hobbyhorse23
Well-Known Member
...due to budget concerns and a change in my work schedule which would have required far more vacation time per show than in the past.
It was very important to me to try and support all three AMHR shows in Washington this year despite some scheduling issues with a couple of shows moving their dates but when I looked at the weather and the entry fees I had to admit it simply wasn't worth it to attend the one in two weeks. They aren't offering a single non-rated fun class, entry fees for the ammy classes are the same as the open ones (which is far more expensive than ammy classes at the other two shows), and by the time I got done it would have cost me almost four hundred dollars to get there and show two horses in seven classes total. Add that to all the work getting ready and the lack of entries in my last show and that is WAY too much money for a couple of 5 cent ribbons that don't even mean anything because there was no competition.
The economy and gas prices being what they are, why on earth aren't the clubs doing more to entice showers?? I don't want to skip the other two shows because they've got non-rated fun classes, opportunities for pairs, chariots and green horses, discounts for amateurs, after-show activities and other fun stuff but this one really had nothing except a potluck exhibitor dinner.
I'm looking at next year with two driving horses and have no idea how I'm going to be able to afford to show. It would be a tremendous help to small showers like me if our clubs would offer package deals like so many other parts of the country are doing. Unlimited classes for $xx would ease the burden on the attendees and generate far more entries in each class at the same time, improving things for everyone.
I know I currently skip Showmanship, Obstacle, Hunter, Jumper and anything Open simply because I can't afford the additional entry dollars but if I had a flat entry rate I'd enter all of those with at least one horse, probably two, and in both divisions. More entries = more points and more meaningful wins = happier exhibitors who want to come back next year.
It's getting to the point where it doesn't feel worth it to go as most of the classes are so small. We can fix that!
Leia
It was very important to me to try and support all three AMHR shows in Washington this year despite some scheduling issues with a couple of shows moving their dates but when I looked at the weather and the entry fees I had to admit it simply wasn't worth it to attend the one in two weeks. They aren't offering a single non-rated fun class, entry fees for the ammy classes are the same as the open ones (which is far more expensive than ammy classes at the other two shows), and by the time I got done it would have cost me almost four hundred dollars to get there and show two horses in seven classes total. Add that to all the work getting ready and the lack of entries in my last show and that is WAY too much money for a couple of 5 cent ribbons that don't even mean anything because there was no competition.
The economy and gas prices being what they are, why on earth aren't the clubs doing more to entice showers?? I don't want to skip the other two shows because they've got non-rated fun classes, opportunities for pairs, chariots and green horses, discounts for amateurs, after-show activities and other fun stuff but this one really had nothing except a potluck exhibitor dinner.
I'm looking at next year with two driving horses and have no idea how I'm going to be able to afford to show. It would be a tremendous help to small showers like me if our clubs would offer package deals like so many other parts of the country are doing. Unlimited classes for $xx would ease the burden on the attendees and generate far more entries in each class at the same time, improving things for everyone.
Leia
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