by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 5, 2026
Lee McKeever, McLain Ward’s sport horse manager for 38 years, will be inducted into the Show Jumping Hall of Fame March 1, along with Debbie Dolan’s Albany, ridden by Leslie Burr Howard on the 1984 Olympic show jumping gold medal team. The International Award at the Wellington, Fla., ceremony will go to Irish show jumper Kevin Babington.
Originally from Dublin, Ireland, Lee McKeever became involved with horses when he was 12. After leaving school, Lee found a job as a groom. He came to the U.S. in 1988 and began working for McLain’s father, Barney Ward, at Castle Hill Farm in Brewster, N.Y.
Lee oversees every aspect of caring for more than 30 horse and has played a key role in the success of such superstars as Sapphire, Rothchild, Antares F, HH Azur, Contagious, HH Carlos Z, Clinta, High Star Hero, First Lady, and many more. With Lee at his side, McLain has won 13 medals at the Olympics, Pan American Games and World Equestrian Games, as well as topping the FEI World Cup Finals in 2017, in addition to many major Grands Prix in the U.S. and around the world.
Lee is always happy to share his knowledge and expertise. His success and importance in the industry is recognized around the world and was formally acknowledged in 2018, when he was honored by the FEI with its Best Groom award.
McLain says of Lee, “He knows the horses better than anybody. He knows just how to have their conditioning and their health, and how to prevent and deal with injuries. There’s never been a moment when I doubted that my horses were in anything but the best of care and that they had the best preparation to be ready to compete.”
“This has never been a job for me,” said Lee. “It’s a way of life.”
Albany had a personality as lovely as his jumping style. He was a classic Thoroughbred who began his career on the racetrack. Foaled in 1975, the gelding proved more talented over fences than he was on the track. After starting his career with Joanne Kovacs and Jimmy Kohn, Albany was purchased for the 1983 season by Debbie Dolan (Sweeney). He was shown in grands prix by Debbie’s trainer, Leslie Burr Howard, while Debbie was still showing in the amateur-owner division.
Albany was named the American Grandprix Association (AGA) Horse of the Year in both 1983 and 1984, and he carried Leslie to the AGA Rider of the Year title in 1983.
In 1984, the pair won the $100,000 American Invitational in Tampa Stadium, and topped the U.S. Olympic trials to secure a spot on the Olympic team alongside Joe Fargis and Touch of Class, Conrad Homfeld (Abdullah) and Melanie Smith Taylor (Calypso). At the 1984 Games in Los Angeles, Albany teamed with the others to make history as the first U.S. team ever to win Olympic show jumping gold.
When Debbie took over the reins from Leslie, Albany continued his success. The new combination won the Cleveland Grand Prix in 1986 and the Winter Equestrian Festival Challenge Series in 1988. They also had top-five Grand Prix finishes at the National Horse Show and Valley Forge in 1986; at Old Salem, Cleveland and the American Invitational in 1988; and at Palm Beach and Baltimore in 1989. Internationally, the pair rode on winning Nations Cup teams at the Royal Winter Fair in Toronto in 1987 and at Guadalajara, Mexico, in 1988, while winning the Ladies Show Jumping Championship at Windsor, England, in 1989. When Albany’s Grand Prix career came to a close at the end of the decade, his earnings ranked third in AGA history.
Kevin Babington was part of Ireland’s gold medal team at the 2001 European Championships, placed eighth individually in the 2002 World Championships and fourth individually in the 2004 Olympic Games, while going on to win many grands prix after that. A 2019 fall ended his riding career but he continues to teach from his wheelchair. .
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 11, 2026
Life these days offers elements of normalcy for dressage trainer Michael Barisone, who rides often at his farm in Loxahatchee, Fla., where he stays busy with projects that keep the stable running, as well as going to Lowe’s and spending time with his fiance.
