DRESSAGE ON A SHOESTRING

Competing successfully in dressage with rising costs isn't easy, but there are ways to make it work while watching the pennies. Stephanie Bateman finds out how

- 

IT'S an age-old fact that money makes the world go round. It also keeps our horses in the lifestyle they have become accustomed to and enables us to train and compete. But with the cost of living higher than ever before, many riders are having to think hard about how they're spending their cash.

International grand prix rider Steph Croxford has plenty of experience “competing on a shoestring”.

“We have no money whatsoever, but I've managed to train and compete a number of horses for more than 25 years now,” said Steph. “Entry fees, diesel and stay-away shows have increased in price, so I only compete when I feel I need to. I'm the same with lessons. I don't get change out of £150 for a lesson with the diesel costs on top. Hence, I make sure I learn as much as I can from my fabulous trainer, then I go home and put that into practice. When I feel I need another nudge, I book another lesson.”

Competing abroad has changed a lot since Brexit, Steph says: “I would say the cost of a trip abroad has at least doubled. Therefore, we can now only focus on international competitions in this country. Gone are the days when the prize money down to even sixth or seventh would almost pay for the trip itself.”

Steph also finds ways to keep the costs down at home.

“I don’t have fancy matchy-matchy outfits and I buy most of my tack off eBay,” she says. “When my horses were on shavings, the local sawmill gave me shavings for free; all I had to do was bag them up. Now my horses are on chopped rape straw, which I source from a local farm. The bales are a fraction of the price of my local feed merchant.”

Steph uses unbranded feed from her local feed merchant, which is much cheaper than branded varieties.