Not really sure how to title this question but it’s something that’s been bothering me for a while. Most of the trainers I know have a modest income, none are millionaires but for some reason, they are able to afford very nice horses. One in particular, young gal who is an up and coming international caliber dressage rider is able to afford an upper level horse to bring along. And, has a very well bred (read expensive) youngster that she’s training. She keeps her horses at one of the most exclusive barns in the area, trains with international level riders, and does it all on a trainer’s income. How do they do that? One even had a fund raiser to buy her next eventer. If she had to have a fund raiser and couldn’t purchase outright, that would raise some red flags on ability to afford upkeep.
Sometimes they don’t actually own these nice horses.
I know for a fact, the young woman does own both those horses. But yes, that is a possibility
When you’re skilled you can succeed on a horse that other people can’t succeed on (due to greenness or quirks or other) and those horses tend to cost much less than an equivalent horse a less skilled person can ride. You’re also there in the right place, right time to scoop up deals thanks to your network.
They might get reduced board/training by providing services or they may get a “free stall” as part of the deal for running the facility. Or if the other trainer is a friend, that trainer may cut the young pro a deal to be nice.
Also, don’t underestimate the horse professional’s comfort with high levels of debt. Their priorities and idea of affordability can be very different from someone who sees horses as a hobby. Not saying this person is doing it, but many horse pros are living with high debt, not spending money on healthcare or retirement, and eat cheap/skimp on personal purchases. They also see the animals as business investments rather than pets.
Moreso, connections make all the difference, and you’d be surprised how many “self made” pros are living off inheritance or family money. I know of several who only are able to do what they are because of parental support and/or life insurance payouts.
At the end of the day you don’t actually know someone’s income or bank account status.
A trainer I know generates a relatively modest income from what she’s shared. Her family also was more than happy to purchase a $$$$ international FEI horse for her. She is expected to make enough to pay her rent but her personal horses are seen as a family investment.
Others I know have no problem paying $$ for a youngster and taking on debt in the hopes that in a few years the horse can be a fun show partner and eventually sell for enough to roll into the next purchase. It isn’t about net cost but rather leveraging one purchase price for the next and seeing everything in between as sunk cost.
I’ve seen trainers quietly sell eggs, do web can work, strip, etc all to bring in the bulk cash needed to buy a dream horse or farm.
Unless you’ve walked in their shoes, at best it is a guess about how they manage their finances.
Well yes, that’s true.
The vast majority of horse professionals, if they own a personal horse, spend all their disposable income on the horse. Even if this means sacrificing in every other area of their life such a vacations, clothing, entertainment, vehicle,… or food…
Sometimes it’s hard to know who actually owns the horses. Just because they are listed as owned by the trainer, doesn’t mean there is not a silent syndicate that fronted the bulk of the money.
I know a younger trainer that owns some very nice horses, but she also sells them. She’s very realistic about the need to continue to sell them to bank money to purchase the next up and coming ones. She will typically keep one upper level horse out of the ones she buys, trains and then sells, but there are plenty of times she just has client horses and her younger horses are just getting started.
Another trainer I know would look like to an outsider that she is living solely on training income - but her husband is quite wealthy. None of her income goes to supporting her day to day living, health insurance, retirement, etc… He never comes to the farm or to shows, doesn’t have a particularly high profile position and a relatively common last name. If you don’t know her, you wouldn’t know and likely would assume she’s in some substantial debt or inherited money.
Ask her?
There are plenty of people who seem to be able to afford the things they desire the most, despite the fact that they don’t make a big salary.
She could be working major expenses off at the barn , she could be seriously in debt or have people with money supporting her habit for future gain.
The only way to know is to ask her .
Some people are very comfortable being up to their eyeballs in debt 
Financial support by parents (lots of trainers don’t go to college, or if they do, they choose the cheapest option, not that it’s a bad thing, so they might get gifted some of the money that would have gone to schooling); wealthy spouse; debt; careful selection of clients; not paying bills.
