How are the schooling shows in your area doing for entries? I am getting concerned with the lack of entries I see near me. If it wasnt for the eventing riders, many shows wouldnt have enough riders to support a show. Way different from when I showed my old horse 10-15 years ago. The economy?
I think the economy is one factor. The shows in my area have died out one by one. None here now, youāve got to travel three hours in opposite directions for bigger shows and the nearest schooling shows are at least one hour.
Even the clinics havenāt filled, I donāt know of any scheduled so far this year.
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The economy
Lack of keeping up with modern technology (online registration, payment, scheduling, etc.)
Lack of knowledge of the showās existence (no marketing, online presence, etc.)
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Our local association has a fairly robust attendance. They often fill and have rings added if possible. These are just one-day schooling shows in mid TN.
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Are you CTDA? I used to attend their shows when I lived there and they always were surprisingly large!
I can say the economy has certainly killed my participation lately in my current area.
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In my area, the schooling shows donāt hire qualified judges (L graduates minimum) so no one besides some beginners are interested. I got an 86% at first level last year because the ājudgeā (local trainer) didnāt really know what the scores meant - Iāve gone through the L program myself and it was a low 60s test.
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I got an 82% in a schooling show at training level onceā¦ and came 5th! 
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Eastern Ontario has also had a severe drop in both Dressage and H/J schooling shows.
The cost of owning, boarding and showing horses has skyrocketed.
Organizers are burnt out. So are volunteers. Decent show sites no longer available.
Working Equitation is becoming popular but the Eastern Ontario group is just getting started and has no shows yet. These also require equipment (bridges/gates) that is not easy to transport from one site to another.
We do have a āfairlyā active Recognised / Gold/Silver Dressage show series. Three locations, with 2 shows at each. But these require riders and owners to belong to Ontario Federation and the Canadian Federation. Local Dressage group membership is optional, but if you donāt belong you pay higher entry/admin fees. Horses must have a āpassport horse recordingā.
It all adds up!!
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We are hosting a schooling show next weekend (one week from tomorrow). We have a USEF S judge and have a waiting list in the middle of the summer in Arizona (it is at a higher elevation and a covered arena). I think one thing helping us is the economy. We have riders who have decided to boycott the recognized shows with their higher fees and look to the schooling shows to measure their progress. We also have a significant number of western dressage riders. We make sure our judges are comfortable with judging (and most are rated) to judge both. At least so far in 2025, our schooling show series is more than breaking even.
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In my immediate area, there have been none this year. Last year there was a spring series but I heard the organizer got burnt out and there were also issues with the venue.
Luckily there is a thriving club in a neighbouring region that I make the trek to (along with all the other dressage riders in my area). They are very welcoming and really support the youth who are mainly dabbling over from h/j land.
I noticed another club in another neighbouring region had to cancel their last show due to low entries. They struggle with volunteers and require anyone wanting to show to do mandatory volunteer hours at the show. While I appreciate the struggle, itās a long enough day for me as a solo adult amateur doing everything myself and hauling over an hour each way to a schooling show without also having to fit in a two hour volunteer shift.
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CDTA? iāve heard awesome things if so.
Low participation in the past few years in my area. Half the show is now western dressage. There are also a lot less farms, horse owners and dressage riders in my area.
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Economy, aging demographic, change in focus? --The Ranch Horse shows I attend (two so far) have been well attended, so much show that one show lasted until 4:00 AM to complete all the rides (I felt really sorry for those judges!). But Ranch Horse shows 1) have a low entry fee relatively ($30/class) and 2) are relaxed as far as dress, tack, grooming expecting a āworking ranch hand/horseā turn out. Horses are well trained, but nothing (it seems to me) is greatly exaggerated --no whirl-wind spins, no 50 foot slides --just correct and smooth will win the day. Even I, with only a year of practice was able to make it to the top 10 in two of my classes (ok, I was 7th and 10th). Further, there seems to be a genuine effort on the part of participants to be kind and welcoming. People ask your name, complement your horse, notice your improvement.
At my last Dressage show, 3 years ago, absolutely no one spoke to me except the judge who told me I had a nice horse.
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I think itās the economy, and the time of year. Recognized shows are in full swing so people who used schooling shows as spring prep are now spending their money at the rated shows. Plus itās 1 million degrees out, I think the spring and fall shows have better attendance.
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I have also noticed the swing to Western Dressage. To be blunt, nobody wants to ride 5 days a week and spend money on lessons to get a 58% in a regular dressage test for the rest of their life and get beat by the type of horse judges prefer. The people with more average moving horses have moved to western dressage where it seems like itās easier to get better scores.
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Sad thing is, they offer Western Dressage tests, but those are also sparsely attended.
Thereās a new series where I live - started last year - and itās doing very well. Last one was 100 degrees outside and it still went all day. Itās normally a 2 day weekend show with a lot more attendance on the Saturday.
What they are doing that I think really helps:
- itās very inclusive with Western dressage, traditional, and working eq.
- Judges are all rated
- Costs are low enough
- Stalls available
- Nice ribbons, raffle (if you enter both days you are entered), high point awards
- Good technology - everything is electronic
- Nice atmosphere! Everyone is really nice and accommodating, the facility is good (round pen, warmup ring, wash rack, indoor if weather is bad)
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I would love to do some Working Equitation with my younger Lusitano. We are still working on basics like steering LOL but once we are ready to take it on the road I will find someone to give me some lessons! I am not sure if I will compete dressage again, I am not missing it at this point.
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Weāre seeing a lot of this in my area too. I donāt show a lot, but I have transitioned my tack all over to western and will show western dressage/WE vs classical if we decide to show. Both western dressage and WE are just a bit more forgiving/inclusive for the non warmblood breeds and how they naturally move.
As an aside for the working equitation, that sport it an absolute blast. Weāve got two rated shows under our belts and not only were they a great experience/people, we did really well to boot. If you are thinking about it, definitely give it a try!
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You should do it! My good friend (she shows upper level WE on her QH) and I were talking about some of the differences yesterday. The ease of handling really is a ālevelerā - you can drill your dressage test but you canāt really drill the EOH since it changes every show! So she may get beaten by a better moving horse in dressage sometimes, but she does excellently in the EOH since her training is really solid.
I donāt show WE, but I would if there were closer rated shows. Itās a fun sport and a good group of people.
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