Looking at replacing our trophies for 2015 and curious as to what most people actually want for award at a national championship level show. Normal trophies? Unconventional trophies like belt buckles or more artsy trophies? Prizes like blankets/halters/chairs?
What’s been your favorites?
It depends a lot on your budget, but for me, either a nice normal trophy, an engraved picture frame, or a fitted cooler/ blanket/ quarter sheet in the size of my choice would all be good prizes. I actually would kind of like a belt buckle, too, as long as it wasn’t gigantic, but I’m not sure if that would appeal to a lot of English riders.
Probably my most used prizes are a fleece vest with the association logo, and a big duffel bag that is perfect for putting pads/ blankets etc in for shows. One thing I would definitely never choose is a glass trophy-- I have one and I am afraid to even display it for fear my cats will get it.
I can tell you what I don’t want - a trophy.
I won one in IEA in high school and was so freaking proud to be the high point rider at the show until I realized that most trophies are super cheap and the thing broke after spending one night in my car.
I like things that are nice to wear, display, or use. I love the idea of a fleece vest or non gawdy belt buckle. Big ribbons are always fun to display, and coolers for the horse always come in handy 
Just a suggestion- I have a business called The Personalized Pony. I do custom hand painted grooming brushes, wooden painted/stained brush boxes, and brush box & brush sets. I hand paint designs/names/logos etc on brushes and brush totes. I can do anything from single brushes, brush sets, totes etc as prizes depending on budget! I would love to do something for your organization this year! I haven’t been able to share a lot of completed orders on social media yet because of Xmas gifts, but if you have any questions or would like to see some of my work I would love to talk! All brushes and boxes are sealed to protect from light/water/dirt.
Etsy shop:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/ThePersonalizedPony?ref=hdr_shop_menu
FB Page:
https://www.facebook.com/PersonalizedPony
I really like coolers with the name of the competition/Champion whatever. They are one size fits all, unlike halters and blankets.
[QUOTE=Doctracy;7916669]
I really like coolers with the name of the competition/Champion whatever. They are one size fits all, unlike halters and blankets.[/QUOTE]
I might add that my products are one size fits all as well!!! 
My favorite was an engraved frame for a year end award.
It has my favorite photo of King and I.
I’ve never won a cooler/blanket, but I’m so picky I’m okay with that, unless I got to pick it.
Perhaps a trailer decal that says " SO and so champions" or whatever the award is?
I agree with the idea of an engraved photo frame, bonus points if you can manage to get a pro photo of the win in the frame! I also like the idea of personalized brushes or gift certificates for custom things. My mom makes a small amount of custom fly bonnets for me as a JustWorld International fundraiser, and at our last show of the season, the show committee gave out gift certificates for a basic custom bonnet for the division jumper champions, which was well received!
As someone with a gigantic horse, the last thing I want to accumulate is too-small coolers when I have plenty that fit, too small halters, etc. One size fits all type prizes are great! And nothing too knick-knacky cause it will just sit in a box somewhere and collect dust in my house.
The best part (for the organization) of giving out useful awards is the advertising when people use them. Show coolers, jackets, etc. are all good advertising for your show so it’s worth getting nice ones the recipient will actually use.
Personally, I think a belt buckle would be awesome. But I think they’re only trendy within specific circles & they don’t have the above benefit of free advertising.
It’s been a while since I showed, but my favorite prize ever won was a little (new) paperback copy of Thelwell’s Riding Academy. I still get it out and snicker over the cartoons at times. And of course, I wrote in the front the date, horse, class, etc.
amongst my favorite prizes have been halters. One was a leather grooming halter and another was a biothane halter with a nameplate saying champion. Both have been used a lot. a leather shank with nameplate, grooming box. rain gear!
I like the jackets/wind breakers embroidered with the show details and “champion”!
I also like engraved silver platters because I entertain a lot and they’re useful as well as fun.
I like trophies and ribbons, but my favorites are ‘usable’. I got a ‘ringside’ bag once. Someone bought these handbags on sale and stenciled a horse theme on it (silhouette of a horse, stable name and ‘2012 Champion’). Inside was a soft brush and hoof pick. The idea was to put stuff in it for last minute polishing. I also got to pick from a collection of things - spurs, bits, etc. I picked this bit: http://www.horsetackinternational.com/german-silver-loose-ring-eggbutt-bit.html#.VJWXBv_UWrs and my filly loves it. I won it before she was born and it sat for a good few years.
Anyway, yeah, something useful is great - halter, bridle, cooler, quarter sheet, saddle pad, etc.
I haven’t seen a sliver trophy at Class As I guess since the early 1970s when they used to be common place
Coolers are nice, but the average ones we won appears to have cost us about $30K to $40k to win
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