Once a week, he has sessions with Palm Beach County, Fla., clinical psychologist Dr. David Landry. During a hearing via Zoom in Superior Court, Morristown, N.J., this week, Landry reported that Barisone “shows up on time,” is “cooperative and easily engaged and very talkative in session.”
Barisone’s reaction when things don’t go as expected has been “appropriate,” according to Landry.
Where things aren’t normal for Barisone, 61, involves issues with the U.S. Center for SafeSport and the U.S. Equestrian Federation, which list him in the category “permanently ineligible,” citing sexual harassment, emotional misconduct and violation of the National Governing Body policies/bylaws. That means the 2008 U.S. Olympic reserve rider cannot take part in USEF-licensed shows, be present on the showgrounds during competition or give clinics attended by USEF members.
But the listing also includes the stipulation “subject to appeal/not yet final,” so Barisone will be going to arbitration with SafeSport on the matter.
He also has sued USEF. That suit contends federation officials did not properly address his 2019 concerns about the behavior of his tenant and student, Lauren Kanarek and her boyfriend, Rob Goodwin. While seeking help from USEF, an emotional Barisone contended he was “in a life and death situation due to the malevolent and dangerously unpredictable conduct of Kanarek and Goodwin,” and that he feared for his life. The lawsuit maintains the USEF was obligated to refer the matter to SafeSport, which it did not do.
Barisone had been trying to evict Kanarek and Goodwin from a home on what was then his Long Valley, N.J., farm. Seven days after making his complaint to USEF, Barisone was charged with attempted second-degree murder in connection with the shooting of Kanarek during a confrontation outside the home. She spent time in intensive care after receiving two bullets in the chest. Barisone says he does not remember the incident.
During Barisone’s 2022 trial, Kanarek admitted that “at some point” she was focused on destroying him. Barisone was found not guilty by reason of insanity and spent time in psychiatric hospitals before being freed under court supervision.
He appears in court twice a year for Krol hearings, such as the one on Tuesday. Krol hearings are held to evaluate the progress of a criminal defendant who has been confined to a psychiatric institution following a verdict like that received by Barisone. His next hearing is slated for August.
Landry offered no other significant revelations during the hearing, except to say at some point, he would be willing to discuss cutting back on the number of times he sees his patient, perhaps eventually to twice a month.
Barisone, who is able to travel between his Florida and New Jersey, was given permission by the court to expand his travel in order to spend time in Delaware cleaning up a family house, and in Rochester, N.Y., for dental work.
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 11, 2026
Even the best intentions and the greatest of care cannot save every horse who has severe medical issues.
McLain Ward announced that Imperial HBF (“Paddy”) was lost Sunday due to complications from colic.
“Paddy suffered a bout of colic and, despite two surgeries and every possible effort to save him, the incredibly difficult decision was made—by his owner Michael Smith, myself, and a devoted team of caretakers and veterinarians—that the kindest and most humane choice was to let him go,” McLain announced on social media.
“Paddy fought tirelessly, just as he did throughout his career as a competitor, and our entire family and team are devastated by his loss.
During this challenging time, his owner, Mike Smith, exemplified true horsemanship—spending countless hands-on hours by Paddy’s side, doing everything possible to support his recovery, and never wavering in his trust in the team caring for him.”
McLainn went on to thank veterinarians and support staff at Rood & Riddle Wellington, along with Dr. Tim Ober, saying they “were nothing short of extraordinary. As always, I am deeply grateful to my own team for their unwavering dedication and compassion throughout this process.
“Godspeed, Imperial.”
Michael said he was “so sad to loose this champion. Wish I could have owned him longer. He gave so much in the ring and brought that same spirit to his health challenge.”
The horse was developed by Tim Gredley of Great Britain, who bought him in 2022. McLain started competing the 13-year-old KWPN gelding by VDL Glasgow VH Merelsnest last April and was on the winning U.S. Nations Cup team in Rome a month later.
