Anyone else realize that half the sport is having a ton of money? Money= best trainer + super nice horse. I have more dedication and talent than any of those top junior riders out there, but I don't the money that they do. I swear that I'll find my way up there with them at the equitation finals and I'll prove to all of you just how much I belong on top. And I have a dream to help all of those young riders like me, who deserve an equal chance. I'm going to change this sport for the better. One day I'll get noticed, and you all will know my name. Until then...I'll be here, dreaming.
thats really nice for u to do that! i think thas great that u want to help those like u said!
may i point out to u that many top juniors post on here. Im a 13 year old junior who likes riding eq at big shows aswell. and yes, unfounrtly riding does cost money. lots. but to me it sounds like ur being...well... against girls at that level with money. not to be rude or bossy , i try to be as honest and as polite as possible. but may u clear up ur thoughts on these girls for me because i think im taking it the wrong way, and i want to understand what ur saying. it sounds like ur saying that girls like me and other riders on this fourm dont have the same dedication or talent?? u rly cant say that. i just go back from riding a barn load of horses. i probably have the same dedication and or even more as you do. plus ur neew to these fourms, u dont know the ppl on here yet so i find it kinda rude to say that you have more. if anything u sound jelous. hey, start showing in the eq and then youll get there. i know some people riding at that level who dont have as much money as some of the other girls who made it because they tried.may i get your name and barn name so i know who u r? just incase i know ur barn. thank you! if u feel offended by any of this please let me know and ill be sure to apoligize.
of course you think you're better, it's you giving yourself your own opinion. But your opinion doesn't matter. Only a judges does. Not to be snarky, but the old money issue is a cop-out excuse.
I understand that it is unfair to say the top riders are only there because of money, but the money issue is not a cop out.
I can only afford to lease a horse...I have to do a lot around the barn to even be able to do that. I can only really afford to do local shows. I'm not showing at the next show because I'm working on the jump crew/doing other things so I can earn a little money. I'll be lucky if I get to do a B show before I graduate.
Do NOT tell me money is a small issue. It is impossible to compete at that level without a large financial backing of some sort. I'm not saying that the top riders don't have talent (I know they do!), I'm just saying I'm tired of a bunch of riders from wealthy families telling those of us from less wealthy families that the only reason we aren't at the top is that we aren't trying hard enough or doing enough. You would not be where you are if your parents could not afford to pay for lessons at your barn, buy a nice horse (or two or three or four), or pay for you to go to the big shows. I'll believe money isn't an issue when someone from the southern states wins a medal final on a $1,000 off the track thoroughbred on a used tack, local show, working student budget.
Its horrible that the riding world is like that,but it is. You are making it sound like you are so much better than all of the people with money though..you could be,but you honestly dont know that. Take away their money, they would still be winning and their riding skills wouldn't change at all. You CAN get to the top with dedication,talent,and determination, but it would be A LOT easier with a ton of money. I am one of those riders who dreams,every single day,of being one of those top show girls, getting to go to "A" rated shows all summer long,but i'm not,though hopefully i will be soon. But until then,I have to content myself with having a blast with my friends and winning on the local circut.
Sarah Willeman pulled herself up by her boot straps, found a big name trainer who let her work off her training fees, and finally, towards the end of her junior career, was able to buy a nice horse. It can be done through hard work and determination. She did it, and won big.
Money doesn't buy wins....look at Chelsea Moss's finals performances. Look at Addison Phillips...where was her name in the Maclay results this year? and this after saying she had that final in the bag.
I think that that was completely uncalled for Money= best trainer + super nice horse does NOT equal success.
And let me tell you, Im sure that you work hard and do have well developed skills but Im right there too, working my fingers to the bone everyday. And you say "I have more dedication and talent than any of those top junior riders out there". Im sorry but to have my talent and dedication challenged is a great insult. Im not even saying that Im one of the "top" riders, but youll see me showing alongside many of the greats and we ALL can be found on any given day dirty and sweating and exhausted at the barn. And please dont make a conclusion from your comparison with us becuase you havent truly compared yourself until you show against us.
