So what can be done to make Dressage more affordable?

It’s good to investigate! The reality is: licensed dressage shows are expensive to run and expensive to enter. If you are happy showing in a "B’ league show, or a schooling show, find some fulfillment in the experience. Make a connection with other competitors. I have met some very wonderful people at lower-level shows. I’ve also seen the snobbery from some people at licensed shows.

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Agree agree. It is what it is! I’m blessed to have a horse at all and that’s plenty enough for me.

But I really like facts so hence the number gathering.

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A big problem with somehow keeping the results of schooling shows is that unless the shows are all run according to some standard, the scores are meaningless when compared with each other. Our series is run using USEF rules for essentially everything but attire, and we do use some “L” grads to judge. Scores earned at these shows can’t be compared with scores earned at, for instance, a schooling show held at a barn, using a local trainer without a judge’s license as judge, and without USEF rules for saddlery and equipment. There’s nothing wrong with the latter type of show, but you can’t lump together scores from shows that have different rules.

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Good post!

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Oh, I agree. Schooling shows are just for the experience. Conditions and judges vary. I even judged one once and I have not gone through a program. It was teeny, tiny, show though.

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USDF actually has a Regional Schooling Show Awards program.

It’s been discussed on this forum.

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Thanks for posting that link, Sillyhorse. I wasnt aware. It seems to be a good program that may be a way for amateurs to show without breaking the bank.

Thanks for the research that was posted. I had been wondering for a while about the actual costs of putting on a rated show.

I had the experience many years ago of volunteering at both local hunter/jumper and dressage shows and it seemed to me that although the hunter/jumper shows were ostensibly more technical and complicated , it was actually the dressage shows that proved to be more difficult.

YMMV.

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It is interesting to think about the differences between Europe and the US. I am so naive that I had no idea until a saddle fitter mentioned that at home they went to shows all of the time and they were really inexpensive to do. I was in shock. I had confessed that I get so nervous it’s not really very fun, and she said that made sense because you’ve put a lot of money in and may not get to do too many. Part of the nerves for me is just worry about the horse acting up in a different place, but I thought it was fascinating that it is so different. I’m not saying that could be done here - dressage isn’t terribly popular in my area.

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But I am not sure how successful it is… When I left, my GMO was not doing it… maybe that changed since then

I think in another thread you mentioned you’re in Ontario? I run a dressage schooling show series, and the EC rules changed a few years ago so that unsanctioned shows can use certified judges. Judges need to be either Recorded or Basic status only. Once they earn Medium status, they can no longer judge at unsanctioned shows (I know this for sure, because one of my booked judges got promoted to Medium status and I had to remove and replace him :slight_smile: )

We may be in the same area! If so, let me point out that you can earn scores over multiple years on different horses, just like the USDF medals.

From my GMO’s website:

• Riders can earn any medal in any order.
• Scores count for the rider- you can ride any horse to earn the scores.
• You can ride any test in that level to count for the medals
• Your scores will continue to count over the years. You do not have to earn your medal in one
year.

The more volunteers, the cheaper a show can be. My GMO’s rated shows have often had to hire temp people (no horse experience) to do things like gate keeping and running because we often don’t get enough volunteers (at something like $20/h). Show management is a hard job, so that gets outsourced too. If that could be done by volunteers, it would make shows cheaper. Facility rental is what it is, but if we need to hire people for set up and take down, that adds expenses, versus members helping out.
Just having volunteers work behind the scenes to secure sponsorship or layout prize lists, etc, would help.
Even if the show didn’t cost less to enter, these things may allow for better awards or cash back or something that would be a bigger incentive to enter.

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Volunteer gatekeepers…huh. Should be plenty available…

See, this is the point where I would say, “People, if you want a show, you have to help us make it possible by giving a few hours of your time. If we don’t have enough volunteers, there will be no show.”

But doesn’t that seem silly to you? It does to me. Only basic/lower status judges can go to schooling shows? My coach is a higher status judge and wants to go out and share her knowledge, but is restricted due to this. It just feels like another money grab, which EC is very good at.

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I think the question should be; How do we create an affordable alternative to “expensive” dressage.
(USEF found they had to deal with the NSBA at WEC.)

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We offer W-T, Training, and First Level divisions (plus a TOC class). Recorded and Basic judges are perfect for our needs. There just isn’t enough demand for higher levels at a schooling show to require a Medium + judge, and I don’t see the value in getting a Medium + judge for a grassroots show. What feedback is a high-level judge going to give a W-T rider just starting off in dressage that they can’t get from a Recorded/Basic judge?

At the same time, when we were planning this series, one of our must-haves was certified judges. I think it adds a level of confidence for riders that their tests will be judged according to standards, with someone who’s gone through some sort of process to ensure they have some competence/knowledge (rather than Joe Schmoe down the road judging).

It’s certainly better than a few years ago, when certified judges were banned from judging any unsanctioned shows. I even looked into getting sanctioned, but it just wasn’t worth the time, effort, and money to do so.

That sounds good and all, but I think it’s a bit difficult for those who want to show to also work at the show. Sure the organizational stuff done well in advance of a show could be completed by volunteers that also intend to enter a show. Tasks needing done the day before, the day of and the day after a show may be difficult for a competitor to commit to.

I know for myself that preparing myself, my horse, my equipment and my rig for even a one day haul in show is pretty time consuming. Once at the show, preparing and riding my classes and then tending to my horse afterwards is also time consuming. Then I need to get us all home and unpacked. I’m typically pretty worn out at this point.

Then there is always the additional work of assisting whatever friend I’ve hauled with me. I almost always haul a friend or barn mates horse. I often assist them with clipping, mane pulling and braiding as well. My fee for hauling is usually requesting said friend to pack and bring the drinks cooler. I don’t ever charge anything for the clip / mane pulling / braiding help. I was a professional groom previously and feel like helping others that don’t have those skills is a way I can contribute to my little micro community. I also lend and donate tack frequently. I’ve ridden in clinics solely to ensure there were enough riders to secure the clinician. So it’s not like I don’t help, it’s just that for me volunteering at a show I’m riding in really isn’t very doable.

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I agree that it would be impossible to volunteer on the day of the show if you were riding in it.

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Maybe if volunteers could also get something out of it besides riding in it. Like maybe bringing in a green horse and stabling in one of the stalls for free. Horse gets exposure/show gets a helper. Shoot, i’d do that in a nano!

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