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".

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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!

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?

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.