How to save money on horse shows, rodeos and events

Guest contribution from Catherine of Economic Chivalry.

Let’s be honest, we didn’t choose the cheapest hobby. Horses are expensive and once you get into the world of horse shows, events, rodeos, or competitions of any kind with your horse, you’ll see how quickly these costs build up.

What are the benefits of saving money on horse shows/events? Learning to save money on each horse show you attend will allow you to use your savings to go to additional shows.

Plus, when you learn to save money in general, you’ll simply have more money to spend. This is very beneficial for you and your horse. More financial freedom = more fun!

Although horse shows are expensive, it does not stop you from living a normal life, going to shows and being able to afford them. There are some simple ways you can save big bucks on horse shows or events.

Get your entry on time

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to save money at a horse show or any other event is to plan ahead and get your entry in time!

Many offers require you to pay an additional amount for delay if the entry is not stamped by a certain date. An extra $20 or $50 might not seem like a lot of money here, but over the course of the summer and multiple shows, this adds up to an expensive mistake.

How to avoid it: Use a planner or calendar to plan ahead. Enter your exhibition dates and required postmark dates on the calendar to avoid late admission fees.

Pack your own snacks and meals

Eating from a horse show concession booth is sure to cost you. It’s best to plan ahead for the meals you know you’ll have at the horse show.

Bring snacks, water, drinks, and lunch so you don’t spend your hard-earned cash at the food stall on foods that are unlikely to taste good and aren’t healthy.

Here is a list of the best packaged horse show snacks (some healthy, some not!)

If your horse show runs for several days, you can save extra money by planning a meal with your friends who also attend the show. Choose a meal that each of you can cook or buy, with the expenses shared among all. You can save money as well as your horse show friends!

Be picky about what you share

At the beginning of the season, make a list of all the shows or events you want to attend. At this point, it is best to set a price for each offer. There may be a big show that you really want to see, so make it a priority for your season.

Take a look at what you can realistically afford and choose offers based on that. The closest offer is obviously cheaper due to the cost of getting there, not having to stay overnight, paying extra meals, etc. But if your goal is to go to a multi-day show away from home for several hours, maybe cut out a few small shows that were just for fun.

Don’t sign up for too many courses

It can be tempting to sign up for whatever you and your horse qualify for, but keep in mind that you (and your horse) will get tired.

You don’t want to pay for 10 courses and end up scratching half of it – that’s just wasting money for the show or event. Basically, you have to be selective about which courses you want to take.

Bring your own bed linen and liner

Grooming at a horse show is usually valued at a minimum of a few dollars per bag as the show organizers have to pay for the cost of buying and distributing bedding to competitors. Instead, bring it home with you! Or stop at a farm shop on the way to the parade ground.

Bringing your own feed not only saves you money, but it also reduces the possibility of your horse feeling sick from eating feed that they normally don’t have. Horses can be picky eaters, so packing their natural food can be beneficial and healthy.

driving community

Do you go to your friend / neighbor / barn mate to the same show? Then my escort to get there! You probably don’t bring a full horse trailer, and neither do you.

You can split the throttle and weight who will move from one width to the next. You can save money and wear and tear on your truck and trailer.

Learn braids/band/baking by yourself

Being able to braid your horse will save you at least $50 to $100 depending on where you are and what type of show you are in. And if you’re really good at it, you can get paid to braid other people’s horses – and earn some extra cash while competing in horse shows.

Plan Ahead – Don’t Pay to Buy

If you need a new saddle, new show look, or something similar, plan ahead so you don’t make an impulse purchase at the show. You don’t want to buy something at the last minute for more money than you planned or for more money than it’s worth.

You can easily search for the items you need on Facebook, Ebay, Craigslist, Tacktrader, etc. Sometimes people sell new items they never used before at very low prices.

Maintain your equipment

This applies to your vehicle, trailer, horse harness, riding apparel, and anything else you use with your horse. If you are better at maintenance and care, the items will last longer.

Maintain your transport vehicle regularly to reduce the chance of failure. It can still happen, but at least you know you’ve done maintenance along the way.

Make sure your trailer is serviced and maintained regularly every year so that your trailer is ready to drive when you go to the show. It is best to do this at the same time each year so that you do not forget. I highly recommend doing this while doing spring maintenance for your horses and/or property.

For more grooming tips, see 9 Things Every Horse Owner Should Do This Spring.

Also, keep bridles and riding clothes clean and well tidy so that nothing breaks. Nothing is more annoying than cleaning something dry before a show. Make it a habit to leave it on as soon as you get home so you’re not in a hurry the next time you need your show wear.

Ask your friends or family to take photos or videos

Getting a professional photo of you and your horse is great, but it comes at a price. If you have friends or family members attending the show, give them your camera and ask them to take pictures or videos of you. You probably won’t mind, and it’s free!

Individual photos or files from a show or event start at $5 but can go up to $50. That’s a lot of money, especially when you do it several times a year.

Label your items so that no one takes them home from the show

If you have anything near the show ring that isn’t connected to you or your horse, be sure to name it so no one accidentally takes it home.

Also, if you are carpooling with stable friends/colleagues, you’ll need to name everything so you don’t get lost when you pack up again. Losing something in a horse show is very frustrating, but once you name it, the chances of getting it back are significantly higher.

Create packing lists in advance

Make a list of everything you need for your truck, trailer, show ring, horse grooming, and anything else you might need at a show or event. Having a packing list will help you avoid forgetting something and risk buying it at the fair at a high price.

If you had to buy it because you forgot about it, you’d end up with something you already had, so you now have complications for something you didn’t really need.

Find the cheapest accommodation

If you’re attending a multi-day show, you’ll need somewhere to stay unless it’s close enough to get up and down each day and keep your horse home all night.

Try camping, sleeping on a horse trailer, renting an Airbnb, or finding the cheapest hotels to save money on accommodations. If you can camp a day or two, you can often save about $100 a night (or more!)