15/09/2025
The cost of Equestrian Sport- a taboo subject that we commonly sweep under the rug, because let’s face it.. do we REALLY want to know what it’s costing us? But whatever it is, it’s having a huge impact on many things in the equine industry.. including our shows.
However, the cost of living has got to be contributing to the dwindling numbers of entries at events over recent years. I have umm’d and ahh’d over writing a post like this, but it is the topic of conversation that is regularly in all of our circles.. all with the same question we are all asking ourselves- how do we continue doing this?
It’s a merry go round of the rising cost of living, event fees, lack of volunteers and sky rocketing horse prices that see the ‘hobby rider’ dropping off that list of competitors.
Having a financial analyst and accounting background, I (somewhat stupidly) ran some numbers to know what we are really up against. Looking at the bare necessities of only Feed, Shoeing, Grazing (if you don’t own your own land or have a mortgage) and Insurance (used as an example here instead of vet fees) we’re looking at at least $2000 a month per horse. Pair that with the governments average cost of living at $4,284 per month (if you’re a single person), that’s $6,284 per month of just NECESSITIES. No gear, no entry fees, nothing. And yes, one horse.
So, we need to be making at minimum a 100k salary (taking into consideration tax) to make it viable for the necessities of one horse.. yet somehow we manage, sacrifice many other things to make ends meet, or simply, we give up.
Then take into consideration memberships, registrations, diesel, vehicle running costs, gear, physio and entry fees on top of all of the necessities, and the price further skyrockets. Now these costs may not apply to everyone, some may be more or less, but it’s a ball park figure nonetheless.
Going back many years the circuit shows were absolutely buzzing. We would be away almost every weekend with a truck full of horses, and at the time, it seemed like everyone else was like us.. we scraped together whatever we had, went away to these shows (which were absolutely packed with numbers in classes) and had hot competition with our friends in these classes. We were by no means professional riders, but chased the sport for the fun of it and there were many others like us. It was achievable.
Now, the hobby rider is barely seen.
These riders used to be the bread and butter of the sport.. the ones who used to make up most of the entries.. the ones who would get lessons from the professional riders.. the ones who would buy the horses off those who did our sport for a living, or got those cool station breds for achievable money and made them into awesome competitive horses which made up our entries.
The majority of entries attending shows these days are professional riders or breeders. There are very few pony classes. The pony riders are the future of our sport and the professional riders rely on the hobby rider to break in, buy their produced horses and go to them for lessons. The pony riders turn into the future professionals of our industry if they choose this as a career path.. however, this outlook is now looking pretty grim.
The once affordable station, gizzy or east coast bred horses are now very few and far between when looking at the entry lists- but why? Are there not many left and we are losing these lines? Have we lost the horseman with an eye for a good thoroughbred? Is it because we thought 15 years ago that we needed European blood to be competitive, or get anywhere in the sport, and it’s now unachievable for most price wise? Or are there other reasons?
Are we lacking volunteers to run our shows? Are show organisers even paid these days? Or are we doing enough for our sponsors to make it worthwhile them coming back to support the show for consecutive years to come?
After all of the discussions over the recent HOY show, there are so many questions we all have, but I feel like something finally needs to be said in striking up a discussion amongst our riders to knit together and bring our numbers back up and help get these shows back to what they used to be, at a somewhat affordable cost.
If that exists. Let’s make it happen
