Prizes for year-end champion and reserve. What would you want?

[BITSA]

I’m on the Board for our state H/J association and we are feeling tapped out on prize ideas (we’ve done backpacks, coolers, scrims, rain sheets, garment bags, boot bags, saddle pads)…

we need things in the $60-$80 range for champion
and in the $25 and under for reserve

things are given out at the awards banquet so they have to be size and gender neutral.

Gift cards are usually not an option because we want things we can embroider with our logo.

Would love some fresh ideas, or thoughts on what you can never have too many of…

[2DogsFarm]

In that price range, for Champions, maybe directors chair.
Google shows the metal foldables (with table/arm) & wood - Home Depot, Walmart, etc.

For Reserves: ballcaps.

[Displaced_Yankee]

We did custom C4 belts in our GMO colors and with our logo for about $26 each for an award last year. C4 actually took our colors and logo and gave the board 4 design options. Not sure how many you need, but that was for 40 awards, with the same design. They are “trim-to-fit” so no sizing issues!

We also did director’s chairs that same year.

[TheHunterKid90]

Schneiders Tack has very high quality aluminum horse show chairs both regular height and director height that I used for weekend prizes this year. I got them on sale for $50, they are usually around $70 and it was $20 to embroider with our club logo. They were a hit, they were very well made and very comfortable!

[PintoPony]

I’ve seen custom hay bags, step stools, buckets, hat/helmet bags and brushes.

[SugarCubes]

@Displaced Yankee

We did custom C4 belts in our GMO colors and with our logo for about $26 each for an award last year. C4 actually took our colors and logo and gave the board 4 design options. Not sure how many you need, but that was for 40 awards, with the same design. They are “trim-to-fit” so no sizing issues!

We also did director’s chairs that same year.

My trainer gave these out for Christmas last year, with the barn logo on the belt. Everyone loved them - I think these would be a great prize for Reserve!

[blondewithchrome]

I always love a nice leather halter with a nameplate that says your series name and the year. You can get them from smartPak in that price range. They’re nice to have around the barn even if you have a super nice one to take to shows with your horses name on it. I also like the chair idea! It’s a good one.

Also I got a really good quality saddle pad with the association logo on it and the year. It’s really useful and pretty! Leather lead rope with plate also a cool idea.

[LittleD]

If I am receiving a champion award, I always want a cooler. Favorite reserve prize I have received is a duffle bag that I use all the time.

[cayuse]

My favorite award was a “picture frame” plaque with a brass engraved plate with the horses name and all the award info on it. It is made of nice (real not plastic laminate) wood and very pretty.

[JBCool]

I have a duffle bag from 15 years ago that I still use as a suitcase and LOVE! I also make shadbelly points for prizes at my barn’s horse shows and they are a big hit. My trainer also gets hand painted plates from a local artist. Not really embroider-able, but…

[trubandloki]

What I have learned from past threads on this topic is what one person thinks is the best prize ever there will be just as many people who think it is the worst prize ever.

I am with @LittleD , I like coolers.
So many uses for those.

Chairs are good too.

The personalized helmet bag idea sounds good.

The problem with the picture frame type idea is that people will not be using those out and about for others to see what was won last year. Part of the reason for big year end awards is to get people to attend and show at this particular show series and having a prize that people will actually use and others will see is a great way to do that.

[Dewey]

I like the wrap bag I received as a prize many years ago. It goes with me to every show and hangs on my horse’s stall.

It’s similar to this one.

[SolarFlare]

One of our sponsors had custom engraved brushes made with our show series logo on them, along with the title (ie. “2019 Sr Training Level Champion”. They were beautiful and the winners loved them.

[LimitedChrome]

My favorite was a leather halter with the series, year, and award engraved on it. I think coolers are usually most appreciated. I’ve also received a wooden grooming box with an engraved plate on it. I still have it and use it often. Also, perhaps a nice leather lead rope with a nameplate for Reserve Champion?

[endlessclimb]

I won a small ceramic plate with the year, award, and my horses name on it. They must have contracted a local potter to do a bunch of them.

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[KBC]

Chairs are great, I won a quarter sheet this year, which is awesome, haven’t needed it yet, so it’s doing duty as a saddle cover in the tack room right now, Saddle cover would be a great prize.

Stall bag for hanging on front of stall for all your stuff. I bought a huge square nylon bag that stores my blanket collection, that is very useful.

[Renn_aissance]

Is it not possible to ask your winners for their T-shirt sizes? Embroidered or screen-printed jackets or fleeces have been a hit around here.

[mpsbarnmanager]

A big ribbon and a gift card to smartpak

[Foxglove]

Not quite on the topic --but after Hail Caesar retired, having won many awards, I had all the plates from the “award halters” put on one halter (nose, cheeks, across the top, both sides --two on each so 7 total. the rest (3) put on the matching lead shank --and hung both on his stall door. He wears it now and then --usually when the vet comes. The left over halters without plates went to his stable buddies. When HC goes to the pasture in the sky, his “award halter” with all the plates will be come the center piece of a shadow box celebrating his long and wonderful life.

[KBC]

@Foxglove

Not quite on the topic --but after Hail Caesar retired, having won many awards, I had all the plates from the “award halters” put on one halter (nose, cheeks, across the top, both sides --two on each so 7 total. the rest (3) put on the matching lead shank --and hung both on his stall door. He wears it now and then --usually when the vet comes. The left over halters without plates went to his stable buddies. When HC goes to the pasture in the sky, his “award halter” with all the plates will be come the center piece of a shadow box celebrating his long and wonderful life.

What a wonderful idea