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I do not find the overall cost to be totally crazy for a show that involved over night stabling.
I am confused by two items on your list. Does the whole division of five classes cost $65? That is $13 per class which sounds cheap to me.
What is the first item on your list for?
Generally speaking it is best to ask what things will cost before you agree to do them so there are no shocking bills. Your trainer should be able to provide you with a price sheet so things like this are not a surprise.
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Yes, each class is $13, usually $15 but discounted if you do all classes in the division. I was given a basic cost breakdown, but (since I’m so new to this) I just wanted some other input on the additional costs. The braiding/trailering/trainer fees were not part of the set show costs, but from the place she takes lessons. I know I’m not wording any of this correctly. Thank you for your help!
I’ve been to many local shows at that venue. All the “Competition costs” (your division entry fees, stall, shavings, and office/medic fee) are all pretty typical. Braiding the mane and tail isn’t necessary at this level show, but $35 is completely reasonable if that’s what you want done. Trailering cost also seems pretty reasonable.
$150 trainer fees for a 1 day local show sounds high to me. But, maybe that included all the horses care too? And maybe the trainer had to lunge or warm up the pony? You didn’t say whether you fed, watered and mucked stalls or if the trainer did everything. If the trainer took care of everything, $150 seems more reasonable. Most trainers charge about $50/day for coaching for a 1 day local show, but that would not include feeding, watering, mucking stalls, tacking up, warm-up rides, etc.
Personally I would never pay $400 for a local one day show, but I do all my own care. If it’s local and only 1 day, I just get up early and go that morning to avoid all the extra costs for stall and shavings (although you will still have to pay a grounds fee, it will be less).
So, for a “full service experience” where all you have to do is show up and ride, this seems like reasonable charges.
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The only place the trainer is making any money here is in day fees and training. I also wonder if there is more than one trainer/ assistant trainer attending. If you are running herd on a group of people under 10 year olds whose mothers are not horse competent or show competent, that’s going to take some extra help.
I would just for information’s sake ask for clarity on the difference between training fee and day fee. What’s covered in each?
If the trainer is bringing along a teen or adult helper, working student, groom, glorified baby sitter or assistant trainer to help keep everyone safe then that person needs to be paid too.
Btw when my barn friend goes off to a low budget one day local schooling show it costs her about $200 just to have her horse hauled there. Her other costs are negligible but if she wanted a stall and her trainer present things would add up fast.
OP I hope the show goes really well! On the other hand heading to a show after 2 weeks of lessons could be rushing things a bit :). Also remember that for a coach that has her students in a regular showing routine, the day and training fees are an income source. Plus coach is cancelling all her other paid work for that weekend.
I don’t begrudge my trainer her income source but it’s worth keeping in mind that a show expedition is part of this trainers business model not a favor or a fun day outing. Shows may be a big part of her business model and may help keep lessons affordable, or help keep her able to focus on horses and not go back to a desk job 
Things are expensive around horses but profit margins can be slim. Which is why trainers sometimes seen to be nickel and diming clients, or inflating fees.
Anyhow I am sure all the kids are thrilled to be going to their first show and no one wants to be left out. I’m sure everyone will learn a lot, including by seeing the other contestants and the “big kids” riding.
But after this show you may want to do some thinking about being strategic about future excursions. The trainer may have ideas about doing this every few weeks, if it’s part of her business model.
Whether that’s something you can afford and whether it makes sense for your kid right now are things to consider.
Obviously at a higher level where someone is campaigning a horse for yearvebd high point or a championship, then regular attendance at specific shows is necessary.
Likewise if your own barn was running low cost schooling shows, it might make sense to participate.
But how often does an 8 year old need to show cross rails at a schooling show in one Summer? Once, twice, three times? How much can you afford is the huge question.
IMHO showing costs are not the most important expense for a beginner rider. If there is any question of paying let’s say $1500 for a new saddle or vet bill or safety gear etc, I would not drop that on a show “season” for a cross rails rider.
I’d get better at home first.
Of course if money is no object go ahead and enjoy!
Sorry, I should have clarified that my daughter has not only been riding for 2 weeks…she’s been taking for a few years. It’s just a new coach/trainer at her facility who is fully experienced in h/j showing who started her 2 weeks ago. Her original teacher is self-trained and has only shown at one show just a few months ago.
Also, only 2 kids are showing at this show, but both the owner/original teacher and the new teacher/coach are going.
Well even 2 weeks with a new coach is fast to be going to a show.
Ok. Then I expect both the coaches are splitting the fees. With younger kids new to the scene the more adults per kid the better. Does trainer have clients from other barns meeting them there?
