Funding?

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Feffie

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Aug 25, 2010
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I know this is a long shot but does anyone know if there is any funding for rda riders? I've been told by someone on the paralympic comitee thing about 2 years ago that I'd have a very high chance of getting on the team if I had the right horse to ride. The only way I would be able to do this if is someone let me ride there's for free or if I had funding to "borrow" one of the horses at the riding school I ride at (about £30 a day plus you have to pay for a driver for their lorry and for someone to come along and keep and eye on things.

I've qualified for the nationals 3 times, had a years break and then tried to qualify again but didn't manage it since the class was fairly big and I was on a pony I had only ridden once before :/

Life would be so much easier if I either had enough money to buy my own horse and keep it or if there was one near me which I could ride. It's very frusterating that I know I could go quite far if only I had money coming out of my ears ><

So umm yea, sorry for the rant but anyone have any ideas on what could be done etc?
 
It could be a long shot but what about putting an advert in asking to borrow a horse, or you could ask for sponsorship from local businesses it doesn't have to be equestrian related. How about approaching the Princes Trust. Or try one of the popular Riding Mags, you could also ask for support from a riding celebraty or sports centre. good luck its a shame that our country doesn't offer a lot of support for our sports men and woman. you didn't say what disapline you want to compete in.
 
I compete in dressage, I think I might put an add in a paper/on websites and see if that gets me anywhere.

How on earrth would I go about getting a sponsor off a company though? I was thinking about maybe asking my riding school if they could, like maybe get a rug with their name on it etc and use one of their horses? Bah I don't know. I'd love to go to the nationals again in 2011, even if I don't qualify, it's such an amazing experience. Plus I was happy last time coming 6th out of about 24 people ^^ lol
 
You have to write to the companies, or phone them and ask for an opportunity to meet with them.

Explain the background to your RDA riding and explain how they would benefit from x yz from sponsoring you and would thye consider sponsoring you - and can you meet to discuss further
 
I know of a few para riders who have managed to get sponsorship. One is sponsored by a big saddle making company, the other through the BEF World Class Program.

You need to be really proactive about it. Approach companies, horsey and non-horsey, local and national and explain what the para people have said, your background, experience and how talented you are and see what they say.

Realistically to be competing successfully at para level you need to have a horse that is just 'yours', rather than borrowing someone else's for the odd day here or there.

Thinking about it, one NR mod was a para rider who managed to get sponsorship (and is now doing very well). Do a search on here for 'Monty', I don't know if she still subscribes or not but she posted a fair bit about the stuff she was doing.

Good luck :)
 
'Monty' is on here but has limited access as there is no broadband where she lives!!

If you look at the most sucessful Paradressage riders you will find they all have sponsorship from a lot of companies . Without your own horse however you will struggle to get noticed enough to get the sponsorship so it is a bit of 'chicken and egg' situation. I suspect the costs involved may be beyond your RS.

Can you get started by getting your Para grading (not the same as RDA!) and competing in a few competitions to see how you do. Often someone with a retired dressage horse might give you the ride if you can prove talent and dedication, could your current trainer refer you to a para specialist coach?
 
I've had a para grading, I think, I''d have to check. I was riding someones pony and she had competed with the para team I believe on her horse. I'd love to be able to get back in contact with her when I learn to drive to see if I can ride the pony again.

I'm not sure if the cost would be above the riding school since it is very big and as far as I know well known. I would love to be able to get a horse of my own to compete on but obviously, I can't with getting only £60 a fortnight and I'm in fully time education still so can't really get a job :/

Maybe I'll start writing round a few companies and see what they say. I did nearly go to a talent spotting competition but it was somewhere up north I believe and couldn't organise travel >.<
 
Feffie said:
I also forgot to add that I live in south Wales, near Caerphilly, if anyone has a pony :tongue:
Click to expand...

aah see you're miles from me but given that you're on the short side (like me) I would have let you borrowed my pony as he could do with competing a bit more and isn't bad at dressage (better then me anyway!)

Pity you're so far away
 
Aww that's a shame >.<
I've put an advert up on a site and plan on doing alot more, I said I can offer a small amount of payment and that I have no problem helping out around the yard. I've also hinted on facebook that I'm looking for something to ride, there's a girl on there who has recently gotten a stunning warmblood cross at about 15hh that would be perfect lol!

Anyone know any sites that I can put wanted adds on for free?
 
Try the freeads as well, oh and putting notices up in tack shops if they have a notice board?

Hope you find a pony/horse to ride, pity you arn't closer :twins:
 
Trying to think where my local tack shop is <.< I don't normally go to any, just order stuff offline hmm.
Might start making a list of companies to send letters to, to see if they may be willing to sponsor me.

Might have a word with my RI to see if she knows anyone or maybe even let me use one of her horses, mmm ex FEI dressage horse please ^^;
 
So I'm printing off my first "please sponsor me letter" lol kept it short, stated why I wanted a sponsor and what for and a very small amount about competition history and what the company could gain...Hmm think I may have aimed a bit high though, Robinsons :p but you never know!
 
Don't have any local yards really as far as I know??? Nearest one is in Baesleg somewhere, 20ish minute car drive.
 
There is a local rider in my area who rides in paradressage I think, from what i remember of reading the articles in local paper she has sponsorship from some local firms these are not horsey firms. i'm assuming she contacted them for sponsorship.
 
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