Win a horse competition - photos?

Does anyone remember Mountwood Bally Hi? He was won in a H&H competition (I entered and I so wanted to win).

He did brilliantly with his owner (i'm still jealous!) and spent the rest of his life with her, I think he died in his 30s.
 
I think if you're already lucky enough to own your own horse (that is rideable) already, you should be exempt. Leave the prize for someone who is horse-mad but horseless (as I was 10 years ago).
 
Meems said:
I think if you're already lucky enough to own your own horse (that is rideable) already, you should be exempt. Leave the prize for someone who is horse-mad but horseless (as I was 10 years ago).
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I have entered. My horse is rideable but is now 20 and not allowed to jump because of previous injury. Why should I be exempt? I'm still horse mad and want another horse to compete before I am too much older. You might as well say anyone in their 20's has got plenty of time to get a horse so only us oldies can enter :)
 
It's hardly a welfare issue is it, and to be quite honest if everyone buying a horse had to jump through so many hoops maybe less idiots would buy them in the first place! I always sit on the fence on here but it always seems to be the same names that want to put everyone else down.
 
I don't think it is remotely a welfare issue, quite the opposite.

In the 1970s I remember a competition run by Kerrygold (I think) butter to win a pony. That wasn't as sensibly run, and was a welfare issue. This isn't. There are loads of applicants, a lot of them, no doubt, not ready to own, but the competition really roots out who has the knowledge and the organisation to have a horse. They also get a lot of support from the magazine and backup. From what I've seen of it, it's a fantastic competiton. If anything it shows how much there is to organise when getting a horse (it is all followed up in the magazine, livery yard visits, nutritionalists visiting the yard, training, saddle fitting etc.
 
Moomin1 said:
I didn't say you had two horses - if you won, you would have two horses. For a £5k horse, insurance for vet fees, public liability, and death alone it is in the region of £500-600 per year. So if you can afford to have two horses, on part livery, insured and care for them adequately, I fail to see how you cannot afford to buy one.
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But I'm not entering!! Just pointing out that it is entirely possible to have the finances to keep a horse without having the lump sum to buy one!
 
slumdog said:
It's hardly a welfare issue is it, and to be quite honest if everyone buying a horse had to jump through so many hoops maybe less idiots would buy them in the first place! I always sit on the fence on here but it always seems to be the same names that want to put everyone else down.
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Totally agree, loads of people sell horses all the time and there are no checks made to see whether the buyer is capable or financially sound enough to look after the horse. Loads of adverts say "very sad sale, of much loved horse", but it's very rare for the seller to check out where the horse is going before the sale has been made (I'm not saying it doesn't happen it's just rare).

At least with these types of competitions checks are definately made to make sure the winner is capable of looking after the horse, and I'm sure for a full year the magazine keeps an eye (included in various articles) on the winner as well .

I say good luck to all that have entered.
 
slumdog said:
It's hardly a welfare issue is it, and to be quite honest if everyone buying a horse had to jump through so many hoops maybe less idiots would buy them in the first place! I always sit on the fence on here but it always seems to be the same names that want to put everyone else down.
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Hear hear!! It's easy enough to go out and buy an equine (or a poor excuse for one) for £25 - this is far more of 'welfare issue' than people going to extremes in a competition to win one.
Some people really do need to get a grip and live in the real world!!
 
I have entered the competition and the questionnaire was intense. If you get to the final stages you have to go and do face to face interviews and have your riding assessed before they decide who wins.
Basically they are trying to give someone the opportunity to purchase a horse that they otherwise may not have done. Also just becasue the max budget of the horse is 5K doesnt mean if you won you cant choose one that is 2k for example.
If i won I would choose a horse that best suited what i wanted to do with it and not just the highest priced one i could find.
The whole process means the applicants are very very closely screened and I am confident they would not let someone win who they felt would not be able to afford the commitment (though dont know if there is anything in the terms and conditions to prevent you from just selling the horse if you wanted to)

It is a massive pipe dream for most who have entered and i guess there will be a massive number of entries and only 1 person gets to claime the prize. Stop al the negativity and just embrace that someone in the world is actually propossing to do something generous and charitable for someone - there is enough hate going on at the moment, we dont need more over such a petty issue.
 
