By Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

This time I thought a blog about something I feel many teenagers go through in life when horse riding is their passion. Many horse lovers have dedicated parents that help finance their dream and goals, but no matter what discipline they choose, it all costs money. Buying the horse is one simple up front transaction, but the maintenance and support in the competition world is a very costly ongoing one that parents work extremely hard to fulfil. Some parents are riders themselves, and yes can save dollars because they have the knowledge and expertise to do many things themselves, but I really admire those parents who do not ride and yet dedicate their lifestyle to support the costs of horses as a whole.

Even the pleasure riding aspect costs, sure it’s not as much as the competition world but it all adds up, and it’s all on going. I remember when shoeing was $40 and lessons were $25. Now a shoeing is at least $100 and a lesson ranges from $60 upwards depending on how many in the group and how long it goes for. They are only the minimal costs, but enough on money side of things.

I wish to also touch on the amount of reward we can receive from all this outlay. Yes Team Joyce are a horsey family and are able to do many things ourselves to save dollars, but we make sure we do not over-spend because we do not have the cash to splash lol. We breed horses, because to buy them is such an expensive exercise. Just the time to find the right one and the prices some are asking are ridiculous for what they have done or what they have seen. In the beginning we did not have any young horses for the girls to start riding, so we had to go out and buy young ones we hoped would do the job. Wes searched long and hard to find the girls what he thought were good quality for the right price and they lasted many years and did a wonderful job for what we hoped to achieve. But all teenagers have the prime years from about 12 years to 18 years, and then it becomes much harder to keep going either in competition or pleasure. Most still rely on their parents to prop them up or keep the horse/horses on the family property, because trying to set themselves up is just a non-event. How do they work full time to financially support themselves and/or study if at University, plus look after a horse and fulfil all the obligations that go along with it under age of 21 years?

The hardest years would be from ages 18-25, and there is no support for these young adult riders in our equestrian world. Really the juniors and young riders are all given many opportunities to travel and ride for Australia by being in a squad of some sort. And at that time in their lives, the parents are also propping them up. But once they finish school, start University and/or get a full time job, the horse riding nearly full time becomes extremely difficult. Commitments become heavier to earn money, and to become independent. The Equestrian world do not offer as much support after 21 years, and the number of competitors against you in the classes increase greatly because you become a Senior member, at the same time there are no singular classes for your age group. You’re up against double the rider quality; you are in the big wide world and compete against all the real professionals who know their discipline, and have done what they do for over 20 years (and they do so spectacularly well). But it’s not all doom and gloom. There is so much hope, and so much more, and another side to this next stage in young adult horse life. Find your niche!

Sarah was a full time competition rider in her Junior and Young Rider years, and we travelled everywhere we could, and rode non-stop, so the enjoyment of riding is well entrenched.  Then University took over time and choices, so the riding decreased and because she needed to live two hours from home it was too far to just have a ride now and then. The only option was to drive to where the show was on the weekend, and ride whatever was entered in the smaller heights and to just enjoy the event. Of course sometimes frustrations appeared. Sarah often had moments and even some tears. She would stress words such as, ” I rode terrible, I feel so un-comfortable, I just can’t do it.” But you just need to push past this phase and not have expectations on yourself, or the horse, and take whatever happens and enjoy it. Just be a part of horsin around as they say!

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Sarah is in her seventh year of University, finally studying her lifelong dream. However, this is the first year Sarah has been able to actually have a horse agisted close by, so being able to ride is now an option. The type of horse has changed because there is no use having a top quality performance jumping horse when you cannot practise to jump it, and cannot go to shows because you have no vehicle to tow the float. Sometimes we cannot have it all, and the sacrifice Sarah is making is a small one because now she can ride. It's mostly ‘pleasure riding’, but this has become the pinnacle option to keep the passion of riding burning in her belly. Her gelding LH Albert, is her dream pleasure mount, he is just the dream of her life and she often says that for where she is in her time of life, she could not ask for more.

This way, she gets to smell that horsey smell, and have that best-mate friendship a horse can create, by visiting him every day, twice a day. Sarah says Albi knows her car. He starts walking to the gate to greet her and he even whinnies saying, “ Hi Sarah it’s so good to see you!”.

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

The amount of enjoyment Albi brings Sarah, far outweighs the financial cost and time to drive him 16 hours, four times a year up and down, for the pleasure he gives Sarah . It’s amazing just how much joy and happiness a genuine loving horse can bring to us. No matter how minute the scale pleasure riding may seem to some, it is just as rewarding and fulfilling as the full on competitive riding in a professional world of horsin around.

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Occasionally Sarah and Albi have had a good go at Dressage riding and competition. They have had quite a successful run, and think Dressage is very accessible with study commitments and having no access to showjumps. The pair have been able to find another horse lover agisting at the same property, who has a towing vehicle to share the petrol costs with, and use Sarah’s float to attend a few Dressage outings. Albi has excelled in Dressage and showed another wonderful side to his expertise.

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

So enjoy your riding no matter what shape or form you do it in. If it makes you feel fabulous and it puts a massive smile on your dial, stick with it. Make the sacrifices for long term gains, and never give up dreaming that one day, you will be out competing again once you’re on your feet and established independently. Sarah is breeding her own youngsters as she has two broodmares foaling every year, and hopes that at the end of her course she will have her own champions that she waited for. Who knows she may showjump one of those. We will let you know!

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce

Photo Credit: Trish Joyce