I am hoping to get a little help with horse show prizes. I am part of running a schooling show (jumping derby) at my barn and we are looking for new ideas for both Champion, reserve champion and our individual show prizes. We have done coolers for champion and saddle pads for for reserve the past few years and want to change it up. What are some of your favourite things you have received at horse shows? We would really like useful things that can work for most size horses as we get from little ponies to very large horses competing. Any ideas are appreciated!
I like swag that can be seen ourside the barn, esp for kids who might want to share their interests at school. I used to handle corporate swag for my company and everyone loved track jackets. Of course you have sizing considerations there too. If there will be a lot of kids, backpacks are cool. I like getting trucker hats, never got one but coveted camping/director chairs. Smaller prizes can be mugs or glasses. Have fun!!!
Backpacks or tote bags, insulated cups/bottles, grooming supplies are all useful, non-sized options. I love the director/camping chair idea.
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I love things that I’ll be able to use more than, say, a cooler. I have a couple of really nice leather halters with Championship halter plates that I use a lot. Always love saddle pads embroidered with show/champion info. And I have a few backpacks also embroidered with show/champion info that I use a lot. I remember being really bummed at a championship I picked up several years ago where the champion got a cooler and the reserve champion was an embroidered saddle pad :lol: I dislike cheap grooming supplies, treats, and the like that I could easily pick up at the tack store. A couple of shows around here used to do engraved stemless wine glasses that I absolutely loved. And I always like the directors/camping chairs.
You have to remember that no matter what you pick that someone is going to not like it so do not let people saying they do not like it bug you that much as long as generally it is liked.
Love the chair idea. So many fold-able chair options out there now that can be personalized.
Jackets/vests. Do you have enough time between figuring out the year end points and the awards party to get sizes and order?
I never think a bucket of good stuff is a bad thing (yes, that stuff PNWjumper said they hated).
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Last year I won a grooming trug, and engraved brushes, that was nice and yet another bridle bag, this one is the nicest yet.
I was eyeing up the engraved step stool that looked nice, LOVE the directors chair I got a few years ago,
halters are always good, coolers, if the happen to fit. Also blanket bags, saddle carriers, tote bags…
In the past few years we have done (budget for Year End champ $50, reserve $35):
-grooming totes with nameplates
-embroidered saddle pads
-embroidered polo shirts
-embroidered quarter sheets
-embroidered stable sheets
-embroidered jumper bonnets
-Roekl gloves
-embroidered over the shoulder backpacks
-embossed flasks
-embossed photo frame with photo
-helmet bags
-garment bags
-lap blankets
We give out etched or printed wine glasses each year at the banquet to every participant. This year we did plastic stemless that were a huge hit. Our super volunteers (more than 16 hours volunteering) got neon sunglasses with the logo. Budget for those is $2 each. We get almost everything from discountmugs.com.
We get champ division prizes (budget $7.50 each) from local tack shops (for treats, etc) and I usually troll Dover, Smartpak, and State Line clearance racks when they have big sales. Recently I bought a ton off Net Equestrian for our prize tent and LOVE the variety.
We are headed to ikea to get some of these:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40297966/
and have a super artistic kid paint horses on them for board member gifts.
For a little schooling show series, something like a cooler for the Derby is fun because often those horses are not going to rated shows and winning them there.
In the past we have used:
Year End Awards (budget $50 Champion, $35 Reserve)
-coolers
-saddle pads
-backpacks
-grooming tote
-jumper bonnet
-garment bags
-helmet bags
-polo shirts
-photo frame and photo
-tote bag
-Roekl gloves
-quarter sheets
-lap blankets
*all applicable items are embroidered with logo
Division Champ at each show (budget $7.50)
-treats and mini gifts from local tack shop (I give them a budget and # of items and they pick for us)
-troll smartpak, dover, state line for deals and clearance items
-Net Equestrian is my new kryptonite. found so many good things there
Attendee and volunteer gifts (budget $2)
-stemless wine glasses with logo
-PLASTIC stemless wine glasses with logo
-neon sunglasses
-hooks made out of horseshoes
-coffee mugs
Board member gifts (budget $25)
-embossed flasks
-backpacks
This year we are getting these:
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40297966/
and having a junior who is a killer artist paint horses on them.
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[B]Hadley Pottery - Louisville, Ky.
Blue Horse design …Coffee Mugs; Popcorn Bowls; Everything Bowls or Event Personalized Tray or Plate …[/B]
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What trub said - the last show (little schooling show) they had a basket with small items you could pick from: hoof picks, rolls of vet wrap, plastic sweat scrapers, that sort of thing. Personally, I was pretty happy to pick up a couple of rolls of vet wrap from my two classes! A local business that makes organic fly spray and ointments provided a tiny sample jar (1 oz?) of fly balm for each competitor. I’ll take anything I can use (or give to someone else to use) over a trophy or garland any day.
I think coolers became a thing back when coolers were all the big rectangle style - pretty much one-size-fits-most. Now with the fitted coolers size is more important.
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My absolute favorite show prize is a stall front bag that can be used for blankets or grooming equipment. Another favorite prize I won was a collapsible wagon. I LOVE it for moving gear to and from my trailer at shows and it folds up nicely so it doesn’t take up too much room.
Here are a few other items I bought for myself, but use a ton and would appreciate as prizes:
-Garment bags
-Boot polish kits
-Padded saddle carrier bags (preferably with shoulder straps)
-Rolling hay bale bags
-Grooming tote box that doubles as a step stool
-NICE brushes (i.e. Haas)
Oh, and I won a Yeti tumbler with the show’s logo printed on it as a circuit award once, that was pretty cool. A mid-sized ice chest would also be great for keeping snacks during the show.
In this day and age with costs as high as they are, winning an office credit toward your show tab would also be appreciated by most exhibitors too.
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I love the Hadley pottery and go to a few shows just for those prizes!
also got some potted plants—like a geranium—that were really nice. Starbucks gift cards for $10 are nice, too
I’m seconding or thirding the director’s chair idea…I had a total flashback to the jealously I used to feel at those who won them! I wanted one so bad but alas, I never got one.
For the folks who like the customized stemless wine glasses, have you seen the silicone ones? A friend was selling them as part of a fundraiser and I thought they were fun.
The custom chairs are pretty great, too.
Thumb drives are nice prizes for kids
One of my favorite things I received from a show was a customized easy fill hay bag. Perfect for putting a flake or two in as a special treat. leather halters and leads, picture frame with a customized tag from the show, bridle bags, new grooming brushes, Mini First aid kit, Coupon off vet bill, silver trays, I have a ton of coffee mugs and travel cups.
I also got certificate for a trunk cover that could be made in my custom colors.
If its for kids, I would get a bunch of different gift cards and they can choose one.
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