I also agree about not spending money on other normal people things like retirement savings, but usually that won’t be enough to cover major competition and training expenses of an upper level horse.
I would never ask someone how they afforded anything, and would be quite taken aback if someone asked me such a thing!
Trainers do not pay “retail” price on their horses. Not ever, ever. They get deals. They get free leases. They get sales prospects. They get horses to campaign and market. Unless there’s a clear obvious reason to announce a sponsor ship or angel investor, the numbers are kept very quiet as part of business secrets.
Trainers very often have trade deals with barns. They aren’t paying full retail on their board either. Guaranteed.
As far as doing a GoFundMe or fundraiser, well, anyone can ask. Maybe the rider thought she had enough friends and fans that would want to own a part of her journey. And no, it doesn’t raise red flags on upkeep necessarily. Say she has a good set up to keep her $10,000 horse and can afford his keep. It’s not going to be ten times more rent if she buys a $100,000 horse. Tacky, maybe. Depends on what her fan base if any thinks.
Very many nice horses change hands for lower sums if the deal benefits the seller. Having a foal go FEI is a big bragging right for the breeder and will raise the value of their other horses and pay off more than selling it to a deep pocketed ammie who will struggle to get to 2nd level. Trainers and riders who can really go places with their horses are rather rare and very important in the mix.
All of the above and then some. You’ve no idea if there are silent partners, family money, if these horses had tragic vettings that don’t affect performance but drastically affect sale, behavioral issues not suited to most riders…the list goes on and on. The majority of young professionals I know who outright own 6-figure horses all have financial support from family members.
And in general good pros are not paying retail meaning what the deep pocketed ammie is charged by pros. They still have significant costs but they aren’t paying top ammie dollar.
So, some thoughts:
- could be family money.
- some breeders are very happy to give a large discount on horses if they know the horse is going to be actively campaigning. It looks real good when you can show the offspring can do X and have proof to back it up. Usually this only happens when the breeder has a vested interest in the stallion.
- people (clients) will buy horses for the trainer. It happens way more often than you’d think.
- you may be surprised by the actual income of the trainer. Lessons, commissions, etc. I know one woman who charges $100 a lesson and teaches about 12 a day, 6 days a week. (The lessons are 45min, all client owned, and back to back all day. I don’t know how she has the energy)
- connections and patience. Knowing people selling (especially if the horse is a bit quirky or the previous owner wants a very special situation) and being able to wait and purchase at the exact time you find the right one.
Once upon a time, I had a trainer who told me that he preferred to be paid by cash or check. This was before Venmo and such. “As far as the IRS is concerned, “ he said, “I only make $25,000 a year.
As I looked at his lesson schedule I figured at a rough estimate he was bringing in around three times that amount, so 2/3 of his income was tax free.
Don’t underestimate the price gap of an ammy horse vs a pro ride only horse, especially a youngster. It is a HUGE difference and it doesn’t always mean the horse is mean or dirty or especially tricky. Some horses just don’t want to go around with an amateur and that makes them very hard to sell and therefore much more affordable for a pro. A pro also always has one foot in the horse shopping scene so they are much more likely to be in the right place at the right time for a deal.
I also absolutely guarantee she’s not paying the full board and training rate.
In my experience if you’re ever wondering how someone can pay for something these days the answer is USUALLY family money lol
we have had what would be considered inside deals from breeders since they know we will campaign the horse at a high level. Over a short period of time we have bought two weanlings from a breeder from the same mare which both became world champions within our breed… after the second one won his championship All of the siblings value skyrocketed.
Trainers do not pay “retail” price on their horses. Not ever, ever. They get deals.
my daughter is an amateur who is highly skilled in the sport, she assists a top trainer in our breed by covering for him while he is doing seminars/clinics. When we had an untimely/unexpected loss of a highly respected young horse, the trainer gave her a horse from their stock who if was to have been bought would have cost into the five figures, horse just did not fit the trainer’s program but is well suited for daughter’s desires.
