So, it seems like many barns these days are claiming that inflation is hitting them hard and telling customers that they have to increase prices. I mean, I get it. It’s not just happening with horses and I’m well aware with fuel and hay prices going up this year, we know it’s been harder than usual.
However, it’s a constant conversation lately about how things are getting super expensive and lots of people that I consider on the rather wealthy side are even hinting that they’re worried and potentially needing to figure out alternatives. I am sharing their concerns as I wonder if things keep going up, how sustainable it is to keep going to shows that require huge shipping bills in addition to all the general fees.
Did a few searches on here and looks like the last real discussion was dated back in 2015, so given the market is very different than 8 years and rates have increased, it’s time to resurrect this topic.
So in the interest of getting things out there, let’s talk real money. Ballpark is fine and definitely doesn’t have to give away barns or specific shows, but what is everyone paying for an month of board/training with 2 weeks of showing involved?
Ideally, sharing if it’s a regional or A-rated show and what zone/general area, since it’s varying quite drastically. It feels like this taboo topic, and this is a forum and safe space.
I had some people pose the question to me and I realized that I don’t even know what the going rates are these days and what others are spending. I know what the general board/training board rates are for a few places around me, but then it gets so blurry as to what everyone is spending for the extras and the shows, and that’s where it really adds up. My general training board is maybe 1/3 of my overall bill.
Since some of us having multiple horses, probably best to just base it on 1 horse, and if you have multiple and get a discount, that’s useful to know aIso. Trying to crowdsource to understand if the concern is valid, if we’re spending the norm or on par, or even paying extremely more or less than the general majority.
I can make it super easy and comfortable for everyone and break it out this way:
-
Are you spending for board/training combined?
A. $1500-2000
B. $2100-2900
C. $3000-$4000
D. $4000+ -
Combined total bill for 1 month with 2 weeks of showing included (locally-- within 2 hours of location- (including shipping, show stuff (ie daycare, splits for grooming/tack stalls, groom and trainer fees/lodging/tips, chiro, show rides, show lunging, lessons at shows, clipping, and random extras), chiro or massage (if not billed separately), and other random extras (tack use, laundry, supplements, adequan, legend, etc). Does not include entries, braiding, or outside shippers (ie big rig, not your trainer’s or personal bus), or your personal lodging if you’re too far to go back and forth.
A… Less than $5000
B. $5000-6900
C. $7000-8900
D. $9000-10,000
E. Over 10k
I understand that some people know others on here and don’t want to share that publicly, so if you’d like to share privately, I’m open to hearing it from message vs reply aIso. It just feels like we need to start understanding what is really happening and everyone is in different financial brackets and some will shrug and say, “It’s the cost of having horses”. That being said, I suspect there are others out there wondering if they’re in over their heads and if the grass isn’t greener because it’s just the flow of the current market, or if they’re paying way more than some of their peers.