Also, sure many of those girls at the top have money, but look at Zazou Hoffman, Julie Welles, and Maria Schuab, they all started as extremely dedicated working students. Now Zazou is catchriding with the best of them, riding top horses, just becuase she worked hard and it payed off. Julie is Missy Clark's assistant trainer. Why? becuase she worked hard and CONTINUES to work hard. And then theres Maria, top jumper, eq AND hunter rider. Why? Becuase when she was little her mother went up to Frank Madden and told him that his girl had talent and wanted this more than anything. So Frank took a chance on Maria, let her work to pay off her lessons and shows and now shes where her mother said she was going to be: WINNING.
I too have the fancy horses, the parents who love me and work extremely EXTREMELY hard to support me financially. (not to mention that they also pay for private school tuition for me and my 2 siblings, renovation on our house, 6 cars ...dont ask... and a house keeper, which we have becuae my parents are ALWAYS out of the house working) but those horses werent just BORN knowing everything and over time they will FORGET things if i dont work at it every day. And my trainers are TOUGH, they expect the best from me every day, the good days AND the bad days. There will be some days where Ill just sit in the tack room and sob because theres so much PRESSURE to live up to what everone expects of me. So dont think that our lives are simple and perfect just becuase we happen to be able to afford a few of the finer things in life.
It really stings that you would reach such a conclusion so rashly. Our lives are hard, not to say that yours isnt, but you cant judge until youve walked a mile in our shoes, *ahem*, tall boots.
not to dis u or any thing but it is uncalled for for u to say u hav more talent and dedacation than the top riders out there look at lindsay smith she dosnt have much money of a top trainer and she still made it to the top. i als think it was rude f u to say that because just cuz u may have money and amazing horses does not mean u have a good connection with the horses and ur connection is just about everything so take that miss feel bad for me cuz i dont have any money and im not a top rider
equitationxoxo, have yu asked yourself why are you into horses? is it because you truly love them or is it because you simply want to win? its a fact this sport costs a great deal of $, in order to be at the top you need a trainer, grooms, braiders, top vet, farrier, great barn care at home, transportation to and from shows, entrys, must i go on... none of this is free. the horse industry is financially driven. there are the rare instances where some is so talented who may not have much money, where a top trainer might take them under their wing and give them catch rides, but these people dont start out at the top. try hooking up with the best trainer in your area and if you r truly that talented they might be willing to help you out, but certainly expect to kill yourself cleaning stalls, tack, horses, doing all the dirty work, whatever they want before they maybe will ask you to hack one of their green beans. other wise just enjoy what lessons you can afford, and show as much as you can, try to hit at least 1 a-3 show a year and focus on qualifying for your local medal finals who knows you may get noticed! good luck!!
I'm not the original poster, but I would like to thank you for responding politely instead of immediately calling the original poster (and everyone else who says things along the lines of what she said) whiners. It it nice to see that there is kindness among that crowd. : )
ok, well, I understand what you are saying about the money issue....i had a lot of issues with my last horse because of money, in fact, i had to sell him because of money, and only got two very low-key local shows in because of it too. however, you seem like you are jealous, and in any case you have no right to criticise other riders, especially ones that you don't know. Yeah, horses are $, its a fact. for now, you should just be happy with being able to ride! some people can't even do that! be thankful, i have to work off my own riding and lessons with helping around the barn, cleaning tack, mucking stalls, and just about every chore you could think of. so i don't mean to be rude, but you could complain a little less, and appreciate what you have. save up, and maybe you'll get there, but for now, keep working hard as you claim you already do.
It sucks not having the money to show more/own ANY horse (much less a really nice horse), but I realize how lucky I am to ride as much as I do. I often feed/clean stalls/help repair/build things at my barn to work off my lease. I am lucky that there are plenty of horses at my barn that need to be worked that I can ride whenever I have the time. I am very thankful that I have a trainer that understands my financial situation and gives me breaks here and there because she knows I work hard for what I have. I used to be really bothered by the money situation, but I realize now that I have learned so much from riding many different horses that are nowhere near made and also from helping out at horse shows that I think I have gotten much more out of my riding experiences than I would have if I didn't have to work for everything...even if I don't have oodles of championship ribbons to show for it (I got my first reserve ribbon in October!!).
First of all aren't all riders equal? I mean as many have pointed out many of the "Top" riders don't have a lot of money. But also a lot of the "Top" riders do have money. Personally I choose to be thankful that my parents give me what they can. I mean I am not exactly how would you put it? Low on money but I am not rich either. Also like some people have said at least you can ride. And why does there always have to be this competition between people with money and people without?
