Since the first show I took Maddie to there has been this passion inside of me to see more youth at the shows. Her first breed show she was the only one and this last show she was one of two. I have also noticed that the other classes for old youth are combined a lot because there is a lack of participants.
I fear breed shows are starting to fade away and I really
don’t want to see that happen. I know
there are shows out there that a very successful and would love to brainstorm
and bounce ideas off of other horse show participants on how we can get these
classes fill up and make breed showing successful again.
Some of the things I have thought about are: breed show
clubs hosting a show at the end of the show season that will be just like a
breed show but not require a card (this will help people to see what a breed
show is all about), going to the 4-h clubs and presenting to them what breed
showing is all about, starting a mentoring program for individuals wanting to
breed show but don’t know how to get started, ect.
What ideas do you have on how to fill these classes up? If you're someone wanting to show but haven’t
what is keeping you have jumping in there?
We show Pinto but there are many different types of breed shows out there. Lets all become one horse show family and help each other to have successful shows!
Hi Summer,
ReplyDeleteWe show in the mini world and same thing classes for Open,Ammy and youth are just not filling up anymore. In our Club some of our larger classes are the youth ones. My grandkids showed in the 7 and under classes and they had 5-8 kids in them. Not sure what it will take to gets more folks involved but looking forward to what others have to say.
Dawn Sayles
Vintage Farms Miniature Horses
5-8 is encouraging though. Are you finding though that the youth are showing because they parents do?
DeleteWe also show minis and have a Miniature Horse / mini donkey 4-H club with over 50 members. Our biggest age group is 9 to 13, with 5 to 8 running a close second. The kids with registered animals will often show in breed / sanctioned shows, but most have unregistered animals. Luckily, most of the Miniature Horse breed shows also have open classes, so that draws in those kids with unregistered animals. Next consideration is the cost of classes, stalls, etc., and the distance away, with gas prices so high. So we pick and choose and go to breed shows that (a) offer open classes, (b) have relatively low class/overall expense, and (c) are within a 2 hour drive.
ReplyDeleteLori Wilson
Wayward Winds Miniatures, SW MI
At the last show we had open classes and that was really helpful. What are you charging for classes in your state?
DeleteWe've see $4 and $5 per class, as well as a single fee for as many classes as you can enter (for example, $5 per class, $40 for the day for unlimited classes for the same exhibitor / horse combination). We've also see $10 to $15 per class, and have chosen not to go to those shows.
DeleteWow! Those are very reasonable classes. My questions would be this....would you be ok with lower class fees rather then good awards?
DeleteAbsolutely! We often just give the ribbons back anyway. And we don't expect trophies in each class, just for championships. For High Point, we got a $20 gift card to a chain farm store. In our opinion (speaking of our 4-H kids), it's more about the competition, bragging rights and the experience. And fun - don't forget the fun! :)
DeleteI have shown both open and circuit (AQHA and PtHA) over the years and I truly believe the #1 reason people don't show breed shows is cost. In addition to the cost of stalls, entry fees, gas, etc. for each individual show, it takes a great deal more time and money to stay competitive at the breed show level. Think more expensive horse, more lessons, more training, etc. That said, it's not just the breed shows that are suffering now, open shows are as well. A well-known open circuit in my area basically became extinct as of two years ago and back in the day their shows were as big as any breed show in the area. It's really sad :(
ReplyDeleteI will say that breed shows need to do more to make new members/attendees feel welcome. I have been to some breed shows where that was the case and others where hardly anyone one spoke to me. As an outsider, it's hard enough to feel like you belong. Nobody wants to go show in that kind of atmosphere.
We started our breed show journey with a training barn so we have felt comfortable since the begining. But I can understans howit can appear clicky if you don't alreayd have established relationships. Writig my blog has also really helped us.
DeleteYes Elizebeth Gear I agree with you. It's hard to feel like you belong at the breed shows especially if you're new and don't show up with a trainer. It feels like you're either in or your out but if you win everybody wants to know who you are. Kinda sad....
ReplyDeleteThat makes me sad. I'm naturally a really shy person and if it wasn't for our training barn we would have felt left out. My blog has been a hug help in making relationships. At the last show everyone come coming up to me to introduce themselves. I was funny because I'm just a crazy show mom that doesn't have a clue!
DeleteI think one of the challenges with the youth classes may be the number of other competing forms of entertainment and their much lower cost. Today's kids have to be in accelerated sports leagues at a very early age to have any chance of playing on their high school teams. Those teams take a huge commitment in terms of money and time, but those commitments are small compared to the commitment of owning and training a horse. Kids have cheap, easy access to video games for entertainment. The Disney Channel is broadcasting 24/7. I just don't think kids get "bored" like they used to, and they're not looking for an activity that requires quite a bit of work.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about the other completing activities!
