What now?

[nevergiveupequine]

Hi everyone. I sold my horse in April, he taught me loads and I’ll be forever grateful for what he did for me, he's now very happy with a lovely girl. I’m 17 and don’t come from a horsey background. My dream since I was five is to be an Olympic showjumper. I know what this will take and by no means will this be an easy or quick feat. I know that it will be difficult without the horsey family support/ connections or deep pockets (parents are still very supportive in other means with my dreams and I couldn’t ask for better parents and this is more valuable to me). However I find my self now stuck with no horses to ride and I cannot buy my own horse. There are no loan/ share/ lease horses around me. What do I do now? I am homeschooled so I am flexible in that sense. I have applied for apprenticeships but the ones available are at riding schools and I want to do something more showjumping/ performance based and no apprenticeships for that. What do I do? I know I will not straight away be given the ride on a horse that will teach me or get me to where I want to be and that I’ll have to do the hard, boring work (all worth it in my eyes). But how do I get back into the game! Do I pack up my things and go to a showjumping yard abroad when I’m 18? I’m very disciplined, I don’t drink, smoke etc, I exercise and treat myself as an athlete and I will never give up. Even if it’s not enjoyable 99% of the time I’m not giving up. So does anyone on here know of how to get onto the first step on the ladder? or any advice. I know many who don’t believe in me and tell me to keep it as a hobby etc etc but that’s not what I’m going to do. I know I won’t be a pro tomorrow and these things take a lot of time but I know that and that’s worth it to me.

Hope everyone is having a good day, the warm weather is here finally!

 

[ihatework]

How much competitive sj have you actually done yourself?

 

[nevergiveupequine]

How much competitive sj have you actually done yourself?

Unaff showjumping 110. Training 1.25m. This was on my previous horse who I bought and was doing 70/80. I trained him up to that level.

 

[ihatework]

Okay, then I’d say your best bet of getting exposure is to offer up free labour to a local dealer who trades in sport/sj types. If you graft and are reliable (and are brave and semi competent) you’ll get a few rides and learn a lot. From there you are then probably talking a working pupil type position in a sj yard. Olympics is pretty unlikely but first of all you need to learn how the industry works and you need to learn to ride for other people

 

[nevergiveupequine]

Okay, then I’d say your best bet of getting exposure is to offer up free labour to a local dealer who trades in sport/sj types. If you graft and are reliable (and are brave and semi competent) you’ll get a few rides and learn a lot. From there you are then probably talking a working pupil type position in a sj yard. Olympics is pretty unlikely but first of all you need to learn how the industry works and you need to learn to ride for other people

Unlikely. Not impossible. Thank you for your response. I am a very brave, respectful rider.

 

[SEL]

Whereabouts are you based in case anyone here has contacts?

 

[nevergiveupequine]

Whereabouts are you based in case anyone here has contacts?

Buckinghamshire/ Oxfordshire

 

[HopOnTrot]

Either start off in a riding school and work your way up or get a job that pays enough for you to run your own horses and work your way up to being able to do it full time.

 

[sport horse]

I would suggest you look for a job/apprenticeship with ne of the big producers (Brendon Stud, Billy Stud for two) You will work very very hard, with lots of yard work and you may in time get rides on some of the young horses. You will learn lots and find out how talened you actually are.

 

[JBM]

Workaway in over 180 countries - give meaning to your travels

Immerse yourself in local culture and community. Learn, teach, volunteer, help stay and share skills. Get off the tourist trail. Contact tens of thousands of local hosts worldwide.

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This any good? I know a girl who uses it and loves it

 

[Auslander]

Either start off in a riding school and work your way up

That's not a route into a showjumping job. Working in a riding school is great if you want to be an instructor, but as the OP has a specific goal, it would be a waste of time that could be better spent working her way up the ladder in a competition yard

OP - your best bet, as stated above, is to find a working pupil placement in a showjumping yard, or work for a decent competition horse dealer.

 

[nevergiveupequine]

That's not a route into a showjumping job. Working in a riding school is great if you want to be an instructor, but as the OP has a specific goal, it would be a waste of time that could be better spent working her way up the ladder in a competition yard

OP - your best bet, as stated above, is to find a working pupil placement in a showjumping yard, or work for a decent competition horse dealer.