Moomin1 said:
I don't think it gives off the best example really, as people should be financially secure enough to be able to get themselves off the ground with a horse. I take it they check your financial status fully, and thoroughly vet the entrant's bank account/incomings and outgoings?
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I don't think it's any different from me getting a free horse just off the track - I know I can afford to keep it, I know I have the time to deal with it, I'm just not having to fork out the actual money to buy the horse - it says nothing for my finances what so ever.
 
I thought when you won they gave you the 5K to spend on a horse and everything that comes with it. I'm pretty sure that you also have to go and ride in front of their 'judges' before they choose their winner as well. I can't see how it's a 'welfare issue' when YH is vetting their winners so thoroughly.

I sent my photos of last night, hope I used two that didn't make me look incredibly novicey.

I already have a horse who is a brilliant showjumping horse. However both me and mum ride and atm mum has nothing to ride and my current horse isn't able to do dressage or event, which is why I entered so mum would have a horse to ride that she's capable of riding and I'd have something to ride.

It's the upfront cost that stops me getting another. My horse was bought for me by a relative a few years ago, I've looked into rescuing and unfortunately there's not been anything suitable as a lot of their horses are unbroken, elderly or can only be used for light work and hacking.

Maybe it is selfish as I already have one, but when the chance arises why not enter anyway?
 
I think it's odd how a 'horse loving' magazine is essentially chucking away 5k, when there are so many better ways to spend the money.

Your Horse are receiving a lot of publicity for this competition, it isn't a random act of kindness or a charitable act.
 
SpringArising said:
I think it's odd how a 'horse loving' magazine is essentially chucking away 5k, when there are so many better ways to spend the money.

Your Horse are receiving a lot of publicity for this competition, it isn't a random act of kindness or a charitable act.
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Of course it isn't a charitable act it is a business that needs to make money and why shouldn't it?

As far as I remember some previous winners already have had their own horse and have even been BHSAI's. The tests are much more rigorous than anyone normally buying a horse would go through and I would say of no welfare concern whatsoever. In fact I think it would encourage people to learn more so they could stand a chance of winning.
 
I got through to the finals a few years ago. It was an amazing day. You had to fill in a full report of how much it would cost to keep the horse in order to qualify. Then the final 12 I think it was went to Talland for the day. There we had a flat work and jumping (or pole for those who didn't jump) lesson on 2 different horses. Then we had to do practical tasks eg tacking up, kitting a horse for travel etc while being asked questions. The there was a horse care questions section in smaller groups. TBH it was very similar to doing an exam for BHS stage 1
This is a lot more than anyone has to do to go and buy a horse! Then I think the final 2 had home visits of where the horse would be kept, sadly I didn't get that far. All the finalists were knowledgeable and I'm sure any of us would have given a horse a wonderful home.
 
muddy_grey said:
I got through to the finals a few years ago. It was an amazing day. You had to fill in a full report of how much it would cost to keep the horse in order to qualify. Then the final 12 I think it was went to Talland for the day. There we had a flat work and jumping (or pole for those who didn't jump) lesson on 2 different horses. Then we had to do practical tasks eg tacking up, kitting a horse for travel etc while being asked questions. The there was a horse care questions section in smaller groups. TBH it was very similar to doing an exam for BHS stage 1
This is a lot more than anyone has to do to go and buy a horse! Then I think the final 2 had home visits of where the horse would be kept, sadly I didn't get that far. All the finalists were knowledgeable and I'm sure any of us would have given a horse a wonderful home.
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Do you provide them proof of income and outgoings?
 
Do you provide them proof of income and outgoings?

No but you had to provide a detailed report of the monthly costs of keeping a horse. I think showing you are aware of how much it costs to keep a horse is enough. Many wonderful horse owners do not have a healthy bank account, myself included, but their horses want for nothing.

Also in the Q and A session insurance and vets fees were discussed as well as basic first aid and common problems. The judging of the competition is quite tough and shouldn't be about money. They would not pick someone who wasn't 100% committed to owning and caring for an horse. There may have been more financial questions for the final 2 who had home visits
 
muddy_grey said:
Do you provide them proof of income and outgoings?

