Tariffs impacting showing

[cristalle]

@Calvincrowe

We are already seeing a sharp downturn in tourism

This is what I have been reading and hearing across the board. FLA and NC are very popular destinations for travel for Canadians in the winter and spring, and many Canadians chose to stay home. ‘Snowbirds’ - who travel to the US over the winter (bringing their $$ with them) are rethinking, and many are selling their US properties.
This, from a site called Business Traveller:
“The data is the latest indication that President Trump’s trade war and hard-line immigration approach, including with longtime allies, is having a tangible effect on travel to the U.S.,” wrote aviation journalist Edward Russell for The Points Guy . “Reports of French and German nationals either being held at the border or denied entry have also eroded travel sentiment.”

Russell also suggested that Canadians were shunning travel to the U.S. for similar reasons, citing the fact that the number of Canadians booking flights to the U.S. fell by more than 70 percent after Trump floated the idea of annexing Canada as the ’51st state.’ "
Whatever the reasons, I would think that many riders, European and Canadian are thinking hard about travelling to the US for the time being, and this can’t help but have an economic effect.

[Ponyplusaninch]

Oh this is for the infield. Big deal renovation. https://www.whas11.com/article/news/local/churchill-downs-improvement-projects-infield-seats/417-aadb2422-e1d2-4672-8eb5-c583da823f0c

I work at Churchill every derby week and can confirm betting was down. It did not help that favorites were so heavily betted throughout the day there was practically no payout—but that then impacted folks’ desire to continue betting.

Keep in mind turnout/ticket sales may have also been down this year because it has rained on/off the entire week, the worst of it being Saturday.

I think 2026 will be the telling year for how much tariffs impact ticket sales.

[MorganMaresVT]

Vermont businesses are getting really worried:

Tourism businesses on edge as Canadian visitors say 'au revoir' to Vermont

In terms of local competitions, both driving events and endurance usually have a decent Canadian contingent. Neither sport is huge, so even a small decline in competitors is felt. Several events that saw dips during Covid restrictions had strong numbers last year and were rebuilding momentum. We’ll see what happens this summer, but for smaller venues, things are concerning.

[Marla_000]

The TB racing industry has sent the administration a letter explaining the negative effects on the workers at the track and in the backstretch if the current
Immigration roundups continue.
Without workers, many of whom are foreign born, the industry will suffer long term problems.

Plant nurseries and vegetable farmers in Florida are reporting that many foreign born employees have already left the area as the State of Florida and ICE are very aggressively out searching for violators.

[MHM]

@Marla_000

Plant nurseries and vegetable farmers in Florida are reporting that many foreign born employees have already left the area as the State of Florida and ICE are very aggressively out searching for violators.

I’m wondering at what point the ICE people are going to start really cracking down on horse farms and horse shows. Especially if they realize how many people they could grab when they are trying to meet their quotas.

[SolarFlare]

@Calvincrowe

We are already seeing a sharp downturn in tourism

And it’s going to get worse, as summer approaches and many seasonal tourist destinations see a lack of visitors from Canada and abroad. A number of Canadian airlines are cancelling flights into US cities and diverting capacity to Europe: https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/canada-freezes-us-travel-as-air-canada-westjet-porter-and-flair-slash-routes-to-major-cities-including-san-francisco-miami-new-york-and-washington-to-tap-growing-demand-in-europe/?utm_source=fark&utm_medium=website&utm_content=link&ICID=ref_fark

I’ve also heard of European scientists cancelling speaking engagements at US conferences. Who would want to risk being picked up and detained or shipped off to El Salvador with no recourse?

[FjordBCRF]

@Calvincrowe

International riders and, more importantly, their staff might be hesitant to cross borders to show. The US is proving to be a dangerous place to visit as a non-American given the recent events at crossings. Detention, phones confiscated, held for days with no contact or explanation. That would be something to really consider if I were say, showing in Canada. Could my grooms go? My European groom/assistant? If I were not American, but here on a visa?

I work for a global company. I have already heard several instances of conversations being had about our global counterparts willingness to travel to the US right now.

