Showing on a Budget

Cost effective solutions to combat this crazy economy and keep you in the show pen!
by Allison Trimble

The number one issue in the horse industry right now is the exponentially rising cost of everything: supplies, hay, fuel, grain, bedding and entry fees, just to name a few. Personally, I am freaking out about the winter, so now I am devoting a lot of time to budgeting and trying to find ways to cut costs. My hay has gone up 150%, my bedding 140%, and fuel prices make it all but impossible to head down the road to shows. This is the first article in a series focused on staying afloat in the horse industry during these financially hard times. It seems that this is a conversation I am often having with fellow non pros, trainers and owners at horse shows, and I want to share some tips to help manage the cost of showing while still allowing you to go out and have fun.

1.) Define your goals: Why are you showing? Is it to improve your abilities? To go for year-end awards or points in a certain association? To increase the value of your horse? Do you want to go and have a good time with friends? Answering these questions will help you do a more specific cost/benefit analysis. If you want to chase AQHA points, it would be best to try hitting shows that have the largest number of entries and are closest to home. There is no reason to haul across the state to gain one AQHA point. This also allows you to minimize fuel and maximize stall fees, plus you'll have the best shot at the most points. If you want to go compete and have fun, maybe this is a good year to look at some local associations, such as the Northwest Reining Association, where you can have fun at a nominal cost with few additional show expenses beyond the entry fees. In any situation, look closely at all costs and fees and weigh them against the benefits.

2.) Fuel: The fuel situation is just ridiculous. I have been trying to get Bob’s Burger and Brew in Ferndale to put up a hitching post so I can ride my horse to town. The best suggestion I have here is to find a friend or two that you can haul with and split the gas. It is always good to find a friend with a fuel efficient truck! Working together with other horse people on a few of these aspects is going to make a big difference to your budget.

3.) Overnight Stays: Bunking up with friends is a great way to save a buck. Hotel rooms range from about $75 to $125 per night at most shows, so splitting that up will help. I need my space when I show, so recently I traded in my older trailer on a used living quarters trailer that was in really good shape, and now I have a monthly payment of about $250. It is convenient at the shows and saves me a lot of money in hotel bills. It is also convenient because I can pack food with me and save money by not having to eat out.

4.) Bedding: Often, the shavings at horse shows are expensive and small. I recommend taking three bags of pelleted bedding (under $15 total cost) per stall. If you water it, this will put a base on a concrete or dirt stall floor. Then put one or two bags of shavings on top of the pellets. The pellets will stick a little better and the shavings will give softness. Most of my horse shows are weekend shows, so I don’t have to worry about a long term plan, but the stalls usually require a lot of bedding to keep the horses sound. At my last show, shavings were $12 a bag and it took six bags to bed the stall well enough so that my horse wasn’t lying on a big block of concrete.

5.) Entries: If you know you are going to a show, pre-enter. This will save you $25 to $50 per horse in late fees, and that really adds up. Make sure you make your cattle reservations on time. That can be a $50 to $100 late fee in addition to the late entry fee. You don’t usually have to send a check at the time of entry; if you do, you can just enter one class up front, and enter the rest of the classes when you get to the show and still avoid the late fees. Look closely at the entry to see if there is a jackpot on the class, such as in AQHA reining classes. You aren’t always required to enter and pay the jackpot fee, and that can be between $10 and $50 at weekend shows.

6.) Show Clothing and Tack: This is a place where you can shop pretty frugally. If you are in need of show clothes or saddles, ask around to see if anyone has any used chaps, shirts, or other equipment. A few friends of mine and I have swapped around clothes, and I have sold some chaps for very reasonable prices. A lot of people are getting out of showing horses, and that is a great time to pick up their old stuff at a killer price.

I want to thank all of the readers who have taken the time to email me, ask questions and give input. This is a scary time for a lot of horse owners, and I would love to hear ideas from any of you on what you have done to adjust your horsey budgeting.