Undersubscribed horse trials- related to fuel costs?

[ne900]

I have been noticing that in Area 1, several events which are often hard to get into are undersubscribed- some organizers have been advertising open spots in all divisions. I'm wondering if this is related to high fuel costs.

I (and others at the barn where I board) have decided not to make the trek to Stuart for this reason. I am wondering if others are making similar decisions?

[LexInVA]

Fuel costs, hay costs, and general economic hard times. People have to trim the fat and enjoy only the basics.

[IFG]

I just mentioned the same thing to my daughter. We both event in Area 1.

Definitely the economy. Fuel at $4.00 a gallon (or more) makes trips to Vermont prohibitive. As Lex said, the increased amount money spent on higher costs for general daily living and horse-support costs means that there is less left over for fun (i.e., events and clinics).

[goobs]

My trainer decided no Stuart's this year and we usually all go on over with about 7-10 horses. Too far too much in diesel. I can't even do Millbrook this year and I only live half an hour away! Between the entry fee and coaching fee for 3 days it's not doable for me on top of everything else horsey related (need a bit of cash for the vet and farrier costs - so some fun has to be withheld). I have spoken to many who have cut back from showing.

I have heard (more than once) that gas will be up to 7 a gallon and diesel even more than that by the end of the year! I also heard on the radio this morning that things won't really "level" out until 2013 - which is very depressing.

[jpalisades]

Same thing going on here in Area II:eek:

I know in my barn fuel is backing alot of parents/students from competing as much! Most are asking to go to unreg. only because they are half the cost! Some of my students are opting to do jumpers only. Those entry fees are $15 to $25 per class, and we WIN money back even at the lower levels.

Heck, 7 or 8 years ago if I paid over $175 an USEA event I was running prelim or higher. Now I am avg. $187 just for BN/N horses. This is getting insane. I ran my new horse at two BN events, both unreg., and between fuel and entry fees I spent $489.00.

By the time he is ready for prelim, I am not going to be able to afford more than one event a month:lol::cry:

[EventingDiva]

Goobs that is very depressing....

:confused:
I also am cutting back. My greenie is 5 so I am fine with bopping around smaller schooling shows and getting him experience. It is 1/2 the cost and still gets him experience. Hopefully things will look up soon...

[CANTEREOIN]

The increased costs of everything forces me to consider where I show. One day, local shows are more important now and looking for a trailering buddy is influencial.

I did enter GH2 and Fitches with the idea that its a vacation but I don't think I can sustain the effort throughout the whole season.

Let's do a collective wish that the smaller shows don't collapse under the economy but are boistered because we have to go to them to save money.

[ne900]

Cantereoin: I did GHF I and will do Millbrook for the same reason- combining a horsey vacation with competing- but I opted out of Stuart this year.

We usually bring 4-6 to Stuart- but it is a long haul from VT. I'm lucky to be in VT where there are several local choices- both recognized and unrecognized.

[kml84]

I also chose to skip Stuart this year. It is just too expensive this summer. I am entered in three more events for the year and it looks like Millbrook will have to be the end of competition for this year.:( Hopefully I can find a good clinic or two before the cold weather rolls in and end with some great XC schools.

[Ajierene]

We were talking about this the other day. Last year, trailering the 10 min or so to FairHill to trail ride used to be a *free* outing. Now I am looking at my gas guage and realizing it takes a bit of an 1/8th of a tank, which doesn't look like that much, but equates to about $15 in gas. I am so counting my pennies! Going to unrecognized events, limiting the schoolings, all kinds of things.

It doesn't help that my truck is my only mode of transportation so I am spending 14 mpg just to go anywhere.

[bip]

My truck gets ~10mpg and diesel is about 4.89, which I round to 5 in my mind. That makes it $0.50/mile. So however many miles the trip somewhere is, that's what the roundtrip will cost :eek:

For now, the high gas prices might actually allow me to do things that would normally be oversubscribed. I definitely think that's how I got into the Leslie Law clinic after the closing date (it was awesome, I highly recommend him).

