The new 'Fake' professional riders?

[Baggybreeches]

Oh B******r that's put paid to our plans as well. A group of slightly more mature women competitors (definately down, going and everso slightly windy) we were going to call it

The Keep Calm and Carry on Crew, (ladies who appreciate the value of decent foundation garments!!)

Oh can I join too?

 

[JEP]

Go for it Old Git!! It's time us old biddies had someone to hero worship

 

[help1]

Oh can I join too?

Absolutely you are welcome as well.

 

[stencilface]

Show jumpers do it too and often not just the younger one's.

Again most don't compete over Newcomer / Foxhunter level or only seem to get placed once in a blue moon!!

They often call themselves 'team' something or something 'showjumper' on their webby and always seem to be seeking 'sponsonship' even if it's just a saddle cloth or two!!

No it's not harming anyone but I do think it's hilarious, weird and very, VERY sad !!

I kind of think this too, yes I don't mind when people do this - it obviously doesn't affect me in any way, and i have enjoyed watching some of the phoebe buckley vids etc, but I do think its funny when everyone has matching jackets with their 'team' name on. Maybe thats more of an SJ thing though? (esp if said jackets are enhanced by diamantes )
I would love sponsorship to help my riding/competing, but with my work load I don't get to ride much in the week and am not out and about enough to make it worth their while

 

[Bella3puff]

Life is changing and things change.

When I was a kid all I wanted is a posh travel rug and travel boots!

All I wanted was a jacket with my name on the back

a posh riding hat

a body protector

a nummah

a stable rug that was not on the floor in the morning

a saddle with leather underside

a horse box

anything pink!!

Ok jump forward 30 years

kids have all of the above plus much more as the norm

website, loads of lovely pictures, video's, you tube.

We started our first website as a joke "house of payne" it was a family scrap book for all horsey and non horses pictures and life stories for the world and our families to see before there were things like facebook thatthe world live on, We kind of out grow the house of payne for now anyway and Beatle had her own website instead which is still a scrapbook really and nothing more, ok most 13year old kids don't have website but can't see the problem with it and don't think that make her a wannabe pro or anything posh like that.

I do something smile at what some people put on there websites but good on them on showing the world the love of there life horses and competing.

I love looking on facebook and Twitter on there pictures and reports from all the horsey people and dream of being a kid myself again so I could make my pony pink and blingy!!

 

[Thistle]

I can't understand why Phoebe Buckley gets referred to as a wannabe pro.

She is a true pro in every sense of the word. She buys, produces and sells 'projects' She has a number of owners and has ridden at a number of 4* events - hardly a wannabe. Oh she has also represented her country.

 

[Eventer96]

Agree 100% with Thistle here.

 

[stencilface]

I wasn't trying to refer to her as a wannabe pro in my post, just that thats the only example of someone who I have watched vids of on a website. Maybe not a good example! Perhaps the reason I watch her vids in the first place is that she is a pro......?!

 

[Eventer96]

Ahhh I see, sorry for misunderstanding your post

 

[Thistle]

Ah, ok then. It just read that Phoebe was in that category.

I can't see anything wrong with kids seeking some sort of sponsorship, providing they are honest about their level of achievement.

B approached a number of companies earlier in the year. was totally honest with them, ie on gap year, doing other things as well horses. Competing both PC and BE, has produced own pony to BE Nov, now has a schoolmaster and a quirky mare. Hoping to put pony in foal.

She has a number of deals with these companies, gets trade discounts on a number of products and is a GWF supported rider http://s104768845.websitehome.co.uk/gwfnutrition/info_blog/

Nothing fake about it.

I guess the companies see her as 'joe blogs' typical grass roots rider.

 

[Chloe_GHE]

Darn it, was going to launch "oldgit eventing", there muist be a niche for "down and going oldsters"

Old Git if you are looking for a spin doctor or PR bunny to help launch OGE you know where to come I can see it now we can start a stud and all the horses can have OG themed names in the style of Olly's OTD horses eg 'OGE Arthritus' 'OGE Ouchmybacksgone' and OGE Menopause' sound like a plan?...

Seriously though..... OP I have a website, 6 sponsors, and only currently compete at Intro level, but I don't do it to try and pass myself off as a pro or an aspiring full time event rider. Eventing is a VERY EXPENSIVE sport and so to try and help myself with the costs of competing I started to seek sponsorship being totally honest about my abilities, results, and what I could offer sponsors in return.

I work full time in marketing and never want to pursue a career in horses but I do want to get better and better at my chosen sport and hopefully one day manage to produce my exracer to Novice level. Having sponsors has helped me a great deal and has opened more doors and introduced me to new friends within the equestrian community, and in return I try to do all I can to promote my sponsors so they get value out of our arrangement.

If young eventers, amatuers, or fledgling full time wannabe pros are using social networking to promote themselves and their activities in order to get more eyeballs to their site/blog/facebook page then it's a positive thing, it's industrious, pro-active, and will hopefully pay off for them in the end.

If people have overinflated ideas about their prowess or horse power then leave them be, horses are great levelers and they always help you come back down to earth with a bump, till then let them enjoy the dream, we are all only young once

 

[3DE]

Just a thought for those few slating the kids and doing the whole 'bank of mum and dad' quotes...

For a teen having a horse eliminates a lot of the time that they are available to work. It's a complete bummer! As a kid I found I could only really ride at weekends, and that was the only time I could work... Do I ride or do I work??? Until you hit 18 there's no chance of a bar job - that was the main work I did to fit in with my equine persuits.

Kids setting up websites and seeking sponsorship is getting them out of the bank of mum and dad so how is that a bad thing?

 

[ShowJumperBeckii]

aha some one at my yard has one and it say im a young prossinal showjumper and trainer and shes only jumping at 3.6ft and im jumping bigger than her and she had to turn for help cause she cant train this horse
so shes not as good as she thinks!! lol

 

[OldGit]

Totally agree with you Chloe, even my old event horse has his own web site (he did wreck a few key boards designing it!!), and I love the OGE..........themed names. I'll give you a call!!!!

 

[diggerbez]

i don't really see the problem with it. if i was technially capable i'd have a website and be trying to get sponsors and i'm totally useless and very much at the bottom rung of the competing ladder! yes some of the people who do this have overinflated egos- but so what? horses are great levellers and soon it will be obvious that they are talking ****! horses are expensive, so good on you if you are being proactive and getting some help with it