As of Sunday, the first WSHJA hunter show wrapped up for the 2011 season, to be followed, as of Wednesday, by the second. Riders started their venture into the hunter show ring for one more week, with fingers and hooves crossed that the sun might make an appearance as well.
Whether or not the sun will come out is unpredictable, but the one thing about horse shows we know will happen is the bill. In the last two articles we covered the costs of getting your horse there and feeding him during the show – this week we start to tackle the show form. Because there are so many fees associated with showing we’ll address this issue in two separate articles.
Some of the fees you’ll see on your form:
Stalls: The cost of the stall varies depending on the length of the show and whether or not you’ll be spending the night or if you are just renting one for the day (not all shows offer this last option so check your show’s prize list for details). Some shows include shavings with their stalls; others don’t, so read your form carefully. Expect to pay up to $200 +/- for a week stall.
Turn out: Not every show offers turn out and not every trainer will purchase one. Check ahead of time with your trainer on this item. Turn out generally runs $200 +/- week. If your trainer purchases one for the barn, expect this to show up on your split at the end of the week at the horse show.
Camper/Trailer parking: Some clients choose to stay overnight at the show in a motor home – or, in some cases, will use one for the day. Shows charge a fee for parking and charge more for hook up services. This can run around $35-50/day. If your trainer uses this for a groom or themselves, you will see it on your split at the end of the week.
Haul-in fee: This fee applies to horses not staying overnight or in a stall at the show. It can range from a set fee for the week to a daily fee ( $35+/-./day). This covers the wear and tear your horse creates at the facility – a cost that is wrapped into your stall fee if you paid for one of those instead. This can be a great option for horses that need to only show one or two days in the week – keep in mind, however, that you’ll need to get your horse there each day, so add your hauling costs into the haul-in fee when figuring out the overall cost. This fee will be on your show form.
Overwhelmed yet? There is more to come, but don’t despair, it is all worth it in the end! Make sure to click the subscribe button at the top of the page so you don’t miss part two!
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