Hi all :),
I really want to be able to show consistently, but my extremely limited funds make that nearly impossible. So I was wondering if there is anyway I could get sponsored? And if I did, would I be considered a professional? Would I be able to compete in programs such as the EAP? How should I go about it? Any other ideas as to how to make this no money/expensive passion thing work? Seriously any and all help welcomed.
P.S. I am already a working student.
[QUOTE=JumpingforJesus;8306037]
Hi all :),
I really want to be able to show consistently, but my extremely limited funds make that nearly impossible. So I was wondering if there is anyway I could get sponsored? And if I did, would I be considered a professional? Would I be able to compete in programs such as the EAP? How should I go about it? Any other ideas as to how to make this no money/expensive passion thing work? Seriously any and all help welcomed.
P.S. I am already a working student.[/QUOTE]
First things first: are you a junior? Because that affects the answer to at least one question.
Sponsorship is less about what the sponsor can do for you than what you can do for them. How would that person/organization benefit from sponsoring you? What’s the pay-off for them? You have to sell yourself; “sponsoring me would benefit you because ____[specific reason]_____.” I see so many teenagers now who want to be sponsored so they can do the A circuit, or so they can go to Maclay finals, or whatever, but they don’t have any concept of how it would benefit someone to sponsor them, it’s just that they want to do something and can’t afford it. If you have something to offer, you have better luck.
I’m not sure that you can get someone to pay for your showing when you don’t have much experience. You’re on the right track to getting more knowledge by being a working student, though. 
What is EAP?
what are the conditions of your working student job. What do you do? Is it at a BNT or is it simply at an average local barn
how old are you?
Emerging Athletes Program conducted by USEF. But that’s not a competition, it’s an invitation only seminar and clinic. If a Junior, having a sponsor would probably be fine. But it’s expensive to show enough to be invited and of little or no benefit to a sponsor even if they were willing to pay the considerable freight for you to show enough to be be selected and travel to attend.
Sponsorship is a two edged sword, if you take their money, there is pressure to show a lot to get exposure-and win. Not go to clinics with tiny audiences made up of mostly parents and no prizes.
Sponsorship is a commercial arrangement that should benefit both parties. It is not charity - NOT a way for a rider to get someone else to foot the bills for them to enjoy a hobby/sport.
If you want sponsorship, you have to be able to offer a return on the sponsor’s investment in you. What do they get from paying you to ride and show?
Also, be aware that many sponsorships tend to be less about cash and more about endorsement and use of a particular product. In that arrangement, the sponsor hopes that they will sell more of that product or service because of the endorsement of the sponsored rider. Do you have that kind of cachet in the horse world? Will other people buy stuff because you say it’s good?
A better path for most riders to follow is to develop a skill that others will pay for (braiding is the typical example) in order to earn enough money to pay for lessons/showing. If you are already a working student, you might consider that approach.
To answer some questions, I am 14, my trainer will not charge me any day fees, so my expenses would be from the show only (stall, shavings, entry fees, ect.). I understand that the sponsor needs to benefit from sponsorship. EAP is the Emerging Athletes Program, you apply for the program and, if you are excepted, you ride in a regional clinic (as well as being tested on all aspects of horsemanship), and then 16 of the most promising riders move on to the finals, where they are given a horse to ride in the final competition; and if you win, you get $3,000 towards training. I am also learning to braid :).
[QUOTE=JumpingforJesus;8306358]
I understand that the sponsor needs to benefit from sponsorship.[/QUOTE]
Ok, but how can you benefit a sponsor? What do they get out of sponsoring you?
But what if you can provide a small public service where you can publicly and frequently thank your sponsor? Then how do you look for sponsors to sell yourself to?
I would think that it would be quite a challenge to find sponsors for a 14yr old. At that age you would really need to be a wunderkid.
OK so you’re 14. Let’s go over this with an eye on reality. (This may come across as not what you want to hear, but it probably is what you need to hear)
What is your results record? How good are you
When compared to people your age who are constantly showing at AA shows and have more than 3 horses/ponies to compete and parents with TONS of money, why should you get a Sponsor’s name on your pad instead of them? (They’d promote the sponsor more regularly)
What do your parents suggest as a remedy for this dilemma?
How are your grades in school?
Are you going to college after school?
How many horses/ponies do you have and how long have you had them? What breeds?
If a sponsor did give you money to compete what are you willing to do in return?
How long have you been competing?
What is your goal for your riding this year? Next year? 5 years from now?
Why should anyone give you money to compete when we’re [Sponsors and the readers of this board] a generation of people who had to work for everything we have. Go Fund me never existed for my peers and it would be embarrassing to have gone hand outstretched and asked for people to just hand me what I wanted instead of finding a way to get it done myself. But hey, sell us on why we should help you.
~Emily
It can happen, but I think much if it is being in the right place at the right time.
I know someone who pays all the fees for a junior to show her imported warmblood…because it is too much horse for (the owner) but she doesn’t want to sell it…so it CAN happen.
I could also see a sales barn type situation, where having a younger, but capable person showing their horses may help them…or what about a pony barn/breeder?