Horse shows are crowded busy and confusing. The riders will need to warm up their horses in a crowded warm up ring with coaching then get to the in gate for their ride time with all the numbers, hairnets, braids, helmets, etc etc in place and tidy. They will need to not get in other people’s way or block traffic or get kicked etc. Honestly a 1:1 ratio of coach: child is probably ideal for a first show which is going to be overwhelming for an under ten. Even a schooling show!
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No, this is one lady who started a lessons business with her herd of 5 pasture horses who kind of found her (she’s only bought one of the 5 horses there, and that’s the one my 10 yo is riding in the show…he is a trained horse with showing experience). This show came up rather recently, and I think both the owner and the new trainer/coach are excited to break into the showing scene. I guess I’m just feeling a bit wary. All these costs were just given to me. I know the actual competition costs are set and I have no other way to get the horse there besides having the owner use her trailer, but I wasn’t asked about the braiding fee and wasn’t given a breakdown of the expectations of my daughter in caring for the horse there at the show or what exactly that $150 covers. Like you, I completely understand and support their source of income and I am truly willing to help them in any way I can…but money IS an object, unfortunately. I am kind of trying to look at this experience as a learning one for my daughter and for me, and I’m certainly not looking at having shows be a regular part of our lives. One, MAYBE 2, a year at most if she enjoys it and shows promise. My daughter currently has an arrangement there where, for $400/month, she gets 2 lessons per week (1 to 1.5 hrs each) and then stays there for “barn time” another hour or so each time. My husband has had mixed feelings about everything and wonders about being taken advantage of. What are your thoughts? Geez, I feel so stupid and naive.
After 3 year of lessons my daughter went to her first local schooling show recently. Her barn is not a show barn but occasionally things come up and they attend something. The show was only 5 miles away so transportation costs were minimal which is a big reason they actually went to this show. The trainer charge us $50 coaching fee $6 for transport and I think we paid about $50 for the classes my daughter did. That was pretty much it for costs for us but this was a very low level schooling show which was great with me. We also only had to be there half the day.
Anyways, our trainer will pretty much only take kids who lease horses because the kids need to be able to handle their own horse and tack and prep on their own. I would imagine a bigger coaching fee if the trainer needed to help more with younger less experienced kids from our barn because they are not as solid with their handling and tack.
I feel strongly that coaches need to be fairly compensated for their time! Do you own your own horse or lease one ? I dont see a horse fee in your list of costs. Non leasers or owners often have to pay a fee to use lesson horses at a show.
I guess you could say we lease one (see the description of what we do above.) I think this was kind of a rush job, and I’m thinking is is too big of a first event…but, I think it’s a bit late to bail now. Live and learn, I guess. But, I think your experience has been a lot better. My daughter has been taking for about the same amount of time as your daughter, but is relatively new to h/j. Ugh! Now I’m just freaking out a bit.
Relax! You are in for the $399. Let it go. Make the day happy calm and positive for your kid. The expenses are not that huge. Go in with a smile on your face. The last thing your kid needs is for mom and dad to be squabbling over this or visibly distrustful of the trainer.
I think trainer fee per rider drops if there are more riders. But think about it, the trainer is going to spend ten plus hours with your kid at the show and will be there the night before to stable. Realistically they are not making that much money for the time commitment. And you aren’t paying to use the horse for the day which most lesson programs would do.
For the level of service, on a school horse, the cost is not exorbitant. That said all showing is insanely expensive unless you are totally DIY and don’t count the cost of your trailer!
Relax, make this a day to remember, take lots of photos, and then don’t do it again.
The most important thing for a child or a young horse at a show is for them to have fun, relax, grow in confidence. Getting around a course even cross poles is an accomplishment. Keep it positive.
But if she is only riding twice a week now, if there is extra money I would put it to extra saddle time over the summer. That’s the best way to improve.
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The only thing I see that’s “odd” about what you’re being billed is the $150 training fee–once again, if this covers horse care for the overnight as well it makes more sense, but for a day of schooling…no. I wouldn’t pay it, not to a local trainer at a local show.
How far away are the showgrounds from your barn? If they’re close by and you’re still staying overnight I think that’s a bit of an indulgence for the sake of convenience for the trainer/opportunity to bill clients for horse care. Braiding is also unnecessary at a local show, as others have pointed out, though you do see it done.
Edited to add that all of that said, I DO agree with the poster above! Let it go for this show and let your daughter have a good, positive experience. However, if the costs make you uncomfortable (I personally think they’re on the high-end for local showing) then reconsider next time there’s an opportunity or have a talk with the trainer about ways you can reduce costs next time around.