I have zero doubt that anyone in the international horse world may be rethinking their plans too.

[nutmeg]

I am just eaten up with curiosity about the entries for Thunderbird and Calgary. Which are two of my happy places and I hope they do not take a hit. The Southerns, being oil-adjacent, might have some pull at the US border ( my Boy Scout dad fell over laughing when he saw the Beaver Drilling cooler), but I can’t believe they won’t lose entries from the USA and Mexico with this whole kidnapping to El Salvador thing. Unless they start a Canadian rent-a-groom service. It would be very hard to go without, especially considering the mandatory prize-giving ceremonies.

[Peggy]

Depending on how long this goes on, there are normally a lot of Canadians at Thermal, many of whom stay the duration from November to March.

[MHM]

@Peggy

Depending on how long this goes on, there are normally a lot of Canadians at Thermal, many of whom stay the duration from November to March.

That is usually the case in Wellington as well. And probably Ocala these days.

[BrownDerby]

In CA we normally get substantial entries from Canada for CDI’s. I cannot see that continuing.

[eclipse]

I’m in Calgary and so far zero dip in entries! Plus I have seen posts from people looking for grooms during the horse show! But also not unusual as many (including the international riders) often advertise this …… many will bring their main grooms and then hire local riders to come and help groom! Don’t forget at spruce riders from Mexico and around the world get their grooms to come in on the flights with their horses that don’t even touch the USA! They’ll have zero issues …. Now USA riders might decide to change …. Those I have no idea about! (For spruce)

I also announce at one of our other big venues in Calgary and we already have the barn from Wisconsin entered and they’ve definitely advertised for grooms!

[eclipse]

Yes and I’ve heard people already saying they’re probably going to forgo going to Florida and California next year . I’m in Alberta and we’ve had quite a few that had started to trek to Florida in winter as well as a huge number that go to California!

[Amberley]

@Peggy

Depending on how long this goes on, there are normally a lot of Canadians at Thermal, many of whom stay the duration from November to March.

From direct conversations I had this winter, the amateurs and juniors aren’t coming next year, quite a few left early this year. The pros are still saying they will but with far fewer horses. I’m also seeing rental farms advertised as still available for Tryon which is unusual in May. Flights are crazy cheap right now so the domestic travel market may perk up a bit this summer but in the longer run there will be an absolute bloodbath in the tourism market if this keeps up.

In non-horse related news. I was on the selection committee for an international conference that we had 50% of our US and 80% of our confirmed foreign presenters bow out in the last few weeks. You can’t get a block of rooms at a hotel now unless you guarantee a certain payment no matter what- never in 20 years have I had that happen.

[FjordBCRF]

@Amberley

In non-horse related news. I was on the selection committee for an international conference that we had 50% of our US and 80% of our confirmed foreign presenters bow out in the last few weeks. You can’t get a block of rooms at a hotel now unless you guarantee a certain payment no matter what- never in 20 years have I had that happen.

A good friend of mine works at Dartmouth, and had this happen recently for a US based conference with international presenters. A number of the presenters withdrew or tried to fandangle something remote.

[MHM]

Sorry to all our Canadian (and other) friends!!

[Amberley]

Yeah that’s what we are thinking we’ll have to do as of this week because otherwise there’s gonna be like 80 people at this thing instead of 800. The hotel chain is not amused.

[Rumorhasit93]

Thunderbird update…the waitlist has been opened. I heard for the first time ever. Not sure if that’s an exaggeration, but…

And for the last two years I haven’t been able to get an RV spot and got one for May…

Not that entries will be dismal by any means, but this is definetly a bit shocking.

[kenyarider]

I know folks who are going to Tbird, but they do their own grooming mostly. As far as tariffs, if you are showing at Tbird or Spruce, probably it won’t be a deal breaker.

[Delphi8]

Curious if anyone that owns and self hauls has had any issue using the e29b versus purchasing a carnet. We bought our own trailer and I’d prefer to save the $ but feel a bit overwhelmed. Do I just fill out the multiple e29b copies and bring a checkbook for the deposit? Also our purchase agreement showing her value, vet paperwork, Airbnb receipt etc?