professional eventing ... how do people start out??

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Ruthyasquith

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I am 19 years old and very interested in eventing. I have done low level on my horse however he is 19 and really in a stage in his life where he is teaching younger riders rather than wanting to start out and compete and I ride a variety of other horses. I know I have outgrown my horse and I'm so enthusiastic about eventing and so prepared to put the hard work in but I don't have the money to buy another horse and just wondered how others started their eventing career?

I know you have to be capable yourself as a rider and I don't know if I am but I would like to at least try and see just how good I am, and I mean that in a non big headed way! I mean I just want to give it my all and see how far I can go

Any advice welcome, thankyou
 
I'm not sure bios of the top riders are always the most helpful, partly because some of them are getting on a bit now and started when the sport was a bit less of a business, partly because a lot of them had a fair bit of family support, even if sometimes it gets downplayed slightly in the interests of a good story. ;). They are very good for inspiring you and for showing you how much time, effort and money it takes though so read them all!

Basically, become a working student for the very best yard/horseman/competitor you can find. Aim high, even it means taking a very low level position. It's better to expose yourself to the very best from the start rather than settling for low standards. Don't expect anyone to give you anything, watch, learn, listen and work VERY hard. Be polite and professional and try to learn everything about the business, not just how to ride a horse.

Make connections. You don't have to be pushy but be sociable and learn who people are - the horse world is very much a community and networking is as important as in any other business.

Learn everything you can. Not just from the people you work for, but from anyone good, books etc. Try to get to see good clinics and high level competition.

I'm sure people will scream at me for saying this, but save a website for now. Yes, marketing is important if you want to attract owners and money but you need to have something to sell before you can be taken seriously.

It's a source of some debate but I'd also say get some sort of education. Obviously there is the fall back aspect but also, people who have money tend to be worldly and well educated. In modern sport it's important to be well spoken, confident and comfortable talking to different people. You can't just snap your fingers and make this happen but learning about the world helps.

Stay safe, as much as you can with horses. You certainly won't have a career with horses if you're broken. Yes, accidents happen but use sense and weigh risks and rewards.

In other words, take it seriously just like you would training for any other type or career. It pays badly, the chances of getting hurt are high, and only a tiny number of people succeed. If you're going to do it, especially without the support of your family, make sure you REALLY want to do it. :)
 
If you don't have the financial backing then start by working for someone else as a WP. That is how you make the contacts. Bill Levett even supplies a horse for his WP's to compete.

By being a WP it will give you a really good insight into the world of eventing and how much hard work it is! I don't mean to sound negative but you either need to have the money to begin with or have a serious amount of talent and drive to get to the top and to stay there. But you have got to try it! Jonty Evans, Tim Rushbridge and Austin O'Connor are all looking for WP's. Best of luck.

We sold our house and moved from Scoland to Glos in order to be surrounded by the good riders, bought an Intermediate horse, freelanced for a couple of pro's, made good contacts and got 2 owners with 4 horses but still doesn't pay very much and I ride out racehorses to try and stay afloat. Very long days, 6/7 days a week.
 
I second the poster who said get some education. If you're academically minded then it will give you a fall back.
Added to that, a friend of mine has just done her English degree. She has evented her horses throughout uni and been on the riding club team. Because of the riding club team, she was "spotted" and provided with youth training clinics. Through that she went out to Romania to represent GB, and is heading out to Aachen to represent GB.

Because of these credentials (and a lot of networking!) she has just scored a top working pupil place with a rather fantastic rider. It will involve her having a lesson every day, taking her own horse, and riding this riders horses. Then when this rider is competing, there will be opportunities for my friend to compete too.

There is no doubt, that her experience with the university riding club is what has helped her secure the working pupil place. Obviously she is very lucky and it doesn't work like that for everyone! But if you can get to University, then do it. Eventing is a tough world, and having a full back is a good plan. You could always do a business or marketing degree, as they'd come in handy for marketing yourself as an eventer as a business. My friend is 21 and going to start her working pupil place, it's definitely not held her back or made her "too old" to do it.
 
Its an interesting point about education. I do think its important especially if you don't have the financial support from your family to help get you off the ground. I grew up with horses but both parents were firm believers in their daughters going to University. I wanted to ride and that was about it. I clearly remember my mum and dad sitting me down and going through some of the things mentioned above about having something to fall back on and going out into the big wide world and finding myself a bit. I did go to University and I did also backpack for quite some time. I then went straight back into horses. I have a good job and I can support me and my horse and afford to compete etc but its not want I want to do long term. I am now advertising and enquiring about yards to buy / rent so I can run my own yard which brings me back full circle.

I may now be 30 (eekkk) but I have been out into the big wide world, consider mysefl well educated and I've learnt a number of social skills that will be extremely important when setting up on my own. I also wouldn't have been able to buy my horse and pay to train and compete without a decent job. Had I have started out as a WP I wonder how far I would have got without a bit of investment / luck and could have ended up really skint and unable to ever start a yard off.

So whilst I get a bit grumpy from time to time that I am not further on in my equine career and I am still yet to find my perfect yard it I quite possibly would be even further behind had I chosen to go straight into it. Its also a huge commitment too and I have had years to get beach parties in Thailand and back packing through Australia out of my system.. now I'm ready!

I don't know if that helps.. just some thoughts from someone who felt the same as you 10 years ago... !
 
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