<p>This thread is funny. Kanter. Haha.</p>
<p>Anyway.</p>
<p>To whoever said the riding world is brutal…damn, yes, yes it is…</p>
<p>YES you have to be filthy rich.</p>
<p>YES you have to basically sell your soul to the barn.</p>
<p>It’s insaneness, I tell you, insaneness. Several people at my barn have gotten riding scholarships…these people were always at the barn…always…they owned at least 2 horses, rode both daily…and of course rode the trainer’s horses as well. Riding just my one horse a few times a week is more hours than being on a varsity sports team. These people spend as much time as they do at school at the barn! </p>
<p>And then these horses they need to have. They’re upwards of 100 grand, anyway. And the shows are child’s play compared to the price of the horse, but you’re looking at over 1600 dollars a weekend, and to rack up the points you’ve got to be showing almost every weekend. </p>
<p>Therefore getting a riding scholarship? Bah. Fat chance for your average joe.</p>
<p>As a liesure activity riding is great, but to be competitive, the price really takes most people out of the game, even those that are willing to put in the time. I lease a horse from the trainer, which in itself is far more than most people could afford…he does well at the big shows, yeah, but my mom really can barely pay for him, much less all of the costs involved in being competitive. Sadly we might have to end the lease soon due to finances :(.</p>