Young Riders and The Perks of Sponsorship

Once upon a time, what seems like a lifetime ago, I was a Young Rider. I was even a pretty successful Young Rider with top placings at both Festival of Champions and NAJYRC. It was one of the biggest learning curves of my life, and I took away so many friends from the experience. As 2015 NAJYRC is coming closer and closer, there are so many things to get done before the competition, most importantly finding companies to make donations or give sponsorships, because let's face it, traveling across the country with a horse is no small feat. Anyway to make it easier on our parent's pocket book and ourselves is a positive. I had the opportunity to speak with Johnny Robb from JRPR and ask her a few questions regarding sponsorship including how to go about getting it and maintaining it.When looking for a sponsorship it is ideal to start with a company that you actively buy products from and can stand behind. If you don't currently use the products, make sure you are educated about what they are and their use. You can contact the company by phone call, e-mail, or in person. Be ready to explain what is included in the sponsorship for both yourself and the company you are trying to work with. It's ideal to start with an interview and to follow up with a phone call and/or e-mail when possible.

A sponsorship package is a great way to get companies the information they will really be interested in. You can include a resume, a list of future goals, the cost of those goals, and your expectations from the sponsor. This way, from the get go, everyone knows what is expected of them. You can offer advertising on saddle pads or banners if they will donate their products. Social media is also a great way to present a company that is sponsoring you to your friends and followers. Make sure that your new and old posts are professional and appropriate for anyone and everyone to see. Offering to blog or make Facebook posts about a company can mean a lot to someone not so technically savvy even when it seems so simple to us.

When approaching someone for donations or sponsorship, you should always present to the company the positive things they will receive, more or less the perks for being a sponsor. This is really the most important part. When it comes to NAJYRC, a company that offers products that appeal to a younger crowd will be a great place to start, because their products will be seen by many young men and women who might want to try their product. Large and small businesses are both often willing to donate when approached with statistical data and numbers showing how many people and what kind of people they will be reaching by donating their money or products. Ideally, in the end, the sponsorship should be a way to bring the company sales. That is your job as a sponsored rider.

Overall, the most important thing is to make sure that the company considering sponsorship has a very clear picture of the benefits they will be receiving. Pursue companies with products that you love, and spend your time proving to them how you can get them a return on their investment. Banners, advertisement on saddle pads, hats, and shirts, posting and sharing on Facebook, and Twitter are all fantastic ways to get the word out. I hope this helps all you on the road to NAJYRC and those who are looking for long-term support. A big thank you to Johnny Robb of JRPR for her expertise on this subject.

Mary-Cameron Rollins is a contributing author to the monthly ShowChic ChicTimes and the Young & Chic Times