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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
  
| So i know it is everybody's dream to barrel race/rode and have someone else pay for it lol but my husband and I seriously need ideas right now. We have 15 month old twins so of course a lot of financial responsibility that comes along with them plus horse expenses and all. My question is has anyone ever gotten local sponsors just to help out with entry fees or whatever? I'm not talking like big corporate sponsors such as Purina or anything like that. Obviously I'm sure you have to at least be pro for large companies to even give you the time of day. If we could find something to help out with entry fees that would take a lot off of us so we could actually enjoy it more. He team ropes and I barrel race (duh) so as most of you know the fees add up fast lol.
Or maybe a multi-level marketing company that you have PERSONALLY really made good steady extra money with? Idk I'm just trying to think of anything. I've started doing embroidery on the side for extra and although i enjoy it very much it is extremely time consuming and there isn't much profit in it but i continue to do it to make any extra that i can.
And please don't say anything like if we can't afford it then don't do it. That's like telling us not to breathe! lol. Barrel racing and rodeo is all that we knew before we met each other and had kids. We just have to find a way to balance it all while paying $1100 a month in daycare!!
Sorry for so long. Just looking for ideas and i guess kind of venting too. Sorry my grammar and capitilization is all over the place I'm at work and trying to hurry lol. Thanks for reading  |
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  Shipwrecked and Flat Out Zapped
Posts: 16390
 
Location: DUMPING CATS AND PIGS IN TEXAS :) | I'm thinking either sell one of the kid's or get a second job......that's all I've got. Good luck  |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | I used to lease out my second horse and that alone covered most of my horse keeping expenses.
The only time I ever sought out local sponsors was the year I went to Finals and it did help defray some of the cost of hauling all the way out there and with entry fees. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| I grabbed an easy 2nd job building fence for cash for some local people who didn't have the time to build it .... It has turned into a nice cash flow as word of mouth has spread. I can take on a few jobs here and there as needed and my time allows.
Good Luck! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
| LRQHS - 2015-03-20 10:40 AM
I'm thinking either sell one of the kid's or get a second job......that's all I've got. Good luck
lol my husband has considered selling a kid. i mean we have an extra anyway... but my darn stubborn self just wont let him... lol
but serioulsy, i don't know how we would have time for a second job :( we both work full time plus hose work, barn work, kids, riding, rodeoing.... agh there just aren't enough hours in a day  |
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 Fact Checker
Posts: 16575
Location: Displaced Iowegian | Having owned and operated a “local” business (Saddle Shop) for over 30+ years, you would not believe how many people show up on your door step for a “hand-out”. That is what you are asking for when you ask for a sponsorship. IMO, the amount of advertising generated from paying your entry fees would not entice me to “sponsor” you. It would be best if you (or your husband) find a second source of income…… |
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 Twin Sister to Queen Boobie
Posts: 13315
Location: East Tennessee but who knows?! | Freelance writing, giving riding lessons, and judging horse shows is how I make extra money. I already work a full time job with almost an hour commute. If I wasn't trying to make a name as a writer, I would be waiting tables or cleaning houses- that's the best bang for the buck for a part time job. |
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 Firecracker Dog Lover
Posts: 3175
| I am going to tell you what you don't want to hear - you may have to put roping/barrel racing on the back burner for a while. Kids are expensive and time consuming. The year my son was born I wen to ONE tiny little backyard jackpot omoksee for the day. That's it. I didn't quit breathing. I simply found there was not enough time in the day for me to do all the things I needed to do while my son was so little and keep my horse in decent enough shape to compete. I rode on the weekends and maybe one or two days of the week after work while my husband watched my son - and if you are breast feeding that is a short window. As he got older I could ride more often and everything settled in to place and I could go more. You simply may not be able to go every weekend like you used to so pick and choose where you want to go once or twice a month. I hope this does not sound like I am berating you because that is not my intent. Kids are a life changer and you just have to adjust accordingly. Good luck!
Edited by brlraceaddict 2015-03-19 4:33 PM
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 Northern Chocolate Queen
Posts: 16576
Location: ND | I know it's not what you want to hear but I don't believe in asking other people to pay for my hobby. Competing is a luxury & if the money isn't there I need to stay home. I will NEVER consider asking someone or a buiness to sponsor me. The only way I will ever have a sponsor is if a product I use & believe in comes to me & says they want to sponsor me.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
| brlraceaddict - 2015-03-20 11:13 AM
I am going to tell you what you don't want to hear - you may have to put roping/barrel racing on the back burner for a while. Kids are expensive and time consuming. The year my son was born I wen to ONE tiny little backyard jackpot omoksee for the day. That's it. I didn't quit breathing. I simply found there was not enough time in the day for me to do all the things I needed to do while my son was so little and keep my horse in decent enough shape to compete. I rode on the weekends and maybe one or two days of the week after work while my husband watched my son - and if you are breast feeding that is a short window. As he got older I could ride more often and everything settled in to place and I could go more. You simply may not be able to go every weekend like you used to so pick and choose where you want to go once or twice a month. I hope this does not side like I am berating you because that is not my intent. Kids are a life changer and you just have to adjust accordingly. Good luck!