But as for sponsors, one of my students had a sponsor for her riding, but she also did public speaking and volunteer work to earn that sponsorship…and I don’t think it was big bucks. It was a local company, that helped her complete locally. She WORKED for that sponsorship though, and kept a squeaky clean image at shows (which mattered more to her sponsor than winning). Nice and helpful to everyone.
Good luck in the pursuit of your dream!
The short answer is that sponsorship is an unlikely solution for a 14 year old wanted to show more.
Like has been mentioned here, sponsorship is commercial arrangement where a company pays an athlete as part of their marketing strategy. In order to make that investment, the athlete has to be able to contribute to their marketing strategy. This happens in a couple of ways:
That’s just to start. From there you have to make the contacts, create a sponsorship agreement and then prove your value.
Something along the lines of braiding is a much more attainable goal for paying for your showing. As a junior, if you are an accomplished enough rider, you can also network for catch riding opportunities.
[QUOTE=Xctrygirl;8306483]
OK so you’re 14. Let’s go over this with an eye on reality. (This may come across as not what you want to hear, but it probably is what you need to hear)
What is your results record? How good are you
When compared to people your age who are constantly showing at AA shows and have more than 3 horses/ponies to compete and parents with TONS of money, why should you get a Sponsor’s name on your pad instead of them? (They’d promote the sponsor more regularly)
What do your parents suggest as a remedy for this dilemma?
How are your grades in school?
Are you going to college after school?
How many horses/ponies do you have and how long have you had them? What breeds?
If a sponsor did give you money to compete what are you willing to do in return?
How long have you been competing?
What is your goal for your riding this year? Next year? 5 years from now?
Why should anyone give you money to compete when we’re [Sponsors and the readers of this board] a generation of people who had to work for everything we have. Go Fund me never existed for my peers and it would be embarrassing to have gone hand outstretched and asked for people to just hand me what I wanted instead of finding a way to get it done myself. But hey, sell us on why we should help you.
~Emily[/QUOTE]
I am not looking for handouts, I was brainstorming and someone had mentioned finding a way to get sponsored in order to take the edge off of expenses, plus I thought it might be fun to network and promote my sponsor via shows, social media, ect. I know that it won’t be a complete solution. I have been working at a barn mucking out all summer to earn some money, but it will only be enough to pay for a small local show. So to answer your questions;
Thank you for replying to this thread, I really do appreciate it
I think many local organizations, which would be what you would be most likely targeting, are more apt to fund academic scholarships and charitable endeavors or local youth sports leagues over an individual’s participation in what can be viewed as an elitist event.
To get a sponsor, you have to do two things:
It’s not enough to say that you will do everything that is in your power to promote them. You need to be very clear on exactly what that means. And how it applies to them.
For example, if your neighbor owns a tire shop and you know they sometimes donate money to the local baseball team for uniforms or whatever, they may be a good business to approach – they are interested in sponsorship, they know you personally.
But if you go to them and say “I have 10,000 followers on Instagrams, mostly young teens like me, and I can put out thank you notices before/after ever show and regularly while training…” – you lost them at “mostly young teens like me,” because that is not the business’s audience. It doesn’t matter that you have 10,000 social media follows in that case; they are the wrong followers for that sponsor.
However, they might react favorably if you tell them you’ll include a promotional feature in the show omnibus, the neighborhood magazine, or as part of a “feel good” piece you are pitching to the local TV station/newspaper.
On the other hand, if you have 10,000 Instragram followers and most are young riders like you, a tack shop might be interested in sponsoring you and having regular promotional messages go out to that venue.
If you do not know how to figure out which businesses to approach and what “everything in my power” means (beyond a vague " it might be fun to network and promote my sponsor via shows, social media, etc," then sponsorship is not right for you right now.
And this mentality will not fly:
if it is not helping them, I simply would ask that they take their business elsewhere. I will find another way.
You simply do not have the experience or (most likely) social media/marketing chops to be thinking that they are in any way bringing their business to you or that you are in a position to “ask” them to take that business elsewhere.
You need to realize that you are going TO THEM with offers of a service YOU WILL PROVIDE, and the moment you don’t provide… they will drop you like a hot potato. You won’t have to ask them to. Trust me.
To your credit, you seem like you are very level headed and are trying to figure out if this will work rather than assuming it will. Ideally, talk with your parents and see if there is someone with marketing/promotional/sponsorship type experience that they can help you connect to for some mentorship and guidance.
And realize that since you have virtually no experience and most likely not enough existing social media chops to command interest at the moment, your most likely selling point is not “I’m an awesome rider who can spread the word about your product to the show world”; it’s probably “I’m a local girl working hard to make it, and I can spread the word about your business and your interest in developing our community around the town in these ways.”
Good luck if you go this route. Getting (and keeping) sponsorships can be much like having a full-time job. It can be rewarding, but it’s not going to be easy.
