What's the Most Expensive Amateur Sport
Posted: Monday, April 04, 2011
by Dianne Lehmann
Artisan Jewelry from SyZyGy
I've been riding and learning about horses for a little over two years now. But it wasn't until a few months ago that I subscribed to two horse related magazines in an ongoing and sometimes desperate attempt to expand my knowledge base. Recently, as a result, I've started receiving horse related catalogs in the mail. Most specifically, they relate to the sport of dressage (well, I did subscribe to "Dressage Today").
If it is your intention to actually ride a horse (well that is what dressage is all about), then you need tack. Halters and lead ropes aren't too expensive (I bought him a really pretty purple set so he would look nice at the shows while tied to the trailer), but a new leather English saddle will cost a minimum of $1,000 and realistically more like $3,000. And they don't always come with girths, stirrup leathers or stirrup irons. Then there is the bridle and reins and all manner of saddle pads.
If you wish to go before a judge at a show and get some feedback about how well you and your horse are doing (more likely you'll find out how well you are not doing), that can be really costly. First off, the judges and shows don't come to you, so you have to get your horse to the show. Horse trailers are expensive and trucks powerful enough to pull a trailer with a horse in it are also expensive. Then there are the show fees to be considered. Each test you want to ride will cost you a pretty penny and if the show is more than one day, you will have stabling fees. There is normally a secretarial fee and an insurance fee as well. Then, unless you want to sleep in the stable with your horse, you'll have to pay for a stay in a motel.
Shows have dress codes. Helmets are mandatory in most venues now and luckily you don't always have to wear one of those fancy velvet show helmets that cost an arm and a leg. But you do need tall boots (the cheapest I've found anywhere are about $200 a pair), a show coat, show shirt, stock tie, stock pin, white gloves, and white breeches. Why anyone would ever require any part of your attire to be white while working with horses is beyond me. If you have long hair (luckily I do not), you usually have to tie it up in a bun and put a fancy net with a velvet bow over it. Those things aren't cheap either.
If you are having difficulties with some of the movements or other training issues, you will need help from a third party. I've found that no matter how much I talk to "my" horse about helping me to learn, he pretty much just does as he pleases. His attitude seems to be something like: "I'll just keep throwing her curves until she either gets it or falls off." Around where I live, the minimum you'll pay per hour for some instruction is about $45. And if you need a lot of instruction as I do, that can get expensive. Luckily, the daughter of "my" horse's owner is a kind soul and helps me out a few times a month. And keep in mind, I'm only competing at the local level. So having thought it all through, I decided that Bernd was probably right.
But, out of curiosity and because I can never leave anything alone, I plugged a query into the all wise and all knowing Google: most expensive amateur sport. At the top of the list was a site that claimed that figure skating was the most expensive amateur sport in which to participate. The article listed the main reasons as: training, coaching, on- and off-ice wardrobes, facility fees and travel. Hmm, sounds a lot like dressage, but at least they don't have to haul a horse around with them and most of what they need will fit into a couple of suitcases. The owner of the horse I ride has a horse that she rides in shows. Her horse will not drink any water other than what comes from her well at home. So in addition to having to haul all the tack and grooming supplies, feed and supplements, she has to haul enough water for the duration. Human athletes can buy their favorite water at their destination.
Another article talked about the Olympics. That's a can of worms that best not be opened in this discussion. All I will say about that is that very few of those athletes get to the Olympics on their own dime. Beggars the definition of amateur.
There was one reference to the most expensive youth sports as hockey (I'm assuming that's ice hockey; I've played field hockey and all you really need for that is a stick and a bad attitude; I wasn't very good at it) and football. Granted, the search was a bit difficult because there were too many words in it that could be combined too many ways, but I looked through three pages of results and found no mention of either golf or tennis. I was really far off the mark.
I also found no mention of polo. Because I always have to take things one step further and was not really happy with the figure skating, hockey and football answers, and in an effort to one up my husband I thought of polo. Not only does it require many of the same things as dressage, it usually requires you have more than one horse per competition. Those horses work hard and tire quickly. I don't know about amateur polo players, but many professionals take six mounts to the game. Yikes! So my vote for the most expensive amateur sport is polo. What's yours?
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)I can't think of anything more expensive!Hi Jennifer.
At the time, I couldn't either. I still haven't. But Bernd, in an effort not to be one-upped by me, suggested yacht racing. Since I don't know a thing about it and have no desire to research it, it will remain a possibility. :)
Anyway, thanks for reading!
Hugs,
Diannne
Interesting insight - I never thought of this before, and I enjoy a variety of sports. One thing for certain, it did give me a pause thinking of the animals. Always have been a lover of anamalia...Good article...Hi Dave.
You know, it's a total mystery to me why a horse would ever let a human on his back. But I'm glad that they do. I've had so much fun since I took up spending time with horses and riding them. Right now, I can't imagine my life without them and one in particular. :)
Thanks for reading!
Hugs,
Dianne
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