Prepaid Horse Show Programs, More Bang For Your Buck?
By: Brittany Bevis
It goes without saying that this sport we all love so much can certainly take a toll on the pocketbook. In addition to expenses like mileage, hotel, RV, trainer’s day fees, shavings, stalls, drug fees, paid practices, warmup classes, and entry fees being multiplied by multiple judges, the dollar signs rack up faster than a slot machine in Vegas.
Luckily, most people involved in horse show management are also competitors, so they’re all for trying to help exhibitors stretch a buck whenever possible. One way they do this is with all-inclusive or flat rate fees.
For example, at Mark Harrell Horse Shows’ upcoming event, The Madness in Wilmington, Ohio, April 2-5, competitors can show to six judges for a flat fee of $295 per horse including all AQHA classes, fees, and office charges for multiple riders in multiple classes. The amount doesn’t include stalls, NSBA classes, shavings, RV or Trail warm ups.
Recently, we came across a unique idea that merited a second look for the benefits it offers to both sides of the horse show equitation. The Prepaid Horse Show Program has been implemented by the Michigan Quarter Horse Association once again for 2015 and marks the ninth time the club has offered it to competitors. Essentially, for a prepaid fee of $1,500, you will receive one stall, all AQHA entries, and all MQHA drug fees for MQHA owned events throughout the year. When you break that down show-by-show, that includes six horse shows and 27 judges.
$1,500= six horse shows, 27 judges
- MAQHA Easter Eggstravaganza- April 2-5 at MSU (6 judges)
- MQHYA Spartan Spectacular- May 2 & 3 at MSU (3 judges)
- MQHA Summer Series- May 22-25 in Allegan (4 judges)
- MQHA Harbor Classic- June 30 – July 5 in Ludington (6 judges)
- MQHA Great Lakes Classic- September 17-20 in MSU (4 judges)
- MQHA Harvest Classic- November 7 & 8 at MSU (4 judges)
It’s important to note that the fee doesn’t cover AQHA drug fees/processing charges, shavings, camping, or additional items not mentioned above.
We caught up with MQHA Show Secretary Aschelle Vanzandt to find out more about this innovative program.
“This is the ninth year we have done the Prepaid Horse Show Program,” Vanzandt says. “It used to be called the CANTER Program. We came up with the idea to help people out by allowing them to pay for everything up front, that way you know what you’re getting into.”
“A lot of people forget that some fees are per judge, and that adds up fast. I’ve seen that [realization] occur in the past when people go to write a check [at the end of a horse show].”
Photo courtesy of MQHA.
In theory, the program is aimed at easing some of the financial strain and anxiety caused by budgeting for horse shows as well as providing some much needed savings down the line.
“The only things the Prepaid Horse Show Program doesn’t include are the purchase of a tack stall, shavings, or AQHA fees, obviously,” she says. “So, if they pay at the first of the year show with us, that takes care of them for the rest of the year. Our Ludington show in the summer is where I see the biggest benefit, because it’s a week-long show with six judges.”
“It’s a very good deal for those who take advantage of it, and we’ve gotten a big response from it. It’s a [pretty significant] savings. We basically took [the numbers] for all the shows, worked through them, and came to a number that worked for everyone.”
In addition to helping competitors budget for an entire horse show season, the Prepaid Horse Show Program has obvious benefits for the association as well. Many exhibitors probably don’t think about the operating expenses needed to run a large scale event, which are taken on by a club/show management until the checks come in at the end of the horse show. The Prepaid Horse Show Program helps to relieve some of that financial strain on the business end of things.
“We also try to offer different options if people don’t have the $1,500 to pay up front,” she says. “The other thing we offer is a blanket fee for unlimited classes for a particular horse show. For example, our Easter show should come in at $395. The April show in Easter is usually huge, and we sell over 400 stalls.”
“When you think about it, the stalls for our Harbor Classic [in July] are $135 alone, so there is a definite savings.”
For Vanzandt, a former APHA and PtHA competitor, “I wish they could’ve done something like this [when I was showing,]” she says. “For those who show a lot, it would’ve helped, I think. It’s definitely a good idea.”
Would you take advantage of a similar Prepaid Horse Show Program if it was offered by your local or regional club?
If you would like more information about the MQHA Prepaid Horse Show Program in particular, please call the MQHA office for additional information at 616-225-8211 or email mqha@hotmail.com.
