The new 'Fake' professional riders?

[Smith123]

Hi Everyone,

I thought it would be an interesting discussion to get everyones opinion on the new obsession with young riders who the marjority are not competiting past novice level having their own websites - eventing pages on facebook and generally in my opinion thinking they are better than they actually are! When you watch videos of these riders who think they are the bees knees, half of them dont even have the basics right!

Sorry for the rant, it jsut annoys me when i see all these websites and facebook groups for supposedly professional riders who are 16/17 and compete at PN/N level.

What are your opinions on this?

Ps this is Jacobs wife not Jacob, i thought i would use his account instead of setting up my own!

S x

 

[rotters13]

Website I see as a bit of fun, they don't harm anybody and are generally created by the people themselves. Knowing how to code a website nowadays is definitely not a bad thing! Never heard of the Facebook groups, I personally think that that is riduculous!

 

[monkeybum13]

As far as I'm aware they don't actually call themselves "pro's" so I don't really see the problem.
It's just a bit of fun and if they manage to get sponsorship from their websites then good for them.

 

[Smith123]

I must just be a grumpy old women!

 

[SusieT]

Does it harm you in anyway? I have to admit to having a giggle at some of them, but then most young riders/juniors in particular have an overinflated sense of their ability, and fade away in seniors-but they're kids. It doesn't harm me in anyway, or them as far as I can see.

 

[tiramisu]

it doesnt bother me, eventing is an expensive hobby and if it helps them get sponsorship then good on them

 

[LEC]

I do not think they are setting themselves out as proffessionals.

I also do not have an issue with it as they are just using tools that all of us have access to but are perhaps too lazy to use or put the time and effort into doing.

 

[eishi]

Unless they are actually trying to make out they are pros which of the few I'm aware of (espescially on here) are not, I don't see the problem!
Why Can't they be proud of their progress and share this with others. Also as tirimisu says, if it helps them get a sponsor.. well good on them!
All people start out somewhere!

 

[Tanta]

Well the good thing with technology is that anyone can look up their record on BE and see exactly what their results are and draw their own conclusions...there is certainly no hiding now, or trying to pretend your results are better than they are, as it is all on bdwp before you get home in your lorry!

 

[kit279]

TBH, I think it's a positive thing - teaches them to engage with the basics of website design, marketing and PR. All of which would stand a young person in good stead for whatever career they choose, whether as a professional event rider or not.

 

[Mickeymoo]

I think its really good for them to have websites etc. It's educating them on how to market themselves, manage key stakeholders ie. sponsors, teaching them communication and social skills to say the least.

Its good they have their career / hobby to focus on unlike the unruly mob of kids who at 1am this morning was bouncing on our Land Rover which I have worked damn hard to buy.

Good luck to them. I follow one rider on facebook as she decided to leave H&H. xx

 

[Bettyboo222]

I know a few people like that. When I first started riding they made fun of me because I spent about 4 months not being able to go faster than a walk becuase my RI belives in us mastering the basics to perfection, then moving on. I just ignore them

 

[DressageChick]

I wouldnt let it bother me, they are not hurting anyone and who cares if people think they are better than they are?

 

[3DE]

Good on them I say. The ones that are bad - a little snide giggle - but some, it's nice following their progress as they move through the ranks. One girl I am good friends with used to be one of these and now has 3 horses, her own 4 horse waggon, own yard and sponsors. All done with no funding from her parents. Don't knock youngsters being industrious - It's very meanspirited.

 

[TableDancer]

I'm another who can't see the harm - it's somewhere between a hobby (the marketing side, I mean, not the riding which is of course an obsession ) and a slight teenage fantasy. When I was a teenager I used to dream that I was destined for great things, but in those days we didn't have the same sort of platform for kind of developing that dream that exist today. Matt Ryan always makes the point, very rightly in my view, that nobody should drizzle on these youthful ambitions because someone, somewhere is having the dreams and will achieve them so why should it not be that particular individual? He also believes that in Britain we stifle competitive spirit and endeavour in our youngsters by over-stressing the need for modesty and "being a good loser" in the young. The Australian approach is, apparently, very different. FWIW I don't think anyone could accuse Matt of lacking charm and grace in the face of both victory and defeat so he's a good advert for maintaining competitiveness...

The only time I get a little uncomfortable is when the slight fantasy elelemt takes over and the odd individual really starts to believe they are some pro rider with "owners" and a string of horses... However, experience shows that this sort of situation rarely lasts - real life has a habit of intervening in our fantasies The other time I was concerned was when I once heard through the grapevine that a sub-section of the young intake were forming a clique and trying to exclude others from joining in the game - that did make me cross but to be fair it was all hearsay as far as I am concerned and may not have had any truth behind it at all...

 

[Rosiefan]

Don't know about 'fake' pro riders - don't think any of them call themselves professionals do they? - but I suspect the real pro riders (ie, those who earn a living riding) actually have neither the time nor the inclination to keep a website up to date.

It's harmless and nobody is forced to read if they don't want to.

 

[brushingboots]

Some people on HHO have websites here, and for a few of them im the same age, and i think good on them, there doing something active, there not wasting there time being drunk [like most people our age tbh] and there doing something positive and good about what they love. If/When they gain sponsors, it'll be a useful platform for sponsors [a website] and they are promoting themselves if they did want to become a pro!