No but you had to provide a detailed report of the monthly costs of keeping a horse. I think showing you are aware of how much it costs to keep a horse is enough. Many wonderful horse owners do not have a healthy bank account, myself included, but their horses want for nothing.

Also in the Q and A session insurance and vets fees were discussed as well as basic first aid and common problems. The judging of the competition is quite tough and shouldn't be about money. They would not pick someone who wasn't 100% committed to owning and caring for an horse. There may have been more financial questions for the final 2 who had home visits
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And that's where I have a problem with it. Someone can be an extremely knowledgeable, experienced person, who rides extremely well, and with all the will in the world will try and care for the horse to the best of their ability. But if the money isn't there, it isn't there. After being very closely involved with a horrendous situation of a highly knowledgeable person who managed to eventually let their pony lie collapsed and emaciated in a stable for three weeks through lack of funds to get a vet, I think finance should be very high up on the list of 'must check' for the magazine. Someone saying they know the costs of keeping one does not cut it IMO. They should be providing proof of income, job security, and outgoings. If they do at the final stage, then great, no probs at all, and I agree it sounds like a good comp in that case. :-)
 
Moomin1 said:
And that's where I have a problem with it. Someone can be an extremely knowledgeable, experienced person, who rides extremely well, and with all the will in the world will try and care for the horse to the best of their ability. But if the money isn't there, it isn't there. After being very closely involved with a horrendous situation of a highly knowledgeable person who managed to eventually let their pony lie collapsed and emaciated in a stable for three weeks through lack of funds to get a vet, I think finance should be very high up on the list of 'must check' for the magazine. Someone saying they know the costs of keeping one does not cut it IMO. They should be providing proof of income, job security, and outgoings. If they do at the final stage, then great, no probs at all, and I agree it sounds like a good comp in that case. :-)
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Maybe they do at the final stage - until one of us gets there and can comment we can't really slam them. Do charities ask for a financial breakdown before they home a horse?
 
Fides said:
Maybe they do at the final stage - until one of us gets there and can comment we can't really slam them. Do charities ask for a financial breakdown before they home a horse?
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Yes.

And as I've said, if they do ask at the final stage, then that's great. :-)
 
Moomin1 said:
Yes.

And as I've said, if they do ask at the final stage, then that's great. :-)
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How is it decided how much spare income is enough? I have nowhere near enough spare income to keep one horse on livery but I have 3 at home. I don't have 'spare income' as I don't need it. My horses are insured and want for nothing but I can keep all 3 on less than what it costs to feed my OHs German shepherd.
 
SpringArising said:
I was quoting Paint Me Proud, who said "Stop al the negativity and just embrace that someone in the world is actually propossing to do something generous and charitable for someone".
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I didnt mean charitable in terms of the company giving money away with no return, I know they will get major publicity form it. I meant something charitable in terms of the one person who wins, YH wont really gain anything from that one person alone. If you get my drift?!
 
Fides said:
How is it decided how much spare income is enough? I have nowhere near enough spare income to keep one horse on livery but I have 3 at home. I don't have 'spare income' as I don't need it. My horses are insured and want for nothing but I can keep all 3 on less than what it costs to feed my OHs German shepherd.
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It would be decided based on the livery arrangements/keep required and costs of the individual animal. If you keep yours at home, then you don't pay livery costs. They should be asking whether that is likely to change at any point to your knowledge, and what provisions you may have if it does. Anyone can tick a box saying they know the costs involved. Anyone can show the potential accommodation for that horse, but at the end of the day you get many people out there who are dreamers (as we all know), and six months down the line, they are no longer able to finance the upkeep once their savings have gone. You wouldn't get a bank loan for 5k by simply saying you 'know' the costs of repayments, you would be credit checked and asked further questions about your financial situation. This is a living breathing animal, so IMO it should be even more stringent than applying for a bank loan..

Clearly I am in the minority in having that concern though.
 
Paint Me Proud said:
I didnt mean charitable in terms of the company giving money away with no return, I know they will get major publicity form it. I meant something charitable in terms of the one person who wins, YH wont really gain anything from that one person alone. If you get my drift?!
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I don't give a monkeys about YH or the person who wins. My concern is the horse. If we are on about charitable intentions, I can think of far more pleasing ways for YH to give money tbh.
 
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