That depends on whether you consider that “progress” for the sport. A lot of people don’t think that’s particularly good for the sport as a whole. Unless of course it’s only supposed to be a sport for the rich and unemployed with infinite money and free time, in which case, yes, that is progress.
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I don’t see $65 as exorbitant for a 45 minute lesson. I just paid almost that much for a haircut that didn’t take anywhere near 45 minutes. I pay more than that for a massage. I pay twice that for psychotherapy. Although riding instructors don’t need graduate degrees and formal education, most of them have put in more training, time, blood, sweat, tears and talent than the other professionals I mentioned. Most of them are needing to support their own horse(s), lessons, clinics, and showing in order to make progress in their careers. Plus, a portion of that fee is usually going to support the facility, arena, footing, arena care, etc. That takes at least as much money as supporting a professional office-based type practice.
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I’ve never had too much of a problem with the fees. A single day of showing is ~$150-$170 for me if I do 2 classes. I can afford to do about 1 registered show a month and that’s usually how many they are within a 1-2 hour distance from me.
The amount of documentation and memberships needed to enter always seems dumb to me, but I’m not here to argue, and this doesn’t prevent me from entering in the first place.
The only time I’ll decide to skip a show is if I feel it’s poorly run or I don’t like the venue, then I feel its not worth my time/effort.
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$65-70 is not too much for a GOOD lesson, I pay that weekly. It’s very worth it- I think most of us would agree lessons are key to a good program- showing or not showing, lower or upper levels.
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Here is my take on it having talked to friends so many times about it. I think it is a combination of factors at play. A huge one that everyone has pointed out is the money that it takes to show. But it isn’t just shows. Boarding, training, lessons, vet bills, feed- all expensive and increasing rapidly at least here. Then you take people’s stagnant incomes which are already being stretched in daily life. For those of us that are not rich, it’s tough out there. There is a lot of competition for our dollars.
So Then you have these folks who are already a bit stretched financially watching these shows, seeing who goes, and they see big fancy moving horses that cost a bundle, and riders and trainers on really nice horses and in fancy clothes- that is the impression they get. They make judgements on how much it costs and what they would need financially to play in the same sandbox. They perceive that they need to have that big fancy horse to be competitive, connected to a one of the trainers, they can’t go it alone. They add it up.
Then factor in the time- work, commutes, family time with spouse/kids/etc. Can they find an affordable trainer who will stay late to give lessons? Or weekends? Trainers want normal schedules too- so their client bases that can ride during normal working hours work best for them. That’s just how it is. For the AA who has to work the M-F 9-5, the pickings get slimmer, and the schedule is already jam packed. More stress on top of the financial stress. (I’m not digging on trainers, I totally get it. And also this is not to say that some don’t stay late for working clients- I know you are out there and thank you for doing it!)
Then they look back at their average horse and their leftover cash after paying the bills and decide that they just don’t have the funds/schedule/time to do what it takes to fit into that picture of what they see at the shows. It is all, collectively, too much. There are other equine activities that are far more accessible to them, and they would feel more comfortable participating in- because it is so much easier and takes so much less in so many areas in their lives.
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So reading through these comments, made me think about how much money I actually spent to get my usdf bronze medal. That’s the only reason I went to rated shows, so that I could advertise as a lower level instructor/trainer, and that I knew what I was doing. I was lucky as I only had to ride in 12 classes to get my six scores, but adding up the costs of everything…wow. I do think that showing on a larger scale is finacially out of range for many horse owners. For two days, and 2-3 classes at a recognized show I budget minimum 600.00 for hotels, fuel, show fees, stalls, and I do my own braiding, and try not to use a coach. I will say that getting better judges, more accurate feedback, and decent footing/ stalls makes the fees seem reasonable.
I think it would be more affordable if they would not call it 2 shows on one weekend… It is in fact only one, but you have to pay 2 times drugfee and 2 times office fee 
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On one hand, I get why they do this–it does make it much easier for those trying to get All Breeds or medal qualifying scores, where they need them to be from a certain number of different shows and judges. But for those of us who aren’t, it’s an expensive PITA.
