Affordable Horse Shows – Why Our Sport Desperately Needs Them Back

When I founded the United Dressage & Jumping Club (UDJC), one of my strongest convictions was this: horse shows in the United States have gotten out of hand. What used to be community gatherings that gave every rider a chance to progress with their horse have turned into luxury events with price tags that keep most families out.

Showing has become so expensive that the very foundation of our sport—education, accessibility, and horse development—is crumbling. If we want riding to thrive again, we have to address this head-on.

Where Did Affordable Shows Go?

For decades, horse shows here drifted from their roots. Instead of being sport-first, they became business-first. Bit by bit, fees piled on: grounds fees, association fees, covid fees, mandatory extras that add little real value. Add to that inflated stall prices, overpriced food and bedding, and an endless list of “convenience” charges.

Meanwhile, venues often treat shows as a revenue stream instead of a service to the horse community. Too many organizers fall into the trap of thinking bigger equals better: more décor, more ceremonies, more costs. The result is the same everywhere—weekends that cost families $1,000, $2,000, sometimes much more, just to get their child in the ring.

It’s no wonder participation is shrinking. Too many talented kids never get the chance to show. Too many horses miss out on valuable competition miles.

The European Example

Spend a weekend at a show in Germany, France, or the Netherlands, and you’ll see what’s missing here. European shows are professional without being commercialized.

The community comes together: parents, trainers, and local supporters pitch in. Volunteers scribe, manage gates, help set jumps. The structure is organized, the officials are experienced, and the shows run with clockwork efficiency. But what you don’t see are inflated price tags.

It’s not about stripping professionalism away—it’s about building it on community, not greed. The pride of the local equestrian scene fuels the quality, and sponsors step in to make sure costs for competitors stay low. In many areas, kids can compete every weekend without bankrupting their parents.

That’s what affordable horse sport looks like.

What Needs to Change in the U.S.

To bring back affordable shows, everyone has to take responsibility:

Volunteers – The Backbone of Affordable Sport

Volunteers are not “cheap labor.” In the right structure, they are an army of dedicated people who can keep costs down without sacrificing quality. Scribes, ring stewards, announcers, scorers, jump crews—these roles can be filled by parents, students, or members of the community. The key is organization and respect. If we treat volunteers as essential and provide the right guidance, professionalism will follow.

Venues – Time to Step Up

Facilities cannot see horse shows purely as a cash cow. If a venue has empty weekends, those dates should be offered at reasonable rates. Lower stabling prices and fair rental fees go a long way toward making shows possible. Venues that support affordable shows will build loyalty, fill their calendar, and ultimately strengthen their own business long term.

Sponsors – Investing in the Future

Sponsorship is not charity; it’s investment. Companies that want to sell feed, tack, trucks, or clothing need the next generation of riders in the pipeline. Affordable shows attract those grassroots riders and create brand loyalty early. Sponsors must recognize that if the base of the sport disappears, so does their market.

Trainers – Directing the Flow of Riders

Trainers are gatekeepers. If trainers only push students to expensive, fancy shows, then affordable circuits will never thrive again. Trainers need to bring their barns to local, community-driven shows. Not only does it help students progress at a fraction of the cost, but it also teaches them that showing isn’t about glitz—it’s about riding well and developing horses correctly.

Organizers – Cutting the Fluff

We as organizers must be disciplined. No hidden office fees. No pointless extras. No nickel-and-diming. Shows can be lean, transparent, and still professional. Riders appreciate honesty and efficiency far more than overpriced frills.

Doing More for the Sport and the Horses

At the heart of this conversation is horse welfare. Affordable shows mean more horses can show regularly, build confidence, and progress correctly. They mean more kids can learn without financial strain destroying their family’s commitment. They mean trainers can give their students the mileage they need to succeed.

Affordable shows are not about lowering standards - actually the opposite is the case - and they’re about cutting out greed. They are about ensuring that opportunity is not reserved only for those with deep pockets.

If we, as a community, want this sport to survive and grow, we have to change direction now. It will take effort from everyone.

• Venues offering fair prices

• Sponsors investing in the grassroots

• Trainers guiding students toward affordable circuits

• Volunteers stepping in with structure and pride

• And organizers running lean, fair events

The UDJC Commitment

This is why UDJC exists. We are building a model where showing is professional, structured, and fair, but also accessible. A child with a modest pony deserves the chance to stand in the ring just as much as the rider with the imported warmblood.

If you believe in the future of horse sport, then you must believe in affordable shows.

They are not optional - they are the backbone of the sport we love.