Equestrian sport is one of the most expensive. A horse costs from 500,000 to several million rubles. Maintenance is another 50-100 thousand per month. Trainer, veterinarian, shoeing, transportation, competitions. Only oligarchs can afford it without sponsors. Sponsorship in equestrian sport is not just "give money". It is a symbiosis: business gets an image, and the athlete gets a chance to win. We tell you how sponsorship is organized, who sponsors, and how a beginner rider can find support. Who sponsors equestrian sport The main sponsors are companies that want to be associated with elitism, health, and nature. Watches (Rolex, Longines), cars (Mercedes, BMW), banks (Credit Suisse, Societe Generale), luxury brands (Hermès, Gucci). Feed and equipment manufacturers (Horseware, Cavallo, Stübben). Betting companies (especially in horse racing). State lotteries (in Europe). Rolex is the most famous sponsor. It sponsors Rolex Grand Slam tournaments (show jumping) and individual riders (Scott Brash, Kent Farrington). Longines is the chronometer of many competitions. Hermès sponsors the "Saut Hermès" tournament in Paris. In Russia, there are fewer sponsors. The main ones: Rosgosstrakh (sponsored the Russian Cup of Jumping), Alfa-Bank, Gazprom (through subsidiaries). Also, stud farms (for example, "Voskhod", "Geist"). Bookmakers: "Winline", " Fonbet" (sponsor horse racing). There are also private sponsors - wealthy people who love horses and are willing to invest. Often without advertising, just out of love. How sponsorship helps an athlete Funding for the purchase and maintenance of a horse. This is the foundation. Without a good horse, you can't win. A sponsor can buy a horse, pay for its feed, shoeing, veterinarian. Payment for training and a trainer. A good trainer costs from 50,000 rubles per month (plus a percentage of prize money). Transportation and accommodation at competitions (transportation of a horse in a special horsebox - thousands of euros). Trips abroad (a ... Read more