KS Surgery-Coming Back Into Work, How Can I Get My Name Out There On The BE Circuit!

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Equine Girl

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Hi all,
I have a 5y/o ISH that had KS surgery in September. He is now starting his light ridden work and lunging. At the moment I can only sucessfully lie over him as he anticipates its going to hurt. He is the only chance I have at getting myself known on the BE circuit as money is limited and due to this have been unable to own a horse previously and now at 19 am trying to head my career in the direction I want it to. Has anyone got any ideas on how to encourage my horse to accept a rider or any tips on how to get myself known on the circuit in my situation as its impossible to get owners unless im already out there. Many people say be a working pupil but I have done that previously and am now a freelance rider and instructor in east Devon and Exeter which I am rerally proud of my accomplishments of this at my age. None of my clients have horses for me to compete as I teach and ride them in order for themselves to compete or their children. I know this is long winded but I am slowly loosing hope!
Any input would be greatly accepted.
Thanks
 
Hija

No ideas on the BE circuit I am afraid but my mare had KS surgery in September as well and we are still going through her rehab. With regards to getting on him, time will be the only thing really. We've been standing her next to a mounting block, then progressing to leaning over her gently for about 2 months now. She was fine to be ridden but always a little unsure to be mounted. My vet has advised that its the mental issues that often take the longest after this surgery. So just time and paitence.

What is your vets prognosis for him?

Could you advertise yourself as a rider, or volunteer at events to get to know people and see if a ride comes up that way? I know it must be frustrating, but you will get there.
 
Thanks for the reply as you are the only one.
They say that the surgery is 90% likely to have worked, but who knows until I can ride. Yes time will tell, my horse was well behaved to ride but not performing and to mount unless someone had hold of him and walked him around he would go up vertically land and rodeo constantly. So were taking things slow.
I advertise myself as a rider all the time on loads of websites but no one wants to have you as an eventer for them unless your out there. Catch 22.
Thanks for the response.
 
I don't know how much you volunteer locally but that would be one way of getting your face and name known. How easy it would then be to persuade people to let you ride for them I couldn't say.
 
This is my problem, all my clients are into different disiciplines so producing young horses for this is going to be difficult as I cant afford to buy any and the clients I ride for arent into eventing. As for volunteering thatrs difficult as I am working a lot so its a case of finding time.
Thanks for your ideas and responses :)
 
At your stage don't concentrate on just eventing. If you are offered a ride be it for showing, dressage, jumping etc and whether affil or unaffil take it as you can't be picky. If you get results and are out and about your name will spread in the area and then you might start picking up eventing rides. I'm presuming you have no be results yet at all? If so you will never be successful advertising yourself as purely a BE rider as you have nothing to back yourself up. Start small and work up it will take time but if you work hard and have the skill you can get there.
 
I have to say if I were in your shoes right now (and I was circa 5 years ago when the idea of pursuing ponies as a career was a glamorous notion!); I would be swallowing humble pie, and writing letters to top eventers seeking a working pupil position. Ads in H&H last week have positions with well-known eventers who often have young horses to bring on and WP are often given rides if good enough. You will have to prove your worth and be willing to accept the poor pay and long hours that go hand in hand; but the experience is invaluable. You will be in a win-win situation, schooling for your own horse when he comes back into work, competition experience and the only way I can see you gaining any chance of regular rides at BE without a benefactor or owner yourself.

I appreciate you are proud of your accomplishments to date; but you will have to decide whether pursuing your eventing dream is worth more than being your own boss for a few years!

Good luck whatever you decide, & rapid healing vibes to your horse :)
 
Thank you for all the replies, I will definately consider what everyone is saying. But I would really like to stay my own boss, I know its going to be harder for me but I would rather slog my guts off being happy to get where I want.
I appreciate everyones thoughts :)
 
It is a tricky situation.... The problem being that until you have some form and a record, people won't allow you to take their valuable horses around BE, once you have some BE experience you will probably find you can catch a couple of rides here and there but probably won't be paid until you have some good placings and wins beyond novice.

Just a suggestion, but could you afford to take something on loan? There are some nice horses up for loan that won't be world beaters but will get over pre-novice and novice if you are prepared to put the work in. Might get you out this season whilst yours is recovering and coming back into work.

Best of luck whatever you decide!
 
Agree re the horses on loan comment from Missadelaide, if you are determined not to go the WP route (which to me seems the only way you will really get to move up the grades) then some older event horses do get put out on loan, friend has just taken one who has done intermediate in past but has had a year or two off and is 17 now and she hopes to have a season or two at open 90 and 100.
 
You can, of course, do what you think is best, but if your goal is to be a professional event rider you either need to be able to fund a horse yourself (see loan suggestion above) at a competitive level, including regular tuition, or go work for someone who offers you access to that level. I know you aren't keen on that idea but you have to think of this as your "career" and no one goes immediately into a top spot on the employment ladder without an education - a WP position is like University. I know you've said you've done it, but if you think about it, at the age you are, in any other industry, you would be in education, apprenticeship, or an entry level position. There is SO much to know and the only way to learn enough of it is from other people - there is simply not enough time to make all the mistakes yourself. ;)

It really isn't a case of it being harder, it's a case of you have x amount to learn (not just riding, about keeping horses sound, training different horses etc.) and y amount of time to learn it in.

Also, like it or not, the horse industry (like any other, you'll find) is as much about who you know as what you know. Yes, you absolutely have to know your stuff but, as you've already acknowledged, the right people have to KNOW you know your stuff. Competitions, clinics etc all offer opportunities to show off your skills to people you can help you. If funding that is not possible, then you have to do it through showing people up the ladder how hard you work and how well you learn and how able you are, which is only possible if the see you. . . which means being somewhere where they will see you.

Even at the local level, riding for one horse owners, you need to have your eye up and see beyond what you're doing so you know where you and the horses need to be aiming at.

Sorry if that all sounds a bit harsh but been there, done that, got the t-shirt. :)

People really aren't trying to rain on your parade they are just telling you how it works.
 
I feel for your decision as was in the same position a couple of years ago - with the only difference that I'm 32 and going into a proper WP (with top rider) position was just not viable.
I too have worked very hard to build freelance coaching business from nothing, coming from another country, knowing no show rules, knowing nobody in the industry here. It was a lot of fun but also a lot of sweat and tears.
There are many mornings that I wake up and think how much I would love to ride more seriously and compete at decent level but I could only chose to do one thing well and I chose to develop the teaching business.
If I could do both I would but with limited finances there are limited choices. It's great to be your own boss but looking back I appreciate what I learnt from working with other riders and coaches. My current riders benefit from that knowledge. I agree with TarrSteps regarding time for mistakes!

If I was your age, I would find a rider you think of as a mentor and go for apprenticeship/WP position. Your teaching business will thank you for it and who knows, with enough drive, motivation and application you might just make it to the top.
 
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