[QUOTE=JumpingforJesus;8306575]
I am not looking for handouts, I was brainstorming and someone had mentioned finding a way to get sponsored in order to take the edge off of expenses, plus I thought it might be fun to network and promote my sponsor via shows, social media, ect. I know that it won’t be a complete solution. I have been working at a barn mucking out all summer to earn some money, but it will only be enough to pay for a small local show. So to answer your questions;
Thank you for replying to this thread, I really do appreciate it :)[/QUOTE]
I really would suggest (again) that you learn to braid. Many, many people have paid for showing that way.
But if you are still looking for more ideas, I bolded the statement you made above about using your trainer’s horse for a reason. If you have in fact been riding only 2 1/2 years and are competently jumping 3’9" fences, then your best bet for more showing opportunities is likely to help your trainer promote their sales horses by showing them and winning in the ring. Juniors who catch ride don’t typically get paid, per se, but they do get rides at shows IF they are able to consistently give those horses the kind of ride that wins primary color ribbons.
Hi. I’m an young ammy, but I had your dreams and aspirations as a kid. My riding career was great, 3x weekly lessons and showing every weekend. Then my mom lost her job. So, I asked my trainer to start working for her.
I paid my dues. I rode the babies. I rode rode the crappy horses. I rode some great horses. The hours were long and hard. However, I also go the opportunity to catch ride and show horses for other people. They paid my show dues, I rode their horses. Were the horses always nice A/AA quality horses? Oh heck no. However, they made me a better person and rider.
I didn’t have access to twitter and ambassadorships/sponsorship at that point. It’s easier now than when I was 16 to get those types of things, however as other people have said, most of your sponsorship’s at your level aren’t going to PAY you. They are going to give you stuff or credits for their stuff in exchange for you talking about them 24/7 at shows, on social media, and hanging up their banners. Also, most companies want people showing A/AA.
I would suggest at your age to talk to your trainer about a WS position. I know you said you are a WS, but maybe you need to talk to your trainer about becoming “more” of a WS. What do your duties include?
My day to day WS varied by time of year. If it was early summer (we weren’t conditioning hunt horses yet), I was there at 7:00 to help with turn out/bring in and feeding. I would then get on my first horse around eight and go throughout the day. I would also groom for my trainers throughout the day and for clients. I would try to eat something at noon, but that didn’t happen most of the time. If I wasn’t riding in a lesson/schooling, I was setting jumps for the lesson/schooling, taking sales videos and pictures, or assisting wherever my coach needed me. I would also body clip, touch-up clip, and pull manes when I could (or after work). We we’re a fox hunting barn as well, therefore I also helped take care of hounds.
Late summer, it was much more conditioning around a 8-mile mountain loop than it was lessons/arena schooling. I would generally ride one and pony one or two. This would cycle throughout the day switching from one set to another. One year, my friend and I also had to break a few babies.
If it was during school, I would go to the barn directly after school and spend the rest of my time there working, riding, clipping, etc until about 8 or 9pm. When it came to hunt season, I would ride young or new horses out on the hunts for the first time or for clients. I was also the “hunt groom”, so I groomed and tacked horses for clients before, and then I would untack/bathe/etc after the hunt as well.
It was tough, but I was able to show more, ride more, and I got a few AWESOME catch rides on horses I would have never been able to afford. I also baby sat and horse sat for people in my area.
My suggestions:
You have a good solution right in front of you in your trainer. Cultivate that relationship, do barn chores without being asked, clean tne tack in the hook, LEARN TO BRAID. Then buy more lessons, ask to ride extras and watch everything to learn for free. You need more barn and saddle time right now more then a sponsor.
You sound smart, communicate well, use those skills to work with the situation you have.
Also, try to learn as much as you can about the horse show world, levels, Hunter divisions, ratings, rules, fence construction and course design, set courses and reset fences with your trainer. All that’s free. Audit clinics, that does cost but generally what you pay for a lesson or less.
At this point you need to realize you don’t have much to offer a serious sponsor. That EAP program invites riders in each zone based partly on show performances and will require travel, sometimes cross country, that 3k to the winner is a very small drop in a very large bucket and gets far less publicity then your average Sunday Grand Prix.
Its great to have dreams but you have to get there one step at a time. Like a ladder, you have to start .at the bottom and go ohe step at a time. You don’t realize it but you are in a much better position to start your climb then most. Your trainer is offering you a way to get started with the WS gig, develop that.
BTW, I have known Juniors that got sponsored. No money, they posed for pics in a catalogue wearing certain brands of show clothes, which they were given…and refused to wear at the shows-not the best quality, fit or color and there was no requirement they had to. They were all Medal Finalists, not unknowns starting out. They gave them away.
You’re getting some pretty good advice here. Listen to it. Especially Lucassb.
[QUOTE=JumpingforJesus;8306358]
To answer some questions, I am 14, my trainer will not charge me any day fees, so my expenses would be from the show only (stall, shavings, entry fees, ect.). I understand that the sponsor needs to benefit from sponsorship. EAP is the Emerging Athletes Program, you apply for the program and, if you are excepted, you ride in a regional clinic (as well as being tested on all aspects of horsemanship), and then 16 of the most promising riders move on to the finals, where they are given a horse to ride in the final competition; and if you win, you get $3,000 towards training. I am also learning to braid :).[/QUOTE]
Hate to nitpick but it’s “Accepted”.
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