scheherezade
Well-Known Member
Amen to that charlie76!!
There's nothing wrong with the cheaper horses - but anyone who thinks Mary King spends a few hundred on a horse is delusional
ARGH.... am giving up on HHO now. Do I really need to go through my old posts re-quoting everything I've put?! right, will do just that.
(To the tune of YES I know international HORSES cost a lot. YES I know Mary King, WFP etc HORSES ridden by ADULTS will cost that. But am pretty sure neithers parents spent £35K on their childrens ponies!)
Scheherezade
Well-Known Member
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