My recent show was pretty average as far as cost. It was the Regional Maclay Finals so they were not going to make anything "cheap." I also find if it is a FEI show then expect to pay premium prices (this show was not FEI). To start with the stall was $200. I had 6 bags of shavings at $8.95 a bag ($53.70). Office fee is $40, USEF fee is $16, zone fee is $2. So before even entering a class fees are $312. Training jumper class fee $50 and NAL class fee $120. So now the total is $482 for essentially 2 classes. Since I do the jumpers I don't pay braiding fees. I also save my horse and I do not enter a bunch of classes. This saves significantly on fees plus contributes to the longevity and health of my horse. I think if you don't get to show much you get wrapped up in the "I'm going to do whatever classes I can and get mileage while I'm here" and quickly rack up a $1000+ show bill. I trailered my own horse and used just over a tank of diesel which was around $100. I do my own horse care so the only additional fees are training. Getting 4th place in the NAL meant I won money which brought my show bill down, woohoo! I was an hour from home and commuted from home which saved a hotel fee. I did have barn help Friday night at home so that was an additional cost. I always pack my own drinks and snacks. I maybe spent $10 at the concession stand. I also did not allow myself to shop the tack stores, thus saving alot.
OTHER WAYS TO SAVE $
I could have saved on shavings by bringing my own (they are $3 cheaper at my feed store). If you are looking to save on trainer fees talk to them about being a working student at the show. Many need help and would welcome the extra hand at the show grooming, cleaning stalls, etc.
I definitely get caught up in the "I don't show a lot so I need to do a lot of classes". I think stalls and class fees are where the A/AA stuff gets so expensive. Here at my locals I pay $75 for a stall and $18 per class (special ones are usually no more than $25 with the exception of our annual Hunter Derby which is $75)
ReplyDeleteYes stall fees, USEF fees, drug fees, divisions are $125+, drug fees, etc but there are alot more regulations to follow, staff required, etc. I will get into that in my next post
DeleteI was SHOCKED at how "cheap" my bill from this weekend's show was. Granted, it was a one-day show about 2 hours away so we didn't need hotels and hauled 3 horses in the trailer at once, so I split hauling with 2 other people. I only did 3 classes (at $30/each) plus the office and EMT fee, and got out of there pretty cheaply! I've never showed at anything rated (this weekend was a schooling show) so I can't comment on that aspect, but I greatly overestimated what doing a one-day show would cost...woot woot!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to eventually get to a place where I don't need to do schooling classes, but right now as a rider the reps in the ring are very important. But then again, I'm only showing at 2'6" which isn't particularly taxing on my horse.
ReplyDeleteYou have to do what works for you.
DeleteOne time I spent $900 at a horse show, that was the most I ever paid, luckily I was also a groom so I earned an additional $500 and had my hotel paid for.
ReplyDeleteYup when I go to HITS that's a typical show bill.
Deleteit all adds up so quickly - all those little incidentals. i've never done anything rated, but even just the little local schooling shows balloon to $200 pretty quickly. and of course, at that level it's pretty much just for the satin.... i appreciate you breaking it down for us tho!
ReplyDeleteYeah but its those darn membership fees that kill ya!
ReplyDeleteWhat? USEF & UHJA cost around $120 a year, life time horse recording is $200 (you pay this once), and I only join NAL which is $40/year
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