how 2 get noticed?

[doogle_bex]

hi i'm 16years old, and i'm really into dressage. i've been having lessons for a few years and was wondering if anyone could help me?i want to be a professional when i'm older but how can i get noticed by the right people to be chosen for junior teams?

[ilovebacara]

what have you tried to do?

[Maci]

Pony Club can really help! A lot of local or close-by shows, and build your way up. Apply for a working student or like at a big pro/semi-pro dressage stable. When there's a county or some real big horse show, you can compete in it.....lot's of things you can do!

Maci :)

[Wally]

I hate to be negative, but are you sure you havn't been noticed and just not been picked?

What sort of horse do you have? Who has been training you? What level have you been competing at?

What sort of professional do you want to be? you don't have to compete to be a professional trainer, most trainers don't have time to compete them selves. You need a good reputation, that comes with time. Do you want to train horses or riders?

[Lgd]

British Dressage are now running an apprenticeship scheme. I'm not sure about the details but you could try on their website www.Britishdressage.co.uk for more info. British Dressage also run training for younger riders under the BYRDs (British Young Rider Dressage Scheme), if you are keen on a career in this field you really need to be a member of British Dressage and be competing regularly in affiliated classes (you didn't say at what level you are competing). If you are already a member of British Dressage have alook in your schedule book under your region for your local BYRDs rep and contact them. To make dressage a career you need to be really good. Another option is to go down the BHS qualification route and then specialise in dressage.
(I took the 'easy' way out and got a University education, a good job with good pay and enjoy my horses as a hobby and do a small amount of freelance teaching).

As far as getting noticed for Junior teams goes - I'm afraid there is a big element of money involved. If you don't have the horse-power nowadays you just don't make it. This means either spending a lot of money on a made horse as a schoolmaster or buying a young horse for a lot less money and bringing it on yourself, with the attendant risk that it might not make the grade. I don't want to dampen your enthusiasm too much though - I bought my older mare as an unbroken 4 year old to have a bit of fun with and do a bit of everything, she is now competing PSG and training InterI/II.

[doogle_bex]

thanks to eveyone who has taken the time to reply to my message. in answer to your questions ; no i'm not sure that i haven't been noticed and just not picked, it could be the case.
I'm being trained by my usual instructor. she specialises in dressage, was trained by Carl Hester, and trains quite a few grand prix riders, as well as pony club level. She has produced horses for olympics and riden grand prix but doesn't compete any more. I've got several horses to ride, none of them are mine, but i compete them for their owner who is pregnant at the mo, and so not riding. One is a 16.2hh idxtb who is 6 and i compete at elimentory on him. the other is a 5yo arab, who was recently broken, and i'm doing prelim and novice on her. The other is a 14.2 who does not appreciate dressage and i'm not having much luck in anything with him at the mo. I have never affiliated, but am considering it.
:)

[Lgd]

Doogle - you definitely need to be doing affiliated to get on the teams. Those doing really well are then invited to central BYRDs training and from there may be considered for the teams. You would now be competing at Young Rider level for teams so you will need a horse that is competing Medium level and training at Advanced Medium as a minimum. Given that you are 16 already this does not give you much time to find and produce a horse from nothing to the required level and a horse already at this level and suitable for the YR teams would be extremely expensive - £25,000 plus at the least, one went recently for £96,000!
My niece is a similar age to you (she will be 17 in April) and is currently competing affiliated (just starting her third season). Just to give you an idea of what is involved she competed unaffiliated for 2 years with her pony at prelim and novice, then started when she was 14½ with her new mare as a recently broken 4 year old. She did affiliated Prelim for a year, then took six months out to do her GCSEs while I competed the horse Novice and Elementary. She took the ride back last summer and competed Prelim and Novice. The winter has been spent consolidating the scholling and she does her first competition at Elementary in 10 days time. They are working at Medium level at home. I would anticipate it being another year before they are ready to do their first medium together and it will take longer than that for them to be really solid enough to do Young Rider tests - 4 years in total so with a similar time frame you would only be left with a few months in YR. you can train a horse to Grand Prix in 4 years in theory but in practice most experts would consider that your first journey training a horse from Prelim to grand prix level will take you anywhere from 8 - 12 years.
I think your best option is to find a good trainer to take you on as an apprentice (does your current trainer do this?) so that you will get the opportunity to ride some really good horses and get some qualifications at the same time.