I will be typing a blog on the Bellhaven web site twice a month, about what is happening in the Equestrian World, the changes I have seen in the sport since I have moved back home, and other points that I find of interest.
The sport of Show Jumping and eventing is not getting any cheaper, and unless you are financially very well off, most competitors need help, as in having owners to help with the many expenses involved with in the sport.
I was very lucky in my competition career as I only ever had 3 owners the whole time. The reason for this, I looked after them like gold dust. I would send my owners a yearly programme for each horse and the goals I wanted to achieve with them. At each competition if my owners were not there I would call them and let them know how their horses competed at the event (before I hopped into the truck to drive home). My owners became close friends and the commutation lines were always kept open.
Since I have been back home in Australia, I have seen far to many examples of riders not treating owners with the respect they deserve. Such as not knowing when their horse is competing at a 3 day event, finding out on Facebook how their horse did in a competition, not sending pics of their horse competing when asked to etc etc etc . Then these short term thinking riders start crying like a baby when the horses are taken off them. Well my answer to them is no owners, no horses. If you are lucky enough to bag yourself an owner, make sure you treat them like GOLD.
Deb and I are very happy and lucky with our current Bellhaven riders, as they are on the phone to us all the time keeping us very informed on each and every horse they ride.
