An Examination of Equestrian Competition Costs: Why is Riding so Expensive?
When you ask people what the biggest barrier to entry is in English riding, you’ll hear about costs over and over again. Horses are infamous for how much they cost to purchase and keep. While the price of items like hay and grain will vary by location, even the cheapest horse is not inexpensive.
If you begin to factor in the costs of training and maintaining a horse to compete, costs rise quickly. The following entry examines costs at each of the four levels of riding described in the first entry in this series. We will look at where these costs come from. Then, we’ll talk about solutions for decreasing costs or increasing funding to make riding at each level more accessible.
Level One: Access to Horses
Riders at level one take consistent riding lessons and/or have consistent access to horses. However, these riders do not compete on a regular schedule. Costs represented at this level include the cost of riding lessons, riding clothes, and basic riding and horse care equipment.
Riding lessons vary widely in cost based on location. This is representative of the differences in the cost of hay, grain, and other horse-care necessities based on proximity to natural resources. Often, the price of lessons covers the expenses of caring for the barn’s school horses, pays the trainer, and covers some of the facility costs.
On average, riding lessons cost between $40 and $80 per session. However, the prices will vary depending on the business, the trainer’s experience level, whether the lessons are private or in a group, the location, and the type of horses used in the lesson program. While lessons with very experienced instructors can be wildly expensive, there are usually more affordable options as well. Additionally, many trainers are often willing to be flexible on their lesson prices or allow riders to work off lesson costs.
Because of this, lesson costs are not necessarily unaffordable, at least at the lower levels. Riding scholarships or grants may make lessons more accessible, but the average person can likely cover the cost of lessons. Instead, like many sports, it is the cost of accessory items such as safety gear and appropriate clothing that can make riding at this level inaccessible. At a minimum, somebody who takes lessons consistently will have to purchase a helmet and riding boots. Most barns will require their riders to wear an SEI (Safety Equipment Institute) certified helmet. This means that it has been lab-tested to meet the American Society for Testing and Materials F1163 standard. Most helmets for other sports like skateboarding or bicycling will not meet the ASTM standard, so riders will have to purchase a helmet just for riding.
To understand why this can be a barrier, let’s compare bike helmets to equestrian helmets. Starter bike helmets cost around $10-$15. More expensive helmets worn by regular cyclists range from $50-$70. Premium helmets, the best of the best, cost more than $180. In contrast, starter riding helmets cost around $30-$60. Mid-range helmets cost $80-$200 depending on the style. Premium options easily clear $500, with the most expensive option at Dover Saddlery priced at $990.
Equestrians are also advised to replace their helmet after every fall, even if the helmet shows no visible damage. Further, the most expensive helmets are usually the most popular. Charles Owen ($220-$740), GPA ($419-$669), and Samshield helmets ($399-$990) specifically are perceived as a badge of honor within the community. More affordable options like Troxel ($40.95-$129.95), TuffRider ($37.95-$89.95), or Ovation ($54.95-$76.95) are looked down upon as being cheap.
Riding boots are similarly expensive. Riders can choose to ride in paddock boots and half chaps or tall boots. Paddock boots are fairly affordable, ranging in price from around $40-$200. Half chaps have a slightly wider price range, with synthetic options starting around $35 and custom leather options costing upwards of $300. Tall boots, which are required for riders over the age of 14 at most shows, range from $100 to over $1,000. Boots are subject to the same perceptions as helmets – the most expensive brands are glorified and the least expensive are mocked.
At a minimum, riders can expect to spend $80-$100 on basic starter safety equipment. This doesn’t include gloves ($4-$120 per pair), riding pants ($30-$400 per pair), or accessories. It doesn’t stop there, either. For every category of clothing, there is likely an equestrian version that costs more. Dover Saddlery, one of the most popular equestrian retailers, sells breeches, helmets, protective vests, gloves, shirts, sweaters, jackets, vests, hats, scarves, underwear, socks, supportive braces to be worn under the clothing, boots, chaps, socks, belts, headbands, jewelry, and even sunglasses all priced at the equestrian premium.
So why do clothes for equestrians cost so much more? At least part of the price is due to high materials costs. Many of the more expensive shirts and pants that are available are made out of technical performance fabric. These clothes are designed to be durable, withstand wear and weather, and allow the person wearing them to have full freedom of movement. Many of the most popular tall boots are handcrafted from treated leathers that help make them resistant to water and wear. Samshield, an extremely popular brand, puts Swarovski crystals on many of its products.
Another cost driver is distance. Many of the most popular manufacturers of equestrian clothing and equipment are based in Europe. This means that retailers in other countries have higher prices to reflect the cost of product acquisition from the manufacturer.
Finally, some costs are set high because of a strategy called prestige pricing. Under this strategy, brands set high prices to convince buyers that their product is luxurious and high-quality. This is intended to attract buyers who want others to know just how much they can afford. It is why Gucci can charge almost $600 for an oversized t-shirt and why Samshield can charge almost $1,000 for a riding helmet.
