Making money from a schooling show?

[Sudi's Girl]

Do people actually make any money from putting on a schooling show? My BO is thinking about hosting a schooling CT as a possible means to garner some extra cash (specifically for buying her hay in bulk, vet emergencies etc...things that normal board is just not covering). A while back, I had looked into possibly putting on a show myself, but I was going to consider myself lucky to just break even if I did. (Not that it still wouldn’t be fun!!) :D

So – for those of you that have put on/helped put on a show – do you have any tips/ideas? What types of classes generate the most interest? Should we offer any other type classes as well? (SHIH, hunter type etc) I’m assuming concessions are a definite. I think she could also offer overnight stalling for a handful of people too to get some extra income there as well. Oh - and any good places to get ribbons/awards?

So please – swamp me with ideas!

Thanks!!

[Mudroom]

Our hunt does a CT every year. It generally gets about 40-60 rides and usually makes $800 to $1,000.

This is comparing the revenues to *incremental* costs.

We do it as a sanctioned event with our regional eventing association, so that imposes certain requirements. We are fortunate that as a hunt we already have insurance for special events in place and have no incremental cost for that. Through members we have access to a dressage ring and jumps. We even have some recognized judges/officials who give us a break on their costs. The hunt also has radios. So, incremental costs for us are mainly: ambulance, judges/officials, port-o-lets, ribbons, copying etc.

For us the low level classes are by far the most popular (walk-trot etc). We offer up to Prelim but sometimes do not have any P entries, usually a few T. We usually offer stabling but I don't think we have ever had anyone use it.

It is very important to get the word out early to get on people's schedules and then follow it up, ask the area trainers to come, tell them what/how you are going to run it so they have confidence. They need to know you'll have good footing, warm-up, organized flow etc.

Trade off, "I'll come to yours if you come to mine". "Hustling" will get you that last 20% of the entries which are what will make or break the event financially.

Don't print the year on the ribbons so you can re-use the leftovers.


Hope this helps.

[Lori B]

And if you are planning to do it this time of year, don't bother with a full menu of food to sell, but DO sell coffee, hot chocolate, hot cider, bottled water. Low effort, will definitely sell, not a ton of cleanup or overhead. The smoothie lady at a HT here in MD a couple weeks ago sold out of hot cider by shortly after noon, if that's any indication.

[Lisa Cook]

My son's pony club hosts a series of schooling events/combined tests as a fund raiser. Yes, it is possible to make some money, but there are a few things to be mentioned.

My son's pony club has been doing this for ages at the same facility, so we are a known entity. People know of us and they know what to expect from our shows.

For a new schooling show, I would initially price the entries on the low side, as an attempt to draw people in. Even if people are aware of the barn/facility, if it has not hosted a show before, people might be hesitant to pay a top of the line entry fee for a new endeavor until they see how it goes. A barn in this area tried hosting a schooling combined test for the first time a couple years ago, but their pricing was at the top of the line for a schooling show. Their facility was quite nice and they hired a good dressage judge, but their entries still suffered, I strongly suspect, because people didn't want to spend that kind of money at a show they would be trying out for the first time. They haven't tried to hold a schooling show again.

Your dressage judge(s) can make or break the show experience. Try to get a judge who has a good reputation in the area, preferably licensed, and it can help draw entries. We've had "real" licensed dressage judges for our schooling shows, and I think it helps. A perceived "mean" judge can and will scare people from returning in a schooling show environment.

At first, especially if the schooling shows are being run by people with little or no show management experience, I'd keep the class list basic at first, and then expand into other areas (SHIH, for example) as you get a routine down and the people working the show are comfortable in their roles.

We have started offering additional xc and stadium rounds on a per-ride fee basis, which have proved to be popular, just as FYI.

We found it easier to hire out the concession stand vs. trying to run it ourselves, for what it is worth.

Good luck!

[eventer_mi]

I don't know if you have the facilities for this, but back when I was in training with Caroline Dowd, she'd host these fantastic little jumper derbys, run by mostly working students and volunteers. I think she made a tidy profit from those. I asked her why she didn't do more CTs and unrecog. HTs, and she said that paying the dressage judge was the biggest expense. When you run a jumper show or jumper derby, there is no dressage judge to pay.

Just my two cents.

[LAZ]

I host multiple shows/year and typically make a profit. Part of my profit, though, comes from having available stabling on grounds.

I offer combined tests from step over poles to Prelim, event derbies (a mix of show jumps and cross country jumps), and dressage classes (W/T through the 1st level 1 & 2, with two percentage classes in case someone wants to do a different test than I offer. I offer a gamblers choice jumper class and schooling rounds at each level (for $15/round).

I have insurance in place through my farm policy.

I buy all my ribbons for the year in Jan or Feb, when there is a 10% discount from Hodges.

I bring in "L" or "r" dressage judges from out of the area so people get to exposure to different judges. I don't bring back the ones that aren't popular. As someone else mentioned, this is my biggest expense--their fee plus mileage plus hotel adds up.

I have a caterer that comes for the day, sets up in the meeting room of my indoor and has good food. I don't take any part of her income, but she does give me a small discount on the show tab.

I'm fortunate to have enough parking on good ground to keep the place from getting terribly torn up in case of bad weather. This is something you will want to consider.

The shows have gained in popularity as people have gotten familar with the format and the facility, I started putting them on with the idea that it might not be profitable at first.

