How to make money in eventing

[mollyf97]

Hi everyone!

Barrel racer here. Growing up, I rode English and loved it. I think it has given me an edge in my rodeo career and ultimately shaped me into the rider I am today. Nowadays, I have been getting back into english riding and have enjoyed it a ton. I’d like to get back into eventing, but am not sure how/if you make money if you place at an event? As a barrel racer, I’m used to making back much more than my total investment at each rodeo, so switching to eventing I need to know how prizes work first. Do they pay money to certain placings at events? Is there a percentage of the entries that go to a money pot for winners? Any relevant information on the topinion would be much appreciated.

thanks in advance!

[Blugal]

For the lower levels, usually no money. Ribbons and prizes 1st to 4th or 8th or whatever. Some of the bigger shows have prize money at lower levels, but unless you win or place well it won’t cover your entries and stabling.

We do it for love! Or because we are crazy!

[caevent]

Lolz. Whatever money may have gone into prizes has to build those cross country courses. We all go home broke.

[ladyj79]

[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“medium”,“data-attachmentid”:10067820}[/ATTACH] like this.

[kcmel]

@mollyf97

As a barrel racer, I’m used to making back much more than my total investment at each rodeo, so switching to eventing I need to know how prizes work first. Do they pay money to certain placings at events? Is there a percentage of the entries that go to a money pot for winners?

:lol::lol::lol:

Sorry, not laughing at you OP, I’m sure it’s a legitimate question coming from your background.

On the bright side, evening is MUCH more fun that barrel racing!

[DGEventing]

How to make money in eventing? Start with more money.

[asterix]

Yeah, I think 99% of eventers put all their spare (and sometimes not so spare) money INTO eventing. For the OP, as others have said, no prize money at all or the occasional token prize money. I came in fourth at our national championships some years ago and got a nice saddle pad and 200 bucks…which I don’t think covered the entry fee, much less all the rest. There are literally a handful of people in the world who win serious money at a small number of international events.
The only people who make money in this sport do not do it IN competitions. They buy, sell, and train horses in the sport, give lessons and clinics.

[yellowbritches]

How do you make a million dollars in eventing (or horses, in general)? Start with two million.

[KBC]

@ladyj79

[ATTACH=JSON]{“data-align”:“none”,“data-size”:“medium”,“data-attachmentid”:10067820}[/ATTACH] like this.

Trouble is that is going the same as trying to earn money at Dressage, I buy a $6 ticket and ‘win’ $2.

[ladyj79]

Oh, wait, wait! In the great tradition of horse sport, you can also

Marry it.

Like my rider’s brother was successful, but he became much more so after marrying a billionaire. And way less successful in divorce.

[IronwoodFarm]

OP, stick with the rodeo if making money is important.

[LookmaNohands]

:lol::lol::lol::lol:

[mdp9]

Teaching is the only way to make the money you will then spend on competing. If you’re real lucky you’ll come home with a saddle pad!

[ACountingRider]

I will say I’ve been able to supplement, key word supplement, my income through social media and blogging about riding and competing. It’s not for everyone, and the second any of your followers believe you’re selling out to make money rather than sharing your genuine experience with products you actually believe in, the game is up.
I do a fair job and adore the companies I work with, but several of the young riders in my area are actually doing quite well with this. I could see this as the future of marketing for equestrian products. Your fourteen year-old riders with a great camera post a quality photo of their horse, picture receive 10k likes, every day? That’s reaching a much larger market in a more personal setting than the 4**** professional who wears the logo on a saddle pad. Granted, pros can also do the same.
There’s definitely some skill and a learning curve and hitting the right people, but my horse’s stall neighbor gets new products in every week and owner makes a “V-Blog” about what she thinks about them.
These kids are genius.

[KBC]

Spammer flagged

[AKCH]

That’s a tough one to go through. You spend so much money into your horses, equipment that by the time you get into the competitions that do bring any type of earning, you’ve maybe come out even if you are lucky. I think the way you should look at it is more from a perspective of by being successful at higher levels, it will bring you clients that needs their horses trained and competed on. That is where you will make your living. Once you add purchasing and reselling horses, teaching lessons etc that where the money might be in the making.

[Outyougo]

Day job?

[Scribbler]

The only English discipline with significant prize pots is upper level stadium jumping. I mean like the Nation’s Cup at Spruce Meadows. Grand Prix jumping. Sometimes lower level shows will have one “mini grand prix” or “Derby” for juniors with a $200 prize donated by some local business. But in general there are no cash prizes in English riding.

It is true that the boarding and lessons and show supervision infrastructure is much more developed and controlling than in barrel racing and becoming a coach is the long term payoff.

[ladyj79]

I wouldn’t say being a coach is the payoff, selling horses is the payoff, even for those at the top (who need to earn money). Being a coach just gives you a better chance at a built in market.

[CorazonLock]

Ehhh…good luck.

There’s probably no good way to make money purely by winning an event. There’s not a whole lot of prize money unlike barrel racing. My friend is a barrel racer, and she pays less to run than I do and goes home with more money than I do. Sad lol!

However, as mentioned above, there are ways to supplement your shows. You just have to think outside the box. I have a couple of friends that do this - giving lessons, flipping horses, making horsey crafts, braiding services, social media influencer…in that case, the sky is the limit really.