 

[henryhorn]

I cant see any problem with it at all to be honest, everyone has to start somewhere and quite frankly if these riders have got even as far as Novice on their own self made horses instead of buying made ones, they deserve to be acknowledged.
Quite a few have managed to find sponsors by making their websites and if anyone wants to do their own why the hell not?
Not every young rider is incapable so it's arrogant of you to lump them all together.
Look at the top professionals, at Ollie/William/Lucy/Mary etc, all of them have got websites that work hard for them, updating their fans with results and making people feel a part of the sport, if having a site encourages more sponsors then I'm all for it.
I'm puzzled as to why this bugs you, what possible harm can they be doing?
(before anyone accuses me of self promotion, my daughter no longer events, so this is an unbiased opinion !)

 

[worMy]

but I suspect the real pro riders (ie, those who earn a living riding) actually have neither the time nor the inclination to keep a website up to date.

ollie T keeps his facebook (and website i would assume too) very regularly updated!

 

[JDChaser]

I've always wanted to mention this on here but thought i'd be shotdown tbh!! I find it quite strange the way some people talk about having owners and sponsors and websites, yet they are just amateur riders like you and I and often arent competing past PN like you say. I don't see the harm in updating a website or a blog at all but i think some do, erm, 'overestimate' their eventing prowess if you like... But then again, ambition is a good thing.

 

[flyingfeet]

I like it - I think everyone should have a website as its so much easier to find information!

Does bug me when venues / trainers / studs / shops / anything doesn't have a website. I'm so used to being able to google information

I don't think they are necessarily trying to be a pro, but if you want to get sponsorship it helps, and lets face it, is having a website any different to keeping a scrapbook of your adventures?

 

[Rosiefan]

ollie T keeps his facebook (and website i would assume too) very regularly updated!

Very much doubt Ollie does that chore himself - but then I could easily be wrong

 

[TinselRider]

I don't see any harm in it TBH, and afterall on my website I state I am an amatuer rider, but at the end of the day it's personal opinions etc.


This is why I dont have a link to my site in my sig

 

[BronsonNutter]

I don't see the harm in it personally - I quite like having a read of some of them, especially if they do write ups of lessons and things like that, sometimes they're very useful! Also, because they're not 'pro' riders with stacks of owners and extremely posh neds, it gives me a bit more confidence to go out and set goals

 

[Mocha]

There are some young riders (with websites and facebook pages like you say) that have produced a string of young horses to Novice level... which IMO is pretty impressive. Its a hell of a lot different to buying a horse ready to go eventing.

The facebook pages are as much a way of moving on the horses for sale as showing who and how the horses have been produced. And of course, a way of looking for sponsership.

If they had the money to buy a 'pro' horse, I'm sure they would be competing at a much higher level. Most of the pages I have seen are good riders coming from grass roots backgrounds.

 

[popsdosh]

Very much doubt Ollie does that chore himself - but then I could easily be wrong

He barely knows were the off switch is on the computer as he is to busy riding.

 

[TheoryX1]

I have to admit I do sometimes chuckle at some of the overinflated egos that are on these websites. But I suppose we all have to dream at some point in our lives, and why not do that when you are still at home with mum and dad picking up the bills - real life will intervene at some point. I have to agree with Tabledancer's comments though on this as well.

I dont find it irritating, just a bit amusing with some of them, but some of them are great and its pretty obvious the kids are talented. I have to admit that Mini TX has flirted with the idea of it. She is lucky enough to have a proper sponsor (ok, its mum's company) and a good horse. OK she didnt make the horse herself, but she got it to Novice level, not the previous owner who bred her and produced her to PN. I say let them have their dreams, its not hurting anyone.

 

[only_me]

Honestly?
I think people with sponsers at intro is a bit, um, well you know

But as for people having their own websites, why not, no harm in it

Self producing a horse to novice is a much bigger deal imo and shows more talent than being bought a horse for £60k etc. and riding it at novice.
Understand that schoolmasters are used, and they do take ability to ride them, I just think its a bigger achievment to bring on and school you own.
Its where my talent lies and I enjoy it!

 

[Matafleur]

I really don't understand why people have a problem with the fact that intro competitors are getting sponsorship.

I think a lot of people get hung up on the fact that you must have fabulous results at a high level to get a sponsor as this is what sponsors are interested in. This is not the case!!!

Companies want to see their products being promoted when they sponsor somebody because sponsorship is only a form of advertising. So somebody that regularly posts on here with details of their blog promoting the products they've been given is a good return on the sponsors investment.

I can think of one person in particular that competes at intro and yet gives their sponsor fabulous value for money. They have managed to retain the sponsors and so the companies are clearly happy with the service they are receiving.

People need to remember that sponsorship is not about companies giving riders money/products, it's about companies getting value for money from their investment in the rider. If they are not getting that they will not continue to sponsor - simples

 

[TheoryX1]

Matafleur I totally agree with you. Mini TX is one of the points in question. My company uses her eventing activities as advertising and if her results are good we can usually get a write up in the local paper, where we advertise regularily. I dont think its all about having a top rider have your logo on your saddle cloth. its down to coverage. We are hoping to have another 'sponsored' rider at BE90/100 level, once I can bludgeon busines partner submission - great coverage to the mass audience. Most of the kids you see with sponsorship at be90 level ususally have parents who own a company etc. Its great advertising, Ive even had clients say they have seen her out eventing. What's wrong with that?