Expensive Sport

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is an equestrian. I'm about to spend $50,000 on a new horse that "might" last her 2 years before she's at the next level. Then there is the $6K saddles, etc. And, of course, the board and maintenance of said horse. It's ludicrous.

I didn't fully appreciate the cost when she started and had no idea she would ever be serious. We are lucky we can do that for her. She struggles in school, so it is her therapy (although pay for therapy, too).

I'll be honest. I kind of resent it, but lately, she has started to understand what it all costs and has been very grateful, so that helps.

You don't need to spend that kind of money to ride and compete. I event with an OTTB and have used saddles, and I have tons of fun. It's your choice to spend crazy money on Big Eq or whatever she's doing.

I’m curious how you do it for less? My daughter is very low level (doesn’t own a horse) and all the shows in this area are several hundred a day even without bringing your own horses. Are you in this area? I would be interested in names of specific barns and shows. We go to one of the cheaper ones I thought and it’s still insane. Or is your point that you have more fun but maybe are less competitive?

Well, it is expensive, no matter what you do, but there are levels of expense.

Like I said, there are plenty of amateurs competing at pretty high levels in eventing on dirt cheap Off-The-Track Thoroughbreds (OTTBs). I'm in Virginia, and I go to the local horse trials in the Mid-Atlantic (Loch Moy, Waredaca, Lexington, etc. )

But if you are looking to do USEF rated shows, it's a lot more $$$. There's really no upper limit to what you can spend.

I’m the person who brought up riding. Yes, my DD does rates shows. You really have to have the “right” horse for those shows. She was in dressage and recently switched to show jumping, so we have to buy all new tack, etc.

The cheapest way to show for a middle/high school kid is on an IEA team. For the PP trying to find less expensiveoptions, IEA could be a good fit. And it’s fun because it’s a team. My DD did IEA this year and really liked it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is an equestrian. I'm about to spend $50,000 on a new horse that "might" last her 2 years before she's at the next level. Then there is the $6K saddles, etc. And, of course, the board and maintenance of said horse. It's ludicrous.

I didn't fully appreciate the cost when she started and had no idea she would ever be serious. We are lucky we can do that for her. She struggles in school, so it is her therapy (although pay for therapy, too).

I'll be honest. I kind of resent it, but lately, she has started to understand what it all costs and has been very grateful, so that helps.

Why would the horse last her 2 years? Can't the horse learn too?

Not really. you need a better “quality” horse at upper levels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Both DS and DS are potential D1 athletes in golf. Cost $70k/yr for lessons, tournaments fee and travel costs. Not even counting country membership. Also lost of one income because DW travels with them. Grandparents are footing the bills

OMG. I never knew this type of money was needed to play at the competitive level!

It’s not. Former D1 athlete here, full scholarship. I never had private lessons in my sport.

[Anonymous]

In what decade did you compete as a D1 athlete?

[Anonymous]

Not equestestrian level expense, but travel sport with equipment and our evenings/weekends full sport. No scholarship, but a definite tip in when applying to HA schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In what decade did you compete as a D1 athlete?

2000-2004

Maybe your kids just aren’t that good and need all the expensive extra help?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In what decade did you compete as a D1 athlete?

2000-2004

Maybe your kids just aren’t that good and need all the expensive extra help?

Times have changed from more than a decade ago.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In what decade did you compete as a D1 athlete?

2000-2004

Maybe your kids just aren’t that good and need all the expensive extra help?

Times have changed from more than a decade ago.

NP. And there are sports that always required expensive personalized coaching at the elite level like ice skating, etc.

[Anonymous]

Here's some perspective for all of you. I understand the extreme expense that sports involve but maybe just be happy you have children to spend time with and money on at all. Some us would be ecstatic to be in your shoes. I would give anything to be able to have a child to spend that kind of money on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In what decade did you compete as a D1 athlete?

2000-2004

Maybe your kids just aren’t that good and need all the expensive extra help?