Bred by Laura Tinto of HBF Equestrian, Imperial was ridden by Scottish show jumper Alex Barr prior to Tim’s time with the horse..
“We started quite small and worked our way up,” said Tim. “It was a bit testing at times – I remember walking out of the grand prix at Wellington on my feet because he jumped so high – but when you know horses have that kind of quality and you have that belief in them, you’re always willing to put the time and effort into them. In the end, he came good.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 7, 2026
The highest-ranked U.S. dressage rider in the FEI standings, Christian Simonson, keeps accumulating honors.
Although he had never ridden a Grand Prix Special on Fleau De Baian, known as Felix, he won on his first try Saturday at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival. Christian topped the Modon CDI3* Grand Prix Special aboard the 16-year-old stallion by Jazz.
Christian Simonson and Fleau de Baian. (Centre Line Media photo)
Despite mistakes in both lines of changes on the diagonal, his other marks were high enough to give him a total of 70 percent. It was the first CDI victory for the pairing since Christian took over the ride in 2023 from Dutch star Adelinde Cornelissen, who rode Fleau De Baian’s full brother, Parzival, at two Olympics.
The win was special for Christian, number nine in the world, since he and Felix were eliminated for a blood speck in the horse’s mouth at the conclusion of his Grand Prix test during two weeks ago.
“Horses are always a learning process, and with Felix, I’ve learned an immense amount…already,” said the 23-year-old rider.
He called it a testament to his trainer, Adrienne Lyle, and their team.
“We can deconstruct what happened and look at how we can best understand it and move forward,” he said.
“Today was a good reflection of our mentality to always try to do right by our horses, understand them better and present them better.”
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by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 7, 2026
The first $500,000 class of the Winter Equestrian Festival Saturday night showcased a range of brilliant talent, but as he so often does, Germany’s Richie Vogel outshone them all.
Riding Gangster Montdesir (what an unflattering name for such a lovely horse), the European champion topped an eight-horse tiebreaker in the Fidelity Investments fixture before a capacity crowd at Wellington International.
Although the Selle Francais stallion is just turning 10, Ganster demonstrated plenty of polish going for time, edging runner-up Ben Maher of Great Britain on Enjeau de Grisien by 0.35 seconds after finishing the jump-off in 42.65 seconds. France’s Nina Mallevaey completed an all-foreign podium by taking third place on Dynastie de Beaufour 0/43.37.
“It was a quite thrilling jump-off for me,” said Richie.
“I tried not to leave the door too much open, but not risk too much,” he continued, noting Ben and the USA’s Lillie Keenan, who was fourth on Argan de Belliard, would be riding after he completed his round.
Richie Vogel and Gangster Montdesir on their way to victory in Wellington.
Noting that his mount by Kanan is “fairly green, I thought he jumped outstanding and was really with me everywhere,” Richie said proudly.
Ben said he has “grown up together,” with Enjeau, a son of Toulan he has ridden since the Selle Francais was seven.
“He’s always been in the shadows of some of the other horses, and he’s had to step up in previous months. He’s really taken the role on well,” said Ben.
“He’s been a little unlucky here and there, but he’s a very sharp, high-energy horse, and he’s an incredible learner. That’s been his biggest asset; he really wants to be a great horse.”
A field of 39 rode over the course designed by Gregory Bodo, who laid out the routes for the 2024 Paris Olympics with Santiago Varela.
World number two Kent Farrington of the U.S. was first to jump-off on Greya, who had the most outstanding record of any horse in the class, with nine jump-off wins and 11 podiums.
However, having done little with Greya since winning the Rolex grand prix in Geneva during December, Kent admitted to being “a little bit rusty. if I’m honest, from her top form.”
Kent nearly pulled it off, clocked in 40.43 seconds for the fastest time of the jump-off only to topple the front rail of the final fence, an oxer. He wound up fifth.
Fidelity winner Richie Vogel, center, with runner-up Ben Maher and third-place Nina Mallevaey.
