are show barns staying afloat since shows are cancelled?

[Vixenish]

Hi, I am wondering how barns are dealing with the economic realities of shows being cancelled for the foreseeable future. At my barn, horse show income is a sizeable portion of my trainer’s business model, whether its taking clients, judging, or course designing. I would be curious to hear from trainers and clients how this is affecting them. Have prices gone up to supplement lost income? I’m also curious how barns that do a lot of business in horse sales are faring in this climate.

I do know that, as an adult amateur, I’m saving a ton of money by NOT going to shows…

Thanks!

[Madison]

@Vixenish

Hi, I am wondering how barns are dealing with the economic realities of shows being cancelled for the foreseeable future. At my barn, horse show income is a sizeable portion of my trainer’s business model, whether its taking clients, judging, or course designing. I would be curious to hear from trainers and clients how this is affecting them. Have prices gone up to supplement lost income? I’m also curious how barns that do a lot of business in horse sales are faring in this climate.

I do know that, as an adult amateur, I’m saving a ton of money by NOT going to shows…

Thanks!

What part of the country are you in? Horse shows are not universally cancelled, in fact quite the opposite, they restarted in the last two weeks and in the southeast, for example, the USEF-rated shows are completely sold out with waiting lists. So, I don’t think there is a one size fits all answer to your question, because the situation varies so much by region.

[Vixenish]

Good point. I’m in California. So far, pretty much everything slated to go forward has eventually been cancelled, with one exception I’m aware of (Brookside).

[PonyPenny]

@Vixenish

Good point. I’m in California. So far, pretty much everything slated to go forward has eventually been cancelled, with one exception I’m aware of (Brookside).

Shows in So. Cal. just got the green light to go forward. Not sure about Nor. Cal.

[mh97]

I’m a staff member at a show barn. The pandemic along with some other unrelated factors have been crippling to the business. My boss got some assistance from the CARES act/payroll protection. She told me if she had not gotten the money, she would have gone under. Thankfully, shows are starting back up here and we are starting to get to the other side of it.