I’m in a bit of a different boat, as Dressage is not my primary discipline. I’m mainly a H/J rider who does a handful of dressage shows throughout the year for fun, and because it’s good for the horse; while I take a lesson every few months with a good dressage instructor, I do not have a regular trainer with me at dressage shows, so all I’m shelling out for is entry/show fees. And I only do day shows where I can haul in for the day, no overnight stabling/hotels, and have my own truck/trailer. I find it less expensive than even one-day rated H/J competitions, mainly because I only end up doing two classes, rather than 4-5 I usually do at a H/J show, and don’t have a trainer along to pay a training fee.
That said, after this year, I’ll have accomplished my bucket-list “show a musical freestyle” and “get out at recognized 1st level” so I’m really not so sure I’ll do many more licensed competitions in the next couple years. It is a much greater expense than schooling shows, and we’ve got good GMOs here that put on a strong series of schooling shows. Why shell out $150 for a show when I can spend $50? I’m not trying for All Breeds or a medal, just doing it for fun, and if I can have the same amount of fun for a third of the cost, it’s a no brainer. There’s just not a lot in it for the average competitor with the average horse. (I mean, she’s not average to me, I love her dearly and she’s the horse of a lifetime, but she’s not a winning dressage horse, and I know and accept that.)
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But if you have to travel to shows, it is only one weekend where you have to pay hotel, gas, and food. Much cheaper than having to go to two different places to qualify.
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yes getting 2 Q rides done in one weekend is a budget saver
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The drug fee is only $16. I think most manager/secretaries set the office fee so that they make a certain amount per weekend. I don’t think most secretaries charge the same office fee (per show) for two one day shows as they do for one two-day show.
well, only 16. right. But,5 weekends per year are already 10 shows, equals 10 times drug fee. I have been showing for 3 years now and was tested once… Its a lot of money for what you get…
And I agree. The office fee is for the show secretaries, manager… And its a lot nicer to charge it twice per weekend
its a bargain 
you spent about a 1000 per weekend if you have to stay in a hotel
you have 2 judges and need the scores from different judges which makes sense, about the different shows, I am not so sure… Thats only a moneymaker for the show…
But I think the development of the thread now is interesting, a proposition to save money and everybody is getting active that its a bargain and its not good to save it…
I’m not sure it’s just entry fees, because I think you’d have more people in Opportunity classes if everything else at rated shows was attractive to people.
Some of it is disenchantment with national orgs. I’d just rather support local orgs–at least I feel like they make an effort for the grassroots and aren’t treating me like an open wallet so a privileged few can benefit.
Some of it is that I want something out of showing that is different than what rated shows cater to. I just want to go out and have fun. Rated shows are much too serious and the atmosphere is overall too stressful for me to have fun at them. I don’t think this is a problem they can (or should) fix–I just want something different than what they deliver. But I’ve seen this with other adults getting back into showing after a break, too. I think there’s a segment of the population that is realizing that rated shows may have been fun when we were younger but right now… they aren’t our cup of tea.
And some of it is just general atmosphere and attitudes. I volunteered for a few rated shows when I was still on the fence about showing rated or not, and I was walking away from each show wondering why I was giving up my time. Show management, judges, and other volunteers were great and made me feel appreciated. Competitors, not so much. I don’t really want to be part of something as a competitor if I’m not willing to be part of it as a volunteer, and I don’t want to volunteer at rated shows any more.
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do you know HOW expensive it is to test for drugs? Your drug fee is funding the testing AND the research being done to keep on top of the latest cheating. Not to mention the vets / staff who do this are not volunteers. I think 16$ is a fair price to pay to support a system that tries to keep horses safe and play fair.
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no, I don’t know how expensive it is to test for drugs…and in fact I did not want to mention it because I know that nobody wants to hear it… but if you know that in other countries you pay 35 (or something like that) for a class and no other fees and you can even win a couple of bucks… So I do know its possible it can work really well… So please don’t tell me how expensive everything is…
Well, first of all, some areas pay MORE then that. In California we pay $24 - there is state drug testing as well as USEF, AND we pay a mandatory travel grant because our elite riders always have to travel to the East Coast for everything. That adds up. I have gotten more then my “money’s worth” out of drug testing, since I use to ride a stallion, who was drug tested at every. single. show. Sometimes TWICE. And they call it random:confused:
No, as several of us have stated, it is all the other things - especially the cost of a fancy horse and full time training. I can’t speak for all the parts of our country, but HERE the schooling shows are thriving - and Western dressage is thriving. That is where people can go and still be competitive with an average horse and a lesson once a week or once a month. Where you can do it on a normal “working person’s budget”. No one wants to go to a show and be in 8th place every single time because their horse will never be more then a 6 mover.