The tight time allowed of 83 seconds in the first round caught a number of horses, as did a gold plank five strides from an oxer. The triple combination, with multi-colored rails as the A and C elements and a horizontally striped green rails in the middle, also incurred a good share of the penalties.
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by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 14, 2026
A new free feature called Lifetime Care Contacts is available for for horses registered with the U.S. Equestrian Federation. It enables USEF members to add their names to a horse’s USEF record. It means that if the horse is someday be in need of financial assistance or a home, the member would like to be contacted.
“We understand that many breeders, owners, athletes, and grooms care deeply for the horses who have touched their lives and want to be there for them if they should ever fall on hard times,” said USEF CEO Bill Moroney, explaining the federation realized it could help.
The Lifetime Care Contact feature is free for USEF members or those who have a free fan account to add themselves to a horse’s record, because horse data is part of the membership section of the US Equestrian website. The feature will be accessible at no cost.
Those who want to add themselves as Lifetime Care Contacts to a horse’s USEF record may go to the Lifetime Care tile in the USEF Dashboard and search for the horse you’re looking for, using the horse’s recorded name or USEF number. Then click the button prompting you to add your contact information to that horse’s list. You’ll see a list of horses for whom you’re listed as the Lifetime Care Contact at the bottom of the page.
If you have found a horse in need and want to see if they have a Lifetime Care Contact on file, you will need a USEF membership or free fan account to access the Horse Search. Visit the Lifetime Care tile on the Member Dashboard and use the horse’s recorded name or microchip number to locate it You will be prompted to verify you’re assisting this horse and can click a button to be sent an email with that horse’s Lifetime Care Contact information.
Click here to learn more about this program and for a list of frequently asked questions.
The Federation can’t require anyone to reach out to a horse’s Lifetime Care Contact, but the program can make it easier for a horse in need to be connected with someone who has expressed an interest in helping them.
The Lifetime Care system is designed as a safety net for horses, and its use is voluntary. US Equestrian is unable to require that someone consult a Lifetime Care contact before moving, selling, or transferring a horse. The goal of the feature is to facilitate connections as needed, but this program can only be as effective as the scope of its use.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 14, 2026
The historic Essex Horse Trials, which had a successful outing as a one-day competition last year, is increasing the offerings for its 2026 edition at Moorland Farms in Far Hills, N.J., this spring.
The popular Modified division has been added to the May 31 schedule, which runs all the way through the ranks including Preliminary, Training, Beginner Novice and Novice, as well as Starter. So there’s a spot for every horse and rider with a wide range of ability and experience. Want to try eventing for the first time? Essex is a great place to begin.
The Essex Horse Trials has a special venue at Moorland Farms in Far Hills, N.J.
Those who aren’t competing have opportunities as well. For $1,500, anyone can sponsor a jump for the Modified division. Click here for a link to sponsorship opportunities, including a fence that advertises your business, farm or favorite cause.Creativity is the key –sponsors can design the obstacles any way they like. There will be a contest for riders and spectators to select their favorite fence.
Fun fences are a highlight of the Essex Horse Trials.
New for 2026 is a sponsor tent by the show jumping arena, with refreshments to enjoy while watching the action. For more information or to sign up as a volunteer, go to essexhorsestrials.net
by Nancy Jaffer | Feb 4, 2026
The Final Four used to be the highlight of the world show jumping championships. It offered suspenseful moments when the top four riders would jump the last course of the show, then return on their rivals’ mounts and take the fences three more times to determine the placings.
In the era when Final Four competition was most intriguing, the horses usually were quite different from each other. As such, they presented a challenge to the riders. At the 1982 championships in Dublin, for instance, I remember the compact Brit, Malcolm Pyrah, climbing aboard Fire, the massive warmblood ridden by Germany’s Norbert Koof, and realizing his hopes were done for on that mountain of an animal. Norbert wound up as world