The top BigEq programs: what do they cost?

[SnicklefritzG]

What does it cost per month to train with some of the BNT’s such as Missy Clark, Andre Dignelli, or Stacia Madden? I’m talking board + training.

I know what it costs to board at some of the nicer farms in westchester county, like Old Salem Farm or various places in NJ, but am curious about the total package.

I can’t imagine it being any less than $4k/month. I’ve also heard that there is some unspoken thing that if you ride with certain people like Andre, you are expected to have more than one horse with him. Although not sure if that is true.

[CourtneyANYC]

About two years ago I believe Old Salem was $3600/month so with shoes and regular vet care and no shows you’re already at $4000. Eeeeek!!! It’s really a bargain though if you think about all of the hauling that you don’t have to pay for since your horse lives there. :lol:

eta: Sadly, it kind of makes sense that they would want you to have more than one horse. I imagine a top Big Eq rider would need to go over more jumps per week than one horse could manage (as is being discussed in another popular thread).

[Janeway]

Snickelfritz, if you want a good idea of the costs at Heritage Farm, go over to Rate My Horse Pro and look up the lawsuit against them under the civil court section. There are a bunch of Heritage invoices listed there as part of the court documents. Rather eye-opening!

I sent them to my Dad to show him that what he used to pay for my horse when I was in High School back in the '90’s was nothing :lol:

[BAC]

I think an estimate of $4,000 is too low, I would not be surprised that at Heritage and similar places you are expected to own (or lease) more than one horse, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up costing $10,000 or more per month depending on number of horses. Think of Lillie Keenan, who always had a minimum of a couple of hunters, an eq horse and two jumpers at any one time.

[Lucassb]

This is the thread that linked to the Heritage invoices. They are a bit dated now but will still give you a general idea.

http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?405969-That-pony-lawsuit-OMG-you-have-to-see-those-Heritage-Invoices&highlight=heritage+invoice

Remember that these barns are on the road a good bit of the time; these programs do not cater to those who simply want to board and train at home. To get a realistic idea of what it costs to be part of that sort of barn, you need to factor in the showing expenses as well.

[AffirmedHope]

From the Heritage invoices. Looks like If you have 3-4 horses in full training at a barn like this. Expect to spend between $20k-$45k a month. IN-SANE.

[Secret_Dove]

I don’t think you HAVE to own a horse to ride at Heritage. There’s a girl on twitter that lost her trainer and her jumper and she rides at Heritage. I don’t believe she bought another horse or leases. I’m pretty sure she rides whatever Andre gives her to ride. I could be wrong though.

[Secret_Dove]

[QUOTE=AffirmedHope;7714791]
From the Heritage invoices. Looks like If you have 3-4 horses in full training at a barn like this. Expect to spend between $20k-$45k a month. IN-SANE.[/QUOTE]
Those prices don’t surprise me one bit. Unfortunately it just proves in order to ride at a top barn and make it to the top of the sport you have to be rich.

[BritishEquestrian]

Where can I find the Heritage invoices? Looked on rate my horse pro and couldn’t see it

[AffirmedHope]

http://www.ratemyhorsepro.com/equine-court/civil-matters/barbara-tichner-plaintiff--against--goldens-bridge-inc-dba-heritage-farm-patricia-griffith-and-christopher-b-miller-dvm-pc-defendants.aspx

They are there towards the bottom, Exhibit 9.

[joiedevie99]

Around $3.5k-4k per horse, which does not include vet, farrier, other therapies, or any show expenses.

[SnicklefritzG]

^^^ do those prices include training or is it just full service board?
Given what old Salem farm now costs just for board, I would imagine Andre’s or Missy’s program would be a lot more for board plus training per horse?

[findeight]

Can’t say. Some of those barns include a certain number of schooling rides in the rate, others are strictly a la carte-usually with a minimum service requirement.

They are show barns, don’t want just boarders or lesson takers who may or may not occasionally show and don’t price to accommodate or attract them. It works.

[vxf111]

[QUOTE=joiedevie99;7714870]
Around $3.5k-4k per horse, which does not include vet, farrier, other therapies, or any show expenses.[/QUOTE]

That sounds about right to me, and most clients don’t have just one horse but at minimum their eq horse and a practice horse.

[mvp]

[QUOTE=vxf111;7715019]
That sounds about right to me, and most clients don’t have just one horse but at minimum their eq horse and a practice horse.[/QUOTE]

IIRC (from rumors read here or heard in New York), owners with Heritage Farm are encouraged to have more than one horse.

I think that was pre-2008 recession. I’m sure that’s not true for every last rider, but the person who said it gave me the impression that it took even more than one horse kept in a training/showing program to achieve “good client” status.

ETA: I think it would be hard to give a final estimate because so many top-performing horses get extra This N That treatments from vets and other kinds of body workers.

[Lucassb]

When I priced out a program at that level of barn a few years ago, on a practical level it worked out to be around $7-8K/month minimum; I think you’d have to budget close to $10K to be safe (not including WEF.)

I do have one friend who rode in a different BNT barn (in CT) who paid $7500/mo which included the cost of a leased horse, but that was essentially a WS position and she worked her butt off.

[Sing_Mia_Song]

[QUOTE=Lucassb;7715115]

I do have one friend who rode in a different BNT barn (in CT) who paid $7500/mo which included the cost of a leased horse, but that was essentially a WS position and she worked her butt off.[/QUOTE]

:eek::eek::eek:

Only in the horse world can you be a “working student” and still fork over $7500 a month. For those slow on math, that’s $90,000 A YEAR.

[vxf111]

My estimate is just board/training and not vet, farrier, leasing, commissions etc.

[Secret_Dove]

[QUOTE=Sing Mia Song;7715122]
:eek::eek::eek:

Only in the horse world can you be a “working student” and still fork over $7500 a month. For those slow on math, that’s $90,000 A YEAR.[/QUOTE]
You still have to pay for lessons and such when you’re a WS? I was a WS for a year at a local barn. I never paid a dime for lessons, worked in exchange for lessons…

[supershorty628]

[QUOTE=Secret Dove;7714803]
Those prices don’t surprise me one bit. Unfortunately it just proves in order to ride at a top barn and make it to the top of the sport you have to be rich.[/QUOTE]

I didn’t make it to the top of the sport in the sense that a lot of people have, but I made it up to the national prix level without being rich. Make sure to read the Aug 25th issue of COTH - I have an article in there on that!