Thank you, yes riding school isn’t what I’m going to do as it won’t be a benefit to my situation.

 

[blitznbobs]

Tbh I would go to the most local big show and get a program … then write to each of them asking if there are any jobs going. If you can get a grooms job to get some experience and maybe get the odd ride then you have a toe in the door. Be prepared if you are not getting the rides you want to then sell yourself in a year or two to other sj yards.if you really want the Olympics be prepared to be pretty mercenary and work really hard so that you become their go to person. Oh and get really really fit. With a super strong core.

Be prepared to ride people’s nice horses for free once you have the skills to school them up a bit. There are a lot of very very nice horses out there that are too hot for their owners — and be prepared that they may get sold from under you.

always remember that Olympic selection is 50% skill/ talent 50% politics … sj is tough because there are a couple of families that really rule the roost… so a job on one of their yards would be a huge boost.

 

[nevergiveupequine]

Tbh I would go to the most local big show and get a program … then write to each of them asking if there are any jobs going. If you can get a grooms job to get some experience and maybe get the odd ride then you have a toe in the door. Be prepared if you are not getting the rides you want to then sell yourself in a year or two to other sj yards.if you really want the Olympics be prepared to be pretty mercenary and work really hard so that you become their go to person. Oh and get really really fit. With a super strong core.

Be prepared to ride people’s nice horses for free once you have the skills to school them up a bit. There are a lot of very very nice horses out there that are too hot for their owners — and be prepared that they may get sold from under you.

always remember that Olympic selection is 50% skill/ talent 50% politics … sj is tough because there are a couple of families that really rule the roost… so a job on one of their yards would be a huge boost.

Thank you.

 

[Kaylum]

Experience of big horses and the more you ride the better, as everyone is different. A competition yard as a working pupil would be best. Ask on your local Facebook group. Learn to drive if you don't already.

Make as many contacts as you can. The competition is fearce and most riders have sponsors and horses owned by other people who love to see their horse compete. My friend owns a few who are ridden by an event rider. The rider has a whole yard of horses owned by other people that she competes for their owners.

They have very high standards and are very demanding. But you have to start somewhere.

 

[silv]

Workaway in over 180 countries - give meaning to your travels

Immerse yourself in local culture and community. Learn, teach, volunteer, help stay and share skills. Get off the tourist trail. Contact tens of thousands of local hosts worldwide.

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This any good? I know a girl who uses it and loves it

I host workawayers for about 8 months of the year, it is not a step into jobs with horses. Plus some are much better than others....some I have been pretty pleased when they left.

 

[JBM]

I host workawayers for about 8 months of the year, it is not a step into jobs with horses. Plus some are much better than others....some I have been pretty pleased when they left.

Depends where you go
Some are paid some aren’t
Big yards small yards
All experience

 

[VRIN]

Why don't you write to all the top show jumpers, explaining that you would love an opportunity to work at their yard ... I did hear one of the riders at Bolesworth who said they had done just this and got a place. If they say no you are no worse off but it does mean you are doing something which is probably better than doing nothing???

 

[little_critter]

Everyone is saying write to the top SJ yards, I’d say try the next tier down too. I bet the top yards get hundreds of letters. The next tier down may not be household names but may be big enough and good enough to get your foot in the door of the SJ world. Once you’ve got experience from them, then you may have made enough of a name for yourself to be in with a shout with the top bods.

 

[ihatework]

Everyone is saying write to the top SJ yards, I’d say try the next tier down too. I bet the top yards get hundreds of letters. The next tier down may not be household names but may be big enough and good enough to get your foot in the door of the SJ world. Once you’ve got experience from them, then you may have made enough of a name for yourself to be in with a shout with the top bods.

I agree. And what you really want is saddle time as well as shovelling. I’d personally look at dealers/producers first

 

[rabatsa]

Contact Brendon Stud at Pyecombe. I know that they bring on potential young riders as well as horses.

It is not a place that you can waltz into and take a plum role though, you will have to prove yourself worthy of doing the job.