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Once upon a time in a universe far, far away I rode western. I competed in and organized open shows, rated shows, team penning, money western pleasure classes, Friday night gymkhanas…… all sorts of western things. I chased cattle – sometimes winningly well, other times laughably bad. El stinko. I’ve managed AQHA rated and I don’t know how many open shows. I’ve show secretaried, judged, ring stewarded, done the gate, the timer, the points, ring crew – sometimes at the same show!! I’ve invented and run entire year end programs. Suffice it to say, I’m familiar with the shows.
I also still have a lot of friends who ride those events, and we talk. Our conversations often take interesting turns when comparing horse show world realities between the western interests and that thing called dressage. And I’ve come to realize that dressage is inherently greedy as hell. The shows are insanely priced.
And maybe….. just maybe, that explains why shows aren’t as populated with entries as they once were while other relatively recent inventions like Western Dressage is growing exponentially.
Why? Why are dressage shows so damn expensive? Why are they losing entries while other entities – and let’s use THE Western Dressage Association like the WDAA – a USEF recognized entity – growing?
Well for one, western dressage is adamant about horse welfare. ADAMANT. And women – the majority of riders – LOVE that. They love it as much as I’ve said for YEARS that they would. And yes, many men do too! But another factor is the money, as well as just being user friendly for both the humans and horses. And remember BOTH are part of USEF.
But now, the WDAA takes it up another notch. A smart, initially Covid induced notch. They are permitting video entries. And they are USEF approved. Just keep remembering that they are. So now, with WDAA you can earn plenty of points and this year ride and compete in their biggest shows BY VIDEO. No travel. No stall fees. No gas. No trailering. No time. Except for your entry it’s all FREE FREE – FREE FREE FREE. And those scores COUNT. Smartly, in fact brilliantly, WDAA is considering keeping that as an option in the future in order to facilitate larger shows, happier members, healthier horses.
Imagine that.
Dressage shows could learn a lot from paying attention to what folks in other organizations are doing. Now let’s look at the Palomino Horse Breeders of America (PHBA) for instance. Sure, they aren’t exactly USEF affiliated, but their format is comparable for purposes of show costs.
If you took two shows – one being a rated dressage show and the other being a rated PHBA show where both shows count for national points you’d immediately see major differences. Just compare the two. Simple. So I’ve done the work for you.
Sure, the cost of hauling to a show is comparable in both groups but once you get there many differences smack you across your face. They smack you hard, like a bitch.
The judges. Dressage shows have ONE per class. One. You go in your class and for your money you get one score, one opinion. Go to an PHBA show and the show is triple judged and triple placed. So in your one go you can place 1st, 2nd and last, depending on the tastes of each particular judge. Places can even be combined for a 4th award, a best overall as well. Now that my friends is a pretty fine bang for your buck! So, you get the opinion of three judges, you get three ribbons (or do not depending on placing).
The stalls. The very same stalls cost at least twice as much at dressage shows. Let’s check it out: I pulled up a show entry form for PHBA for 2021 and it says as follows:
Judges
May 14 – Betty Kowalski, Robert Milks, Mary Ann Fieltz
May 15 – Jeff Buck Pete McAllister, Daren Wright
May 16 – Mark Smith, Kent Kyle, Stephanie McConnell
May 22 – Ron Strefling and Stephanie McConnell
May 23 – Kathie Crowley and Larry Cline
August 6 – Emily Spray and Larry Cline
August 7 – Kim Garrett, Jeff Lechner, Vickie Oakley
August 8 – Robin Gollehon, Paul Zink, Kathie Crowley
Entry Fee: $25 per class/$85 show all day per horse (4 classes or more)
Office Fee: $30 per horse/day
Stall Fees: $35/day or $50/weekend for PHEI & HPA August Show
$35/day or $60/weekend for Midwest & HPA Spring Show
Grounds Fee: $15 per horse if you do not have a stall
Bedding: $6 per bag
Electric: $25 per day
Now not only are these prices CHEAPER than dressage, they are double or triple judged! So one trip, one stall fee, one office fee, but double or triple placings.
This means if you just went to the May 14, 15, 16 show dates and entered ONE EVENT PER DAY, you would end up with NINE scores. If you went to the August event as well, now you’re talking EIGHTEEN scores riding one event in 2 shows. Six rides, eighteen scores. Between the multiple day format, the tripled judges and the reduced rates, you’ve paid thousands less than a dressage rider would pay for just THREE scores…. That is if the dressage rider could even find a three day show.
Maybe it’s time for dressage to pay attention to what others are doing.
Now the fees for a two day rated Dressage show, same year, 2 day show.
In theory you are travelling the same distance, possibly even to the same venue as the Palomino show but your money gets you – assuming one class per day – just TWO scores. But check out the monetary difference:
Class Fee: $45 plus an additional $15 to qualify for other awards
Higher levels are $75 plus the additional $15
They are singularly judged.
Drugs and Medications Fee: $23 per entry ($15 drugs and medications/$8 USEF)
Penalty Fee: $40 Late entry fee, bounced check, change a scheduled ride, scratch
Schooling Fees: $45 plus Office Fee
Stabling: $200 duration stabling per stall
Stall Cleaning Deposit by a separate check, per stall: $50
Bedding: $10 per bag ordered with entry on or before closing date
$12.50 per bag ordered after closing date
Camper Hookup: $175 on grounds. Water and electric only.
There is no legitimate reason why a dressage class – especially the lower-level ones – cannot be triple judged. Or double judged. And double or triple placed. It would save EVERYONE money. It’s easier on the horses.
Recently, The Plaid Horse Magazine wrote an article about USEF show dates being held hostage by long time show date “owners” who have been basically grandfathered in. They then lease out those same dates at great cost to OTHER show producers who then pass along the cost to the competitors. The money quoted in the article cites hundreds of thousands of dollars. Is it possible this happens in other USEF oriented disciplines (dare I say dressage) as well? What else can explain the $$ difference ESPECIALLY since so many of these shows are conducted AT THE VERY SAME FACILITY!!
What gives? I mean REALLY, what gives?
Can we just assume that dressage is inherently greedy? Might they listen to what other groups are doing?
It’s just a thought.