The costs of horse-keeping are getting so crazy!
Once my 23- and 21-y-o girls are gone, I’m done. And I pay very low full board for them. I work for a state agency and don’t make a high salary, and don’t have an SO to help pay household expenses, so I can’t justify jeopardizing my retirement savings down the road.
I’ll miss horses terribly, but luckily there’s a therapeutic riding center about 15 minutes away that’s always looking for volunteers.
Yup. Basically you are supplying a very nice horse for the coach to compete on, with the caveat that the coach doesn’t need to worry about the long term wellbeing of the horse.
I cannot imagine paying $10k a month for horses.
And when that very nice horse cracks under the pressure, I’m guessing OP will be expected to move it on and buy another nice/nicer animal and do the whole thing again.
I cannot imagine any horse I’ve ever had holding up to 2 weeks of showing every month, all year. And I’ve had some sturdy beasts, as well as hot house flowers. Human athletes can’t take that pace, and if you factor in the stall time and shipping time, the horses aren’t getting much actual downtime.
Sadly, I agree and it’s a primary concern of mine is the preservation of the horse. I’ve repeatedly stated that this is it. I don’t buy and throwaway or pivot. This was an investment in my happiness and sanity. If this one breaks down and falls apart, I step away. There is no pivoting, no opportunity to find me a lease option to band-aid… that is it. Could I afford another one? Probably. Do I want to go down that rabbit hole again? Nope.
Hence why the goal would be to do about 16 shows a year with heavier times being near our local A circuit seasons and then one-off weeks here and there. But that seems unreasonable in this program and unfortunately, I’m beginning to see that it may not be sustainable.
Tell me about it… I was paying less monthly for a young horse that was showing lightly with a different trainer and 2 house mortgages in 2021 combined. Sigh. I understand that all costs have skyrocketed but when I look at the ROI that I got on those items vs what’s happening here, it’s not adding up.
Then you move to a program that fits the needs of you and your horses. You are throwing a shit ton of money at your trainer. You should get what you want and need from them.
I think that people who campaign that intensely must have multiple horses. And live in proximity to venues. It doesn’t sound that sustainable for a one horse ammie.
How big a part does successful competition play on your enjoyment of your horse? Do you need to compete and win and collect points for the endeavor to feel worthwhile? Not saying that to be snarky, because different personality types have different needs with an activity. I’m at an extreme opposite where competition is not a driver of my interest, though doing new things is, hence my truck and trailer and horse camping.
I wonder if you could seek out another program and meet current pro at the shows you DO want to attend? As a “off-ramp” of sorts. If the relationship with current pro is good, this may work - I did it when my barn did only a few rated shows and I was chasing points on our local (and highly competitive) C circuit. My trainer found me someone to meet at the shows and it was a perfect solution. You’d be doing sort of the reverse of this.
Just an idea that may split the difference between changing programs entirely and staying in a situation that just doesn’t fit anymore. Otherwise, I’d be having a frank conversation with the pro that you just do not have the same needs, and do they have suggestions of more relaxed program?
You’re certainly not “broke” by H/J standards and I think there will be a program thrilled to take you - you just may have to look outside your bubble.
That was me though three years of off and on lameness. I feed leased here and there and got some rides through the kindness of friends, but had no interest in buying another or getting into a lease fee situation. The buck stopped there.
My guess is this is the level of hunter show where the horses go for a full week, the owner pays all costs, the trainer handles all care and transport, the owner flies in for weekend ammie classes, trainer shows horse open during the week.
There is no option for the owner to toodle up Saturday morning with their own little bumper pull and ride 3 classes out of the trailer, and noodle on home. For one thing, these likely are not local shows.
Do you have other barns available? The two week commitment to show seems huge. Re board and training my board has gone from 900 to 1300 in a year and a half and training up too. Its getting worse and worse.
Have you said to your pro “No, I can’t do that. I’ll try to find a new program for us if you can’t make what I want work.” I’d be curious about the response.
This is why I’m not a good fit for a full training situation. Last I checked the trainer still works for me and not the other way around.
OP, I’d say no, I’m showing X amount this quarter and will reevaluate. Then have a boarding barn backup in case you need to move until you find a trainer that meets your needs.
True. But, I’ve seen it done (have friends who did Indoors and Devon this way), by having the horses shipped with companies and stabled under full care with the pro of choice. Exactly the same as what OP is currently doing, but only on the weeks they desired and would require slightly more coordination. Depends on the area and connections of the owner. It’s certainly much harder to do if you’re not in a horse-hub.
This seems like a good question to me. Our barn would probably say, great, see you later! But there must be someplace one can do 16 shows, even if the program/care is not quite as tops as a program asking for 22 shows.
There are other barns, as I’m in a very horse-friendly area, however, it’s also a very tight-knit community, so it’s a delicate balance if leaving is the only option.
Sigh–$900-1300 sounds dreamy and what I paid in 2007… I miss that. My training board is about twice that amount plus $200+ in supplements and $80-100 in meds. But even that is only 50% of what the all-inclusive would become… meaning that maybe my overall show costs would drop, but I’d be beholden to 2 weeks of show bills regardless of it my horse sets foot on the property. It’s just way too much of a pressure-cooker and I understand that they have bills to pay and that maybe they’re not covered currently with our recent inflated costs, but it seems extreme.
That it does. I won’t begrudge someone running a business the way they want (as long as everything is above the board and honest), but I would certainly agree that this approach doesn’t sound like a fit for you. Or a lot of people, to be honest.
I would hope the pro would be happy to help you find a program that fits you better, and thus open a stall for someone that fits them better. Horse people are weird, but I think this would be a win-win for them.
Yeah… I feel like mine on the same standards. I floated the idea that 18 shows sounded like a better option for 2024, and that went over like a fart in church. So it feels like it’s not going to be an option to scale back, it’s more of a conform or leave.
Pretty much what Fotlin said below… that sort of pushback isn’t getting positive results from a few others that have said similar.
The understanding is that it’s a show facility and performance training barn where you show twice a month and if that’s not in the cards, then it’s not the right fit.
The sad part is… 18 shows a year… that’s still a heavy show schedule with almost 2x per month for more than half the year… and if you’re giving yourself a month or two for chill/letdown. However, I think they have it in their head that it keeps the recreational rider out and I get that it’s a premier show expectation, but given the current market, life in general, and costs, it’s just becoming way too overwhelming.
So the trainer has all the clients drink the Kool aid and think that unless they buy into this extreme program, they are off with the 3 day a week adult beginners who are afraid to canter.
There has to be a lot of other possibilities in this area once you let go of the idea that your current barn is Best of the Best.
For me even if I competed id still want more hands-on horse care and more of my time in the saddle. You can show less and develop better horsemanship skills if you find a better fit.
It’s frustrating because so many barns want a level of commitment that seems… excessive. Especially for what is still ultimately a “hobby.”
I understand why people want commitment – the barn needs to be able to make their budget and pay their bills, too. Everyone is feeling the pinch financially. Training bills are some of the first to go unpaid when money gets tight and barns need to protect themselves.
I don’t show hunters anymore, but have been considering taking some ship-in lessons with one of the MANY hunter trainers local to me to get some more lessons over fences. My eventing coach is a much farther drive, plus it would be nice to have some more local connections. But everyone charges “tuition” now. Like, one program is just a couple miles down the road and would be a great option… except they want you to prepay for a month in advance with 2 lessons a week. I don’t have that kind of flexibility in my schedule or my budget right now. And they aren’t the only ones doing that. How about 2 lessons a month? Nope, they can’t do that…
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