Times have changed from more than a decade ago.

I’ve been a college coach since then, and no, not really. Like others mentioned, maybe for things like ice skating, but most scholarship sports? You either have it or you don’t, for the most part. Certainly you should have enough natural talent to not require $70K lessons. Travel ball was still a thing in the time I played. I didn’t play on an expensive team. You just have to play for a team that goes to tournaments with scouts, and put together a realistic skills tape that shows what we want to see. I could care less if it was produced by some big name skills tape guy.

Furthermore, the kids who seem to thrive the most are the ones who don’t feel guilted into sticking with a sport because mom and dad blew so much money on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD is an equestrian. I'm about to spend $50,000 on a new horse that "might" last her 2 years before she's at the next level. Then there is the $6K saddles, etc. And, of course, the board and maintenance of said horse. It's ludicrous.

I didn't fully appreciate the cost when she started and had no idea she would ever be serious. We are lucky we can do that for her. She struggles in school, so it is her therapy (although pay for therapy, too).

I'll be honest. I kind of resent it, but lately, she has started to understand what it all costs and has been very grateful, so that helps.

Why would the horse last her 2 years? Can't the horse learn too?

Not really. you need a better “quality” horse at upper levels.

Interesting, thanks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In what decade did you compete as a D1 athlete?

2000-2004

Maybe your kids just aren’t that good and need all the expensive extra help?

Times have changed from more than a decade ago.

I’ve been a college coach since then, and no, not really. Like others mentioned, maybe for things like ice skating, but most scholarship sports? You either have it or you don’t, for the most part. Certainly you should have enough natural talent to not require $70K lessons. Travel ball was still a thing in the time I played. I didn’t play on an expensive team. You just have to play for a team that goes to tournaments with scouts, and put together a realistic skills tape that shows what we want to see. I could care less if it was produced by some big name skills tape guy.

Furthermore, the kids who seem to thrive the most are the ones who don’t feel guilted into sticking with a sport because mom and dad blew so much money on it.

My DS used to fence and the top rated fencers at his club all took multiple private lessons each week for years to get to where they are. Two of them just got scholarships but I bet their parents paid more in private lessons than the scholarships are worth. One private lesson per week ran me $120/month so God only knows what the parents are paying for 3-4 of these week along with group lessons, conditioning, travel expenses to national and international tournaments, coaching fees, equipment, etc. Probably not $70K but it certainly isn’t cheap. Some of the top fencers do school online so they can travel to all of these events.

[Anonymous]

I am one of those "crazy" parents. My daughter plays competitive tennis since she was 4 years old. She is now 17 years old and we spend about 30k/yr on private lessons, clinics, travel to OOS tournaments, lodging, food, fees. I have to quit my job for two years to travel with her. I am so glad I have the resources to do this for my child. If you have the financial resource to do this, it is a great thing. She has more than enough money in the 529 for the most expensive college in the US.

I can't take money with me when I die so I might as well put it in good use. At least I have an opportunity to do so. Others wish they can do the same for their children but unfortunately, they can't have children for whatever reason. I am so blessed to have this opportunity. People might say that I am wasting my money. They might be right but it is "my money".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am one of those "crazy" parents. My daughter plays competitive tennis since she was 4 years old. She is now 17 years old and we spend about 30k/yr on private lessons, clinics, travel to OOS tournaments, lodging, food, fees. I have to quit my job for two years to travel with her. I am so glad I have the resources to do this for my child. If you have the financial resource to do this, it is a great thing. She has more than enough money in the 529 for the most expensive college in the US.

I can't take money with me when I die so I might as well put it in good use. At least I have an opportunity to do so. Others wish they can do the same for their children but unfortunately, they can't have children for whatever reason. I am so blessed to have this opportunity. People might say that I am wasting my money. They might be right but it is "my money".

You might just be the most smarmy and annoying person on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

It is not easy being a pro.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/26/sports/tennis/itf-pro-circuit-wozniak-stollar.html