DeleteMany of the school and church sponsored youth activities are low cost, free or your can apply for a scholarship (fees waived if you can't pay). Add on top of that the fact that horses take LOTS of parent involvement, but many other youth groups are treated as free babysitting by parents who don't want to be involved. If a parent has never had horses and never knew anyone in showing looks at the cost to just enter a show it is a shock to the system when compared with activities. That said, if the breed clubs want to encourage more youth showing then they need to provide free classes, incentives like free junior clinics for members, and year-end awards like Itunes gift cards for all juniors and chances to win Ipads.
DeleteA primary reason I do only NRHA and avoid AQHA is that I can win money at NRHA; plus for the value of my Reining horse, NRHA performance means more.
ReplyDeleteThat makes sense. I was a barrel racer so the first time I found out my daughter only got points I was like "what"!
DeleteI am not sure about the larger breed shows as we only do POA. POA Breed shows are totally different than other breeds because the shows are geared more to youths than adults. We do offer adult classes but there is maybe 4 adults to a class. The 14/18 age groups have the most children followed by the 8 & Under groups. Our shows cost a whole lot less than other breeds as well I think a all day fee is around $150 ( Do not hold me to that info ) But your welcome to check out the Oregon page at http://www.orpoac.org/ ... I would like children of all ages and breeds of horses to enjoy their time riding and showing. Maybe people do not show anymore due to the show fees? I am not sure but there must be some reason for this !
ReplyDeleteI agree with the woman earlier in this post we show paint and to make it you better have a really nice horse which is more money and you better be riding with a trainer.And I think the economy has had a huge impact on the industry.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to mention a lot of these shows have raised their fees or added fees to the point you can only show half the shows you used too.We have started only showing state futurities due to the fee per horse fee per class and stall and shavings are expensive too.
ReplyDeleteI agree that there is a lack of participants at some shows compared to others. I am 17 and just got started showing horses a few years ago for 4-h and FFA. Usually I try to find shows in my area for practice before fairs and the most difficult thing is trying to find shows for the upcoming year. I think better advertising or flyers would help. Also I show yearlings only in halter so I'm not going to go to a show where they only have one class that I can enter in. So show attendance may depend on the classes offered. Also I try to stay away from the big shows with the pros.
ReplyDeleteDitto the Fees, Gas, Economy, not feeling Welcome, and the fact that if you don't have an expensive "automatic" horse, and a FT trainer, you probably have less than a snowballs chance in hell of even getting placed. Why bother paying ALLLLL those fees, knowing you are not even going to have a fair chance. The Breed Org. slit their own throats when they forgot WHO used to show with them and support them. It has become an "elitist club" with no room for beginners that don't have tons of disposable income and a full time trainer.
ReplyDeleteMy first regional Arabian show was in 1968 and I have shown Arabian shows off and on since then. My daughters ride and are very serious about showing. My 20 year old daughter is quite proficient at training so we have had very good results going it on our own although it is quite challenging showing against professionals and their clients. All of our show horses, even the ones we show locally, have numerous Top Five titles and we even have three that have gone Top Ten nationally. That said, it is the expense that keeps the majority of folks at home. Even though we do it on our own, it costs at least $500 just in fees to show one horse in a couple of regional classes. That doesn't include motel costs, gas or food for the people. On a national level, it's about $1,000 per horse. These are huge costs for the average middle class family. If you add a trainer's fees on top of the basic cost, you have around $1,500 for one horse to go to an A rated show and much more for regionals or nationals. That really puts things out of reach for most families. In the Arabian world, there are a lot of splits in the divisions, but that is to try to level the playing field a bit. I returned from the Region 12 Arabian Championship Show in Perry, GA just a few weeks ago. The smallest class that I was in had 10 horses in it and the average was 12-14-not bad numbers even with all the age division splits which I, as 40 and over rider, appreciate. The answer is not removing the age and amateur splits as much as lowering the ever increasing costs.
ReplyDeleteThe cost is a HUGE factor. I ride appaloosas and in my area there is only 1 appy show. Most breed shows i have attended(looking for open breed classes) they really don't make you feel welcome. and it's not really fun. We've gone to the POA shows (all classes open breed) and the atmosphere was totally different and the cost was much closer to what my pocket can absorb. We went to the appaloosa Nationals and Youth world last year and placed well (5 times in top ten) and much as i'd like to do it again - it's just too expensive, i can't afford it. the closest appy shows are still 8-10 hrs away and also expensive just not quite so much. We might do 1 this year if we can swing it. Mostly we do local open shows which offer paybacks which sure help out with the cost.
ReplyDeleteMoney money money holding people back. We show a local circuit and it's $2/class, $3 per horse, $3/rider. We don't have lots of overhead, actually most points and paperwork are done the old fashioned way, by hand. Our classes are anywhere from 10-20 people in EVERY ONE of them. It takes all of us to put them on, not just a few. The breed shows I've went to, everyone is there for themselves, nobody helping run the gate, etc. IT TAKES FOREVER 8 am-9 pm with 101 classes with 1-2 in them. COMBINE THEM!And at our little local shows it's 80% payback with 10% to the host club and 10% to the association. I usually can pay for my entry fees in paybacks. Who cares about points? Most of our horses don't get to the world shows anyways. We just want that fancy monogrammed blanket at the awards banquet. AND since WHEN did it cost $45-50 per stall/weekend? Holy smokes. All our shows are outside and most bring electric fences or tie them out. ALSO--I get more PAC credits on my paint at those little shows then I ever do at any breed show in an all breed class.
