professional eventer vs the amateur. The professional does this for a living; but is it reasonable to think that even with a 100% strike rate that rider could still incur heavy losses? Or do we think that in actual fact the professional eventer receives income from owners for stabling, training and
competing the horse, and through
other means such as sponsorship,
or even producing and selling
their own horses, whereby
the BE competition record
enhances the value of that
horse? The event is the
means, not the end in that
case.
The amateur eventer – are
they in it for the money? Well
perhaps not. Your typical
grassroots eventer is probably
not out competing for the monetary gain, but more for the love of the sport. That said - why should they be any less rewarded for a good result than a professional? And is it reasonable to think they could still win less than the entry fee for first place, hobby or not?
The third and final issue, perhaps the largest - where does the extra prizemoney come from?
Sponsorship?
Great in theory, but who are these sponsors and who secures their support? For your average event, four-stars aside, organisers can’t promise TV coverage like say, racing, can and they can’t put on an event without incurring massive costs like perhaps British Showjumping can. Frickley actually stated that the costs per day of running an event were in excess of £20,000. So even if we’re all in agreement about the need to give better prizemoney, the question still remains – who is going to make up the deficit, particularly where many run their events with little or no profit?
.
Your views...
Tamsin Drew competes up to 1* with her horse Captain. She says; "If I have a great day and a win then I would want to cover my costs (entry and start fee). Currently, if you win a Novice, it most likely won't cover your entry and start fee, let alone diesel! Whereas if you have a good day at BSJ and win two classes, you come home with enough prize monies to cover your entry fee and diesel, which makes the day so worthwhile and a bigger achievement.”
Emma Dixon comes from an eventing family – both parents evented, and now Emma and her sister have followed in their footsteps. Emma says; “I'm not against improved prize money per se, however there doesn't seem to be much consideration as to where this money is supposed to come from. I would like to see more recognition and appreciation for organisers and sponsors. Where has this misnomer come from that you should be able to make money from competing? Either you are an amateur with an expensive hobby, in which case you should accept that no hobby pays. Or you are a professional, in which case you accept that the cost of attending an event is a business cost of producing horses to sell, or improving your reputation as an instructor so you can charge more for lessons.
The thing I find most distasteful about the debate however, is that the sport relies on hundreds of volunteers who give up their time in order to make the event happen. I would rather they got their petrol money paid - like dressage judges, before I receive better prize money! I do what I can afford and will never rely on winning my money back.”
Lindsey Codd of LAC Eventing comments; “Eventing is my passion, it’s my hobby! I did not start eventing to make a profit, but the minimal amount of prizemoney disheartens the best of us.
“As a Grassroots rider competing at BE100 I understand the whys and wherefores on the amount we have to pay for entry/start fees but surely the prizemoney for winning should at least cover these! British Eventing seems to still be in the dark ages compared to other sports.”
Rachel Ryder says; “It's not that I don't think it should be increased, merely that as a hobby eventer competing at 90, who has only ever had one top 10 placing, affordability is a much bigger issue.”
For a full Q&A on the subject of prizemoney, please see the recent document published on British Eventing: HERE
Mark Todd, Eventing Legend, Competing at Barbury Earlier this Year
Lindsey Codd from LAC Eventing
10 December 2013, Issue 3 www.everythinghorseuk.co.uk www.everythinghorseuk.co.uk December 2013, Issue 3 11