I completely understand and agree with everything you are saying. That's exactly why i quit riding when I was pregnant and am just now starting back again now that they are 15 months old. As far as the time to ride and compete, we are making that work. It's just tough financially. I pick and choose a few important places to go and so does he. Of course my kids aren't going without anything they need or suffering for it. They ALWAYS come first no matter what :) I didn't take your comment as berating me or anything like that. I just know that after being pregnant for 35 weeks and now 15 months of raising my little beauties, I'm ready for my break to be over and I am determined to find a way to fund it so we can compete more than just occasionally. :) |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| There was a women around her that got someone go sponsor her and she was way worse than me, if that is possible. I guess it can be done. |
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 Stinky Cat Owner
Posts: 4097
Location: Oregon | Can you stay home and not have to pay the 1,100 in daycare? Wow! That is spendy.
I'm always a big cheerleader for anyone that can start their own business and bring in a little money. Good luck!!! |
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 Shelter Dog Lover
Posts: 10277
| Katie's - 2015-03-19 2:42 PM Can you stay home and not have to pay the 1,100 in daycare? Wow! That is spendy.
I'm always a big cheerleader for anyone that can start their own business and bring in a little money. Good luck!!! That is what I was thinking. Keep kids and charge them $$$, probably would clear more than what you bring home now.
Edited by rodeomom3 2015-03-19 2:46 PM
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 696
| Katie's - 2015-03-20 11:42 AM
Can you stay home and not have to pay the 1,100 in daycare? Wow! That is spendy.
I'm always a big cheerleader for anyone that can start their own business and bring in a little money. Good luck!!!
technically, around 1/2 of my pay check each week goes towards daycare. once you factor in gas and food then i'm pretty much working for nothing. and my girls can't start kindergarten for another 4.5 years because of their late birthday. it's killing me to keep working when i could stay home and take care of the kids, house, and horses and not lose money BUT i work for the state so i'm working for (decent) health insurance and future retirement benefits (even though i'm only 25 now). that's a decision that has been on my mind for a good while but i just can't seem to make myself quit knowing i have a good job that i actually like  |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Just start a GoFundMe page, that seems to be the thing nowadays 
In all seriousness though, you would have an extremely tough time getting anyone to sponsor your hobby. To get any interest, you'd have to at least be well on your way to pro-level competition, because if you're just doing a couple of jackpots here and there, what's in it for them?
The only thing I can really suggest is to re-assess your budget and cut out whatever you can. Maybe clip coupons, don't eat out as much, don't get your nails done, go longer between trips to the hairdresser, etc. I have no idea what you spend your money on, so these things may not even apply to you, it's just a suggestion. Set aside a little money from each paycheck to go towards entries, and only go when you have saved enough. That may mean you only go once a month.
There may be some horse-related expenses you can cut out also. Maybe just bring it back to the bare basics--hay, feed, and de-wormer and farrier when needed. Cut out any expensive supplements and items that you "think" you need, but can most likely do without.
It just comes down to you deciding what you can do without in order to fund your hobby.
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 Jr. Detective
Location: Beggs, OK | Katie's - 2015-03-19 2:42 PM Can you stay home and not have to pay the 1,100 in daycare? Wow! That is spendy.
I'm always a big cheerleader for anyone that can start their own business and bring in a little money. Good luck!!!
$1,100 for two babies is CHEAP. I have 10 month old twins and pay more than that to have a girl stay at my house with them. Daycare was going to be even more than that and they don't get individualized attention....and stay sick all the time. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | SaraJean - 2015-03-19 2:30 PM I know it's not what you want to hear but I don't believe in asking other people to pay for my hobby. Competing is a luxury & if the money isn't there I need to stay home. I will NEVER consider asking someone or a buiness to sponsor me. The only way I will ever have a sponsor is if a product I use & believe in comes to me & says they want to sponsor me.
Ditto  this is a hobby why would someone else pay for you having a good time, I would either find a second job are find a better paying job to support your hobby. |
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 Hugs to You
Posts: 7551
Location: In The Land of Cotton |
We (meaning people who had dependents) have all had to give up something in order to raise the kids, help with the elderly, etc. I would have liked to have had horses when my kids were young to, but just couldn't.
In our area you can go to a "running/playday/jackpot" type show for an entry fee of $5. I suggest you find one of those. I am sure you can swing that much for a "run". |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 929
| I recently had a baby (2 months ago) and in addition to my husband and I both having full-time, regular office jobs, I part leased out my extra horse, cut out all the fancy feed supplements, learned to trim my own horses' hooves, and started a side business that directly involves horses. We also only compete at one event a month, now, as opposed to several. Not only is my side business horse related, but I sell my products out of the trailer at barrel races and horse shows, wear the clothing and equine accessories that I embellish for my business, and sponsor myself and my family through my company. So I get free advertising as well as a tax write-off as far as entry fees and hauling expenses. I hope to expand my business and either do it full time or sell the designs for the items themselves and take a percentage of each unit sold.
Right now it's hard to: deal with my actual job, care for a 2 month old (thank God my mother moved in with us and we just pay her portion of rent) work 3 horses, barrel race, and have my own business...but the extra income (even if its only $40 here and there) pays for my entry fees for the one event that we do go to per month. So it can be done without asking for a handout.
Edited by RodeoCowgirl4u 2015-03-19 3:36 PM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 507
Location: Lost in the corn of Iowa. | I have a sponsor, it is the hubby's own business, the reason for that is because I hold the check book!! LOL!!
Honestly, what you're asking is for someone like me (small business owner) to take away from my "hobby money" so you can go out and play. Really?? If you can't afford to go to the rodeo's then it's time to stay home. Sounds like you are trying to afford a champagne lifestyle on a beer budget. |
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