I agree with you - but the question is “why are shows getting smaller”, and this is a big reason why. I am in California - there is a LOT of dressage. There are a lot of us who are not “re-riders on their first dressage horse” BUT - we can’t afford to buy a fancy horse and keep it in training. So there are more and more less experienced riders on fancy horses in full training who are winning in the AA and Jr/YR divisions. I showed at Championships two years ago - there were about 30 horses in my class, and MOST of them were Warmbloods (2 were not). There were two of us in the entire class (First Level AA) doing it on our own. Every. Single. Horse was in training. In the Warm Up ring, the ring was surrounded by trainers and Comteks. Every rider in the ring had a trainer in their ear. I’m NOT saying that is a bad thing, but I am saying it puts competition out of reach for the grassroots of this sport. And that is a big reason WHY shows are smaller.
What I really notice is the lower levels at shows are smaller - Training and First level use to fill up the shows. Now it is 3rd and PSG.
Is this a natural “leveling” of the sport - those without money are pushed out, shows will be smaller, but the horse quality will be higher? I am already seeing it here. Yet our Championship shows are robust? And compared to 7 years ago, when the economy was BAD, our shows are doing much better. I guess it is all relative.
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LOL MysticOak I too use to have my stallion tested at every single damn recognized show. The real irony to it is I know the two usual ‘testers’ in our area. They have both explained the ‘randomness’ to the testing process. There is a ‘sort of’ randomness to it…they start by identifying every 6 horse in the line up of go and circle those then they (the tester and their helper(s) approach, get ignored, get yelled at, get stepped on, get etc, and then there are the suggestions of who to focus on and who not - all free advice and recommendations…at the end of the day you just want to hit your quota and not be dragging body and limbs to the truck knowing you won’t be able to roll out of bed the next day. I ended up taking it as flattery…they new everyone would be satisfied that the vet got her horse(s) tested because of course she was a likely candidate to be cheating with drugs already and well being an unruly stallion and all LOL…Plus he’s a dream to work with so it just made the day easier.
I haven’t been to a recognized show in over 18 months and am not inclined to go until I have something to really show. I use to haul in and show upwards of 4 of my own and across all the levels to FEI dropping a couple grand on every show. It’s just not a focus for me anymore and I know lots like me. Lifestyle changes, priority changes, etc and I’m a baby boomer so perhaps the value just isn’t in it like it once was for many of us and for a whole host of reasons; but, that’s the theme throughout…where’s the value of showing anymore? If you get as much fun and gratification from the schooling shows, why throw the money away on recognized shows because at the end of the day few of us are going to go to Nationals, few of us are going to keep trying for the same awards over and over…I need to save money and not throw it away for that time when I can’t get a leg over the saddle again…I hope my attitude changes as Junior matures. He’s only 3 now but I can’t say I long to go to another recognized show any time soon.
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Another factor at least here locally, is that a couple of new venues opened up so there are more opportunities for people to pick which shows they want to attend. Which is a good thing because many people had long drives in heavy traffic in order to make it way north or way south. Now they have a bit more opportunity to show more locally. Pros and cons to each place. But as a result, the last couple of years anyway, it seems like there has been a bit of a leveling out- the attendance is spread thinner over shows because everyone isn’t funneled into 1-2 venues a few times each summer. We’re all spread out now with more options, so classes are smaller, the shows seem smaller than they did before.
I agree!
I think the set-up and audience of a dressage show invites a very “silo-ed” experience: You come, prepare your horse, ride your test and leave. There’s not forced waiting around that forces you to rub shoulders with folks you don’t know or any reason to watch anyone else ride.
I see showing at dressage shows as “business”-- I’ll got to get the Medal scores I need but otherwise, I don’t feel like there’s anything special to look forward to at a horse show. I’ll give my horse the same care and focused ride I would at home. I do appreciate the judge’s opinion. That’s “reality check” is a great aspect of dressage. But unlike the hunter shows I went to as a poor grad student-- where I’d get a weekend of just camping out with my horse and enjoying a whole weekend of being with my horse peeps (even if I went alone) and not with my work peeps was a wonderful vacation. A dressage show doesn’t feel like a vacation to me. YMMV.
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