ReplyDeleteHeidi! Where are you at? Your circuit sounds like fun and one I'd like to be apart of!
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Cost is my big reason for not liking to show at breed shows. That and who cares about a stupid ribbon or halter, or blanket. How 'bout some cash payback. It's hard to explain to my husband why I want to show, his answer is always, you pay hundreds of dollars (gas, stall, shavings, entry fees) for 1 class for each of the 3 horses (the last show not including gas and stalls was $150.00) for WHAT? MAYBE a point... and since your just starting chances are really good you won't even get that. He doesn't see the reason, and to tell you the truth, neither do I. We've started the kids in Little Britches Rodeos, at least there is payback in that if they do well.
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My 10 and 12 year old daughters show a Morgan and a Paint. Both would like to do some breed shows eventually. Expense and distance (we live in Northeast Ohio) are our biggest concerns. They can do open shows around here for a lot less $$. Once you start getting into stall rentals and grounds fees and office fees and high class fees (plus travel expenses) the question that keeps coming to my mind is "wouldn't this money be better spent in a college fund?" Especially since at this point they just want trophies and ribbons and "prizes" that they can display
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The cost-benefit analysis does make you wonder. I took my stepdaughter to an open show recently. Gas to get there was about $40, classes and fees were $45, she was able to show one of our old retired polo ponies that we already own and feed, and she came home with two second place ribbons and was a happy girl. Then we went to a hunter/jumper show with her trainer. We had to pay for the use of the trainer's big Trakehner so she'd "fit in," we paid the trainer, we paid for the hauling with the trainer's horses, we paid for three classes and the damages came to $465. She came home with a 2nd and two 4ths and was a happy girl. You know, when you can make the kid happy for $85 as opposed to $465, you wonder why not just keep doing the open shows for $85? The main reason we won't is because I am looking at this as a great opportunity to eventually BUY A REALLY PRETTY SHOW HORSE. Bahahahaha...
ReplyDeleteI wish to heck we had a GOOD PtHA circuit in SoCal, because that circuit in the PNW is the Best.Circuit.Ever. It is NOT that expensive, they have a zillion judges so you get TONS of points at a single show. And you do not need a perfect horse. You can do fine with an open show quality horse. It is really the nicest, most welcoming breed circuit around - but the shows are few and far between here.
There are a few reason that I don't do any breed shows, even though I definitely want to do them.
ReplyDelete1) Cost- breed shows aren't cheap, and as a high school student, I don't have much income. Getting a job is an option, but I would not be able to show if I had one, as I would have to work. It isn't necessarily the cost of each class and the stalls that causes as big of a burden, but it's the things that are expected of you at the show. You need certain things to fit in at a breed show as opposed to open show, like a fake tail. You're going to need a show bridle, a show saddle, a show halter,a showmanship outfit, a nicer hat, etc. At a breed show, a work saddle, jeans, chaps, and a slinky aren't going to cut it.
2) Distance- as someone who does not own a trailer(they're expensive and we don't have something to haul one with), going far can be a problem. I know plenty of people who are willing to haul 20 minutes away for a local show, but I can't ask someone to haul me 3 or 4 hours away to take me to a show that they are not interested in being at, since it is too far for them to just drop me off and come back again.
3) Intimidating- putting it simply, I'm a bit intimidated by breed shows. I know that the competition is going to be tougher, and everyone is going to have a nicer clothes/nicer horses than me. I'm afraid to go there, spend a bunch of money, and make a fool out of myself and not place. I wish that there was a level available below novice( I see a lot of girls who are just as the girls who compete in the regular classes), for people who just want to try breed shows and see what everything is all about. And if there were lower level classes like that offered, I would probably enter myself in a few novice youth classes as well, since I'm already up there showing. That would help get all of the class numbers up.
Hello - Just want to add my thoughts ~ I am 45 showed BREED from age 9 to 20 ~ Thanks to my parents!!! I loved it and was successful... I had to sell my last horse in 1995 as it cost me the same to live on my own as it did to board & care for my appaloosa filly.... ~ 15 years later - I call it my mid-life crisis and instead of buying a red corvette - I got a dog & a horse.... I perfer to ride for money as it helps off set the expense of our hobby!!! My horse is not for sale or do I plan to sell him - so POINTS don't mean a whole lot to me ~ I will be showing 2 or 3 breed shows - but OPEN Shows at least offer payback classes... MONEY MONEY MONEY..... It's fun if you have it - but if you don't it's all what you make of it....
ReplyDelete