I am less vulnerable to gas prices because I only drive to the barn and when I haul. I live in the city and can take public transportation pretty much everywhere.

But I can't gloat too much. If gas really does push towards $7 and diesel more, that will mean some serious changes :( There is heating oil to consider too, which will mean higher condo dues :( I might be better off saving for that rather than going to King Oak just because it is normally impossible to get into.

[flutie1]

And believe it, the high fuel costs and crappy economy are hitting the organizers pretty damned hard also!

[flypony74]

I just figured it up, and I spent $419 this past weekend for Midsouth for entry, stabling, diesel, and hotel....and that was splitting diesel with a friend (would have been $250 had I gone alone), and with 4 people in our hotel room (divided four ways, was $40/each). That does not include food, etc.

I'm still gonna compete but I have to be very selective about where I go, and try to split costs with fellow competitor friends.

[goobs]

Flypony - Hotels are things of the past for me - even at 40 bucks a night! I sleep in my trailer and bought a shower tent! No more luxury - I am taking cues from my Western brethern who sleep in their trailers and will go without a shower for a few days (I need a shower though can't get that part of diva out of my system). I am getting moral support from them about sleeping in the trailer too - it's hilarious! Get a cot if you have a 2 horse bumper pull and stick it in there. I have a dressing room so I get a bit more privacy.

[flypony74]

Flypony - Hotels are things of the past for me - even at 40 bucks a night!

Actually, it was $40 per person for the entire weekend, not per night. Had I been traveling by myself, I would have slept in the trailer, as I would have been unwilling to foot an entire hotel room by myself, but dividing it by four made it worth it for a cool place to sleep and a hot shower.

[goobs]

Even for 40 bucks for the whole weekend - I still can't crunch that! NY is just way too expensive! I saw diesel at 5.29 a gallon at some gas stations. When I think that 4.99 (as offered by the HESS about 15 miles from me) as cheap - there's a problem. RIght now the only luxury item that I can afford is "free"! :) I am seeing a lot more scooters around too - if I didn't think I would kill myself driving one I'd get one too for local commuting!

[IFG]

Another issue are the new rules. Five years ago, you went to a HT, if you fell off on XC and/or stadium, you could still complete and use it as schooling. Today, you fall off, you go home. For me, this means more schoolings and clinics. I can't afford to risk that kind of $$ to go home for one mistake.

I am talking about Novice, so lots of schooling alternatives.

[KCsToo]

Both fuel costs and the economy itself are dictating my showing decisions. Finances are having an effect on even getting to the barn. Believe it or not, I've been been swapping the car for the bike once a week, and it's 20 miles. (just do light hacking on those days! LOL!)

[KCsToo]

And believe it, the high fuel costs and crappy economy are hitting the organizers pretty damned hard also!


flutie, do organizers get a cut of concessions? If so, I will come to spectate at your event, and I will definitely buy a hot dog!

[eventer_mi]

Same thing going on here in Area II:eek:

By the time he is ready for prelim, I am not going to be able to afford more than one event a month:lol::cry:

This just goes to show what a disparate world we live in. I'm lucky if I can afford just ONE event a month, let alone cutting back to only one a month! :winkgrin:

And coaching costs? Who needs a coach? Save some cash, hook up with a friend, and coach each other.

I, too, am cutting back a ton. Hubby is deploying in just a couple of weeks, so we actually have some extra cash on hand, but I just can't justify traispsing all over town with fuel at over $4.00/gallon.

[pegasusmom]

Flypony - Hotels are things of the past for me - even at 40 bucks a night! I sleep in my trailer and bought a shower tent! No more luxury - I am taking cues from my Western brethern who sleep in their trailers and will go without a shower for a few days (I need a shower though can't get that part of diva out of my system). I am getting moral support from them about sleeping in the trailer too - it's hilarious! Get a cot if you have a 2 horse bumper pull and stick it in there. I have a dressing room so I get a bit more privacy.

Buy a solar shower! Works very well!

[flutie1]

flutie, do organizers get a cut of concessions? If so, I will come to spectate at your event, and I will definitely buy a hot dog!

No we don't - but we have good hot dogs!