I follow a lot of riders on FaceBook who compete in my state, some compete all over the country, and a select few are international. My riding instructor only competes on weekends, but some weeks spends nearly every day at another show. I'm surrounded by show-jumpers. I am a baby equestrian compared to them, though. I am still just doing lessons, but I feel a lot of FOMO because these riders I know and also don't know post only the good parts of equestrianism to their social medias: all of their medals, ribbons, trophies, etc. Just the success. I don't expect them to post a video of them mucking out a stall, but I would love to get a good picture of their lives. If you are a competitor, please let me know information like...

• How often do you really compete?
• How often do you work-out in the gym to stay in shape?
• How often do you ride YOUR horse (if you own one)? I hear some riders say 1 hour per day, but then I hear others say 3 hours, or sometimes more depending on the level they compete at. A lot of the times they own several horses. I see quite a few young horses jumping more than a meter, yet they are so young still- so surely they must have spent a lot of time being ridden, fed the proper nutrition to have the strength, etc?
• How often do you ride per week, training and/or lessons? My instructor has ridden up to 10 horses in one day, and has worked alongside Olympians for internship. Being around equestrians like this is very admirable and you guys are very inspiring, but this world is more than just winning. How hard do you really have it? Every hour in the saddle matters. 10 hours in the saddle per day sounds exhausting, but the competitors I know love it. They are tired, but keep going back. The payoff is addictive. I ask here though on Reddit because everyone's life is different. I want to get a wider picture, besides the people I meet in person. I hear the stories they tell about their lives, but I am not with them 24/7. Most of these people I see are in passing at my local stable.
  • So basically, I know of people who compete all the time, ride horses all day, and even make it their living. They get paid to win at shows. Other riders I know compete a few times a month, maybe once a week, but still do ride quite a bit. I would just love to know how much they are riding their horse, how much they ride other horses, how much they are working out, how much they train, how many lessons they have, how many shows they really do attend, etc.

I watch This Esme and I know she competes occasionally, I think she competes more lately if I am keeping up correctly- but most of her videos are horse-care and horse-back riding lessons or other riding. Is her life that she shows the most realistic in terms of the horse-care and riding if she has time to AFTER all the care?

I know there is Olympians who spend their whole day riding, competing, and then repeat the next day. They may not even own the horses they ride.

So what about you? If you compete often (I guess it depends what often means in your opinion), what does your life look like?

From my understanding, my riding instructors life is: Monday to Friday she works at her 9 to 5 job, and for the rest of the day she is a riding instructor. She rides a few times a week, and then spends weekends competing. Right now, on her horse she currently has, she does 18 inch jumps.

TLDR: What does a week in your life look like as a show jumper who competes?