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Listen to @Scribbler. Your kid will have a blast. As I mentioned on the other thread in eventing - the $150 fee is actually really reasonable if it includes coaching, leasing the horse for the day, and care the night before/day of. The only way to know is to ask.
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Thank you all SO much for indulging this disjointed, confusing, and completely ignorant show mom. The whole reason I agreed to begin with is for my daughter to have the experience, so I’m truly happy to give this to her. I was honestly just looking for “norms” on costs for showing. Now I have a better idea of what to ask for, ask about, and expect. I’m truly ok, and beyond excited for my daughter to get this opportunity. I know her trainers are doing this primarily for her and I really do love them and their passion. I think I just need to keep a more level head and ask the right questions from here on out. Thank you all so much again for your understanding and advice.
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Hard to say what the norm is on stabling and braiding without knowing the venue and the local conditions. Some schooling shows are quite formal.
As far as overnight stabling, that’s a judgement call. An experienced adult rider might be able to truck in, unload, and ride. I bet if you are dealing with small children at a first show you might want to get the horses safely on site, give them the night to relax, maybe trainer rides that night, maybe early the next morning too so kids can turn up and get going. Reduce the number of moving parts for the day of the show.
If the trainer and owner are arriving let’s say 6 PM the previous night, they are going to dedicate all told about 24 hours to the show, well, 16 waking hours, and probably providing full support (hunter style) so kids can have a good experience.
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Hard to say what the norm is on stabling and braiding without knowing the venue and the local conditions. Some schooling shows are quite formal.
As far as overnight stabling, that’s a judgement call. An experienced adult rider might be able to truck in, unload, and ride. I bet if you are dealing with small children at a first show you might want to get the horses safely on site, give them the night to relax, maybe trainer rides that night, maybe early the next morning too so kids can turn up and get going. Reduce the number of moving parts for the day of the show.
If the trainer and owner are arriving let’s say 6 PM the previous night, they are going to dedicate all told about 24 hours to the show, well, 16 waking hours, and probably providing full support (hunter style) so kids can have a good experience.
Yeah, I read the $150 as including use of horse.
The only thing that would peeve me is having to stable overnight, but that would be for me doing this myself. For a trainer, it probably immensely reduces the burden/stress of prepping multiple horses.
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Budgets are real, and you have to stick with what you can afford. I get that these costs are probably reasonable for the services offered, but that doesn’t mean they’re reasonable for your wallet and if you have to back out, you should. If you can afford it this once, go and have a nice day. If you do that, you should know what the trainer’s fee covers. What will she do, what will your daughter be responsible for, and what will you be expected to do? How much supervision and guidance is that $150 buying? And what is the $174 “Competition Day fee” covering? If that’s a one day fee to use the horse, I feel like it’s a lot. And you should definitely pick the services you need. It’s a schooling show - I would not pay for braiding. Your child is 10 - she can learn to braid. It’s a useful skill.
There are smaller, cheaper shows around. If your trainer is planning a show trip after only two weeks at the barn, I imagine she is going to be offering a lot of opportunities. It’s OK to make it clear that you need some more economical options if you are going to show.
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There is no $174 fee. It totals $399 without the $174. That line just indicates that the first four charges are due on the day of the show.
- Division(5 classes) $65
- Stall $55
- Shavings $24
- Office/medic $30
The other three charges presumably will be billed separately, by the barn - not by the show.
- Mane/Tail Braid $35
- Trainer $150
- Trailering $40
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I agree re: the overnight stabling likely making the trainer’s life easier. That said, it also adds quite a bit of $ onto the final fee for parents that may not be necessary. Of course if they (the parents) also like the convenience of it (getting to school the day before! not getting up at 4am to trailer to the show! etc) then they should all knock themselves out. But that should be a discussion, in my mind. Growing up and through college I showed extensively on our local un-rated but nicely run and competitive show circuits, and worked for my trainer once I was an adult, meaning I was also along to train and assist junior clients at shows. We always trailered in the morning of, and yes, those shows also started at 8am. It makes for a long day but…that’s just how it goes.
I sympathize with OP because I went through two different barns as a junior where costs were just presented in the manner they seem to have been this time around, with no explanation and no ability to reduce them, regardless of my parent’s ability or willingness to pay. It made for some pretty negative experiences. And as someone who foots the full costs of owning/training/lessons/shows for myself now, I’m happy to pay for good services, be they board, training, etc. But I also have a budget and work hard for my money, and I’m not willing to hand it out to a trainer, or a vet, or anyone else “just because.” They deserve good compensation for what they do…but I deserve a fair service in return. I think it’s prudent on all of us to be kind and fair to the horse professionals in our lives, but to also expect them to treat us the same way. Sadly it doesn’t always work out that way, ime.