The equestrian community buys into this strategy by glorifying higher-end clothing and looking down on cheaper options. Many riders turn their nose up at those who choose to ride in t-shirts and leggings or even in cheaper brands of equestrian clothing. Many coaches also require a certain level of “turn-out” for lessons. Well-fitted clothes can help the coach to see the rider’s body and lines better. However, a rider who shows up in comfortable clothing that fits reasonably well and meets safety requirements should never be made to feel as though they aren’t good enough or don’t belong because of the price tag of their clothes.
Level Two: Local Shows
Riders at the second level compete at local-level, unrecognized competitions – also known as “schooling shows.” This level does not necessarily require horse ownership or leasing. It does require the purchase of at least some equipment, payment for consistent training and moderate competition fees, and some travel (varies depending on location).
At level two, riders will still have to pay for lessons and riding clothes as well as some tack and riding equipment. They will also need to pay entry fees and a horse usage fee. According to a cost breakdown by Jumper Nation, competition fees at local shows are often between $200 and $300 which includes class fees, an office fee, coaching fees, and hauling fees. These fees go towards facility and venue maintenance, hiring personnel, advertising, prizes, and liability insurance paid by the showrunners. Many barn owners will often also charge a fee to use their horses for competitions, ranging from approximately $50-$150 per day.
We see the same pricing in show clothes and equipment as I discussed in the first section. However, at this level, the cost of one’s show clothing could influence how well they do in competition. Many horse show judges will tell you that “turn-out” and a “good first impression” are two of the most important factors in making their decision between otherwise equally matched competitors. For some, this means that they will select the rider with the most expensive/fashionable clothing, equipment, and horse. It may also mean that they choose a rider with a thinner body, a more recognizable name, or whiter skin – issues that will be discussed later in this series.
There have been calls for more objective judging in the horse world, especially in the equitation and hunter disciplines. For example, in dressage, judges are required to score each movement and leave comments. Then, they give the competitors score sheets with feedback so that they can understand their placement and perform better in the future. A similar system in the hunters and equitation would help to ensure that every rider has a more equal chance of winning.
Levels Three and Four: Rated Shows and Elite Competition
Riders at levels three and four compete in USEF-rated competitions. USEF competitors will likely pay for all of the above costs plus increased competition fees, membership fees, and horse lease/ownership fees.
This article from The Plaid Horse Magazine discusses a flaw in the USEF system that allows rated competition costs to skyrocket. Under current policy, horse show managers can “own” dates with USEF. This means that they are the only ones who can have a show in their discipline on that date. If the manager does not want to use the date, they can sell or lease the date to another show. These prices are very high – and increase for popular dates. In turn, this increases costs for the people entering the show. Other managers can sublease, which raises costs even more.
Additionally, to be competitive at these shows, riders will generally have to own or lease at least one horse that they can train with consistently. Personally, my horse costs about $10,000 per year to keep. This figure includes board, shoes, dental care, veterinary care, supplies, and insurance.
Horses that compete regularly will likely cost more per year. This could be due to increased board costs, more expensive shoes/veterinary care, and more expensive insurance premiums. On top of that, most horses that are trained to compete at rated shows will cost at least $20,000 to purchase. Horses that cost less upfront will likely need either a skilled owner or a trainer to develop the horse. Similarly, lease fees on competition-quality horses cost at least $20,000 per year on top of all the expenses mentioned above. For riders competing at the top level, they can expect to own or lease a string of horses (at least 3) with five or six-figure purchase and lease prices.
These high prices and other concerns with USEF decisions and governance have led to pushback from some show managers and competitors. This year, the World Equestrian Center announced that they will no longer be offering USEF shows. They held their 2021 winter circuit shows under the National Snaffle Bit Association. This lowered costs for exhibitors and proved that it was possible to fill a non-USEF show with entries. They even attracted top-level competitors. This kind of pushback may influence more affordable show rates in the future. The equestrian community must continue to use their dollar votes to influence change and make competitions more accessible.
Some of the high prices associated with English riding are unavoidable. We can’t stop feeding or caring for our horses, using durable materials for our equipment, or paying professionals for their services. However, some costs are unnecessarily high, which contributes to locking individuals who come from less wealthy backgrounds out of the sport.
To make riding more accessible, the equestrian community needs to push for lower costs where possible and increased funding in areas where costs cannot be lowered. Continuing to offer opportunities for students to work off lessons, leases, and boarding costs will allow those with less funding to have access to horses. Pushing for more objective judging will allow those who cannot afford designer brands to compete on a level playing field. Entering competitions that prioritize lower entry costs and accessibility may just change the future of our sport forever.
We cannot underestimate the power of this community and the importance of our dollar vote. We all know that with horses, every single one counts.