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HOSTING A HORSE SHOW
Sure, it might look like all fun and games, but really, it takes a lot of work and time. But the question is: Do you really want to do this?
Ask yourself: Do I have room for all these horses, equipment, trailers and an arena to ride in? If not, you should probably consider renting a local fairground or arena for your horse show.
Give it a name. A horse show can be named as simple as "Hannah Equine Show," but if you want a more interesting name, then Google it. It's that easy. Or if you have a sponsor (Or sponsors) you could name it after them, with their permission, of course.
Admission is...free? It doesn't always have to be free. How will you pay for the rent and expenses? Entry fees can range from $10 to over $50, but I suggest only charge $10-$15. For guests watching the show, you can charge money to get into the show. It's only logic.
Food. If the horse owners can buy food, there's another way to get money for the show. The only problem is: Where will you get the food and the time to make all of it? That's easy; hire people to do it. Just create a simple menu like hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, the usual fairground food. Make sure you sell drinks as well!
Stable Space. If you need more than one barn to host all the horses and their owners, you'll probably need to rent another barn (If you're at a fairground). Remember that not all horse shows offer sleeping quarters for the owners, so if some of them need to get an extra stall for them, you can offer it. But if you don't have enough room, that can be an issue. The only answer for that is have pre-registration and giving them their stall numbers then.
Prizes for everyone! Even though there can only be one winner in each class, it'd still be nice to send out a letter or certificate to those who had participated in the show, thanking them and asking how they liked it and if they'd come back again. Prizes can just be a simple trophy and $15, but getting sponsors and donations is a great idea too. If you have some staff, it'd be a kind gesture to award them with a small gift during a show.
Staff...do I really need them? Yes, you'll definitely need them. You can ask your family and friends if they can help, but if you only have a few staff-members, offer a paid position. It doesn't have to be a huge amount, maybe just $20 per day, depending on how long they're there. You'll need a judge, manager, first aid, entries secretary, judge or judges, food staff, ground crew and a photographer. Contact your local highschools and 4-H groups to see if they'd like to help.
What kind of show will it be? Western? English? Hunter/Jumper? You can choose many different classes to add in your show, or just one. It's all up to you. If you don't know what kind of show to host, research different riding styles.
Vendors. Should you really allow vendors at your show? Sure! Call around, put up an ad on the local bulletin board, or one in the newspaper. You could also get more entries by doing this.
First aid. Always keep an equine first-aid kit and a human one. Have local equine vets on speed dial and have a first-aider ready on hand.
Ew...poo! Providing an outhouse for contestants is needed, unless you want hundreds of people tromping through your house and using your bathroom. That's just...just no.
Creating a schedule. Leave time in between the day for lunch. Never have classes way too early in the morning or too late at night. Create a schedule BEFORE you continue planning anything else. This is a required step in planning your horse show.
Give me a sign! Signs are going to be needed, unless you want somebody parking their truck and trailer in the middle of the fairground, you'll need signs. You can either make these, or buy them from an online store.
How long? You can do just a one-day show, or perhaps a week-long one. When it is finished, you can also host a series at different fairgrounds in your county. It's a fun idea to have the champions of the previous show and bringing them to another horse show in the series. Talk with other horse owners to see if they'd like to partner with you to host a show in your series.
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