Why Can't we have Local Shows Anymore?

[red_mares]

I went to a little local show last weekend. There may have been 15 horses there. Probably closer to 10. Five of them were from my barn. The weather was beautiful. The facilities were nice. The footing was OK if you had a quarter horse. (It was ridiculous to drive in) The show committee had free! food available since the place was in 10 miles from anything.

The show committee was pissy about having to drag the ring AFTER the 2 driving classes. Normal shows drag the ring BEFORE a driving class. It was cheap, but I won’t go back.

[equest]

I actually do show at Grand Oaks HSITP. It is on the pricier side but I am willing to pay for the privilege of the beautiful jumps and the grounds, footing, quality ribbons and prizes. It is a well run show.

@NoSuchPerson

I have to disagree. Unrated circuits seem to be flourishing in Florida. For example:

HSITP is a nice unrated show series that bounces back and forth between Grand Oaks Resort in Weirsdale, FL and the Alachua County Equestrian Center in Newberry FL.

Horse Show Ventures runs an unrated show series in Pensacola.

The Greater Orlando Hunter Jumper Association has shows at Clarcona Horse Park in Apopka.

River City Hunter Jumper Association has a new unrated circuit in the Jacksonville area.

Fox Lea Farm, in Venice, while better known for its rated shows, also has an unrated/USHJA Outreach series.

Those are just the ones I can think of right off the top of my head. In addition, lots of barns run their own local shows that are open to outside horses, as do various local clubs.

I guess it just seems to me that there should be more unrated show options in Florida, given the number of equestrians in Florida and the size of the state. But you’re right, we do have opportunities that other states probably do not have.

[LeatherLover]

There is so much good information here and one thing I observe is that there are so many different disciplines. My area isn’t a hunter/jumper area, nor a driving horse area. I would expect a lot of stock horse owners. mule riders, trail horse people, roping horses, penning, minis, ponies…4-H types. If I want to see this happen I definitely have to take the ball and run with it. I’m not sure about others but I’m thinking more along the lines of a fun show. For people just wanting to have fun, it’s intimidating to see “big money” roll in and trainers students. Personally, I grew tired of blowing so much money on the weekends for AQHA shows and circuits and it definitely wasn’t fun anymore. When you’re spending more on your horse’s stall for the circuit than your motel room, it loses it’s allure. (i’m not a camper). I have thought about maybe finding other close locations and have 3 shows within driving distance in 3 days. Just something fun.

[fivestrideline]

Fun shows can be fun! But one thing I’ve learned is that they can be incredibly hard to judge and tend to run super slow (both of which frustrate and lose exhibitors). No one wants to pay money to go to a show and wonder what the heck the judge was thinking! And no one wants to be there until midnight because the ring had to be reset 50 times and each egg and spoon heat took 10 minutes.

TLDR: successful “fun” shows attract one type of horse and rider per day or per ring, IME. And “fun” classes are ones that don’t require massive arena resets or take forever. A local venue successfully does one-day Hunter Shows, and one-day Dressage (in the AM) and Jumper Shows (after lunch). They also do one-day Open shows that are decidedly more western in style. It seems to work pretty well!

[Linny]

There is a series of USHJA Outreach shows that’s new to my area and held at a big A show venue. Some local barns actively support the series and others which are more entrenched in the local affiliate organization don’t. Some do a little of both.

It’s a nice series, good footing, nice jumps, stabling, courses like those at the A shows on the site. Some of the divisions sync up exactly with the locals rules and are recognized, others are not.

Honestly, between that and the availability of IEA clubs, a lot of the local stuff is hurting.

There’s still a level below our local affiliate shows. These are the shows that cater to the riders that do 2’ and under and typical are 6 or 8 single pole jumps in a dusty ring, called 2’ hunter but judged by someone who spent their life judging paints at fairs and who don’t realize that martingales aren’t permitted in under saddle classes.

[2bayboys]

@Linny

There’s still a level below our local affiliate shows. These are the shows that cater to the riders that do 2’ and under and typical are 6 or 8 single pole jumps in a dusty ring, called 2’ hunter but judged by someone who spent their life judging paints at fairs and who don’t realize that martingales aren’t permitted in under saddle classes.

I tried to support a series like this for my very beginner riders because of the easy proximity to my farm and the very low entry fees but I just couldn’t keep going after realizing the, umm, questionable judging wasn’t a fluke.

[giddybiddy]

Waxing poetic up here in New England, too. And I’m not even thinking that far back. In the early-mid 2000s, we had some fantastic local one-days with stiff competition and hotly-contested year-end awards. I’ll never forget one of my barn-mates winning the Maclay against one of the “Road to the Maclay” stars

Last year, that same show series had some year end award divisions with 0 entries.

We have a few nice unrated circuits (I’m a fan of NHHJA and GMHA), but the costs are still exorbitant.