[subk]

I have thought about the possibilty of doing a small schooling show of some sort at my new place as we get our private farm put together. As a greenbelt property we are required to make a small amout of money each year to keep the tax benefits. I've wondered if proceeds from a schooling show could go towards meeting the requirement. Anyone know? If it does I really wouldn't have to make much money to come out way ahead because the savings of staying in greenbelt are so great.

[oldenmare]

Yes, money can be made - but to make it with the first show is going to require a lot of legwork.

The show needs to be WELL publicized. The judge has to be one that people want to ride for (yes, it really does matter). The show needs to be organized from the get-go - from day one of promotion, entry forms, getting times posted, etc. Put up flyers everywhere, advertize through local club newsletters, mailings, etc. Attend local club meetings to promote your event.

Is the facility truly set up for running a show? Adequate parking; adequate warm-up; good to excellent footing in show ring as well as warm up areas? Plenty of room for the dressage and jumping to warm up without interference from either genre?

Failure to get scheduling done in timely fashion will KILL your reputation!!! Be sure to post times as "tentative ride times - subject to change day of show" as a "CYA" protection.

Many volunteers needed to facilitate smooth operation. Don't forget that you may need additional insurance for the event.

Also, running an extra (but separate from the CT) stadium round per level is a great way to bring in another $15 or so per ride - people always want another round of jumping and the entry fees well off-set the cost of ribbons.

What is the restroom like? Will you also need to factor in cost of porta-potty? Have you checked price of ribbons? Always consider that there may be ties.

I'd provide a bit more food - especially in cold weather - but like brunswick stew, barbecue or chili - easy to manage out of a crockpot with little cleanup - but people do want some food at a show.

She might check to see if local feed/tack store is willing to contribute prize money / awards for high scores in return for advertising on farm website & show program. We do this and works wonders. We also have huge schooling shows (min this year was 75 rides) - but we've earned the size via excellent reputation for well-run shows as well as awesome high-score awards and year-end awards.

Just a few off the top of my head. Back to work now....

[oldenmare]

Also, look at option of using local "r" or "R" judges instead of bringing in outside "L" graduates. The savings in fuel/hotel may well offset the difference in fees, and many people also want the feedback from a licensed official. (although I also do believe in encouraging the "L"s as well).

If she has room, often a judge will stay the night at the house in guestroom - much more affordable than a hotel (and better service).

[ss3777]

I have organized both schooling HTs and children’s horse shows for our hunt club. The schooling HTs made the most money with I believe a little over 6000.00 being the high water mark. The reason we can make that much is that we get at least one out of the two dressage judges to volunteer their time. We try to get sponsors for the ribbons. Our big costs are the porta potties and the EMT donation. Other than the one paid dressage judge, we do it completely on a volunteer basis. The host sight is a recognized HT that is owned by a hunt club member. The stadium jumps and dressage rings are donated or bartered from local horse people. The key is to keep it as a simple as possible the first time out and build from there. We do it as a mix and match, give out clear round ribbons for the jumping and 1-6 for the dressage. That way your scorer only has to worry about the dressage score. We run USEA dressage tests and USDF. That way we attract straight dressage folk. By doing it as a mix and match the stadium attracts the jumper folk. We try to keep approximately the same date each year so people plan ahead for it. Feel free to PM me for any of the nitty gritty.

[pegasusmom]

Along with all of the above. . . . what works in your area? Do you have a big enough eventing base that a combined test would draw entries? Would an open or H/J show draw more? Would you attract from Aiken? Can you absorb the loss if you don't draw well, bad weather ( have a rain date !)

One useful exercise I put myself through is figuring my "break-even" point - total all my expenses and divide by the entry fee I am proposing. That tells you how many participants you have to have to break even. It gives me an idea of if I am headed in the right direction.

BTW Hodges starts their 10% off sale on Monday through the end of February. There are other ribbon suppliers out there as well. Don't date your ribbons - as you can re-use those you didn't pass out.

[nextyear]

When we had a large lesson and boarding farm in Ma. we put on 2-3 schooling shows a year. We always made $$ and even though it is a lot of work it is worth the time and effort.
We always bought the ribbons from Hodges Badge in R.I. and bought in bulk as got the discount, do not put dates on them. I always would go to a discount store such as the Cristmas Shop that N.E. is famous for to buy the trophys, something in silver (such as candelsick holders) or for the W/T classes would get something kid loving horsey stickers or the such.

We encouraged all the boarders and lesson kids to enter classes and made all the school horses available for a extra fee. Had classes that they could all enter W/T X/Rail even a course over poles. We always had the dressage classes in the afternoon and again would go from W/T to first level.

As far as judges went when we started off with the shows we did not have a big budget so would call in some favors from friends that were well known in the business. As time went on could afford to pay the judge better. To start with promise to feed them well!!

We got a catering truck to come in for a few shows and that worked great but when one of our instructors saw how much $$ was to be made off food she got her grandmother to do it, they made a lot and always sold out of everything, thye kept money charged down but made up it by selling everything. So all was happy!

You can make it pay and give all a good time, remember to have extra blue ribbons for the leadline or W/T for the little kids to all get a blue!!

[broodmare]

If you have the space, the cash cows in our area are paper chases. They require very good landowner relations but folks love them, and you get all types turning out. Parents with kids on lead lines, fox hunters, eventers, trail riders, green horses, you name. High rail, low rail, and non jump divisions.
just pray to the weather gods and chose a rain date down for back up.
I have run organized combined tests, recognized events, and schooling days over XC courses. In terms of $/effort ratio, schooling days and paper chases are the best for making money. The Fairhill organization makes good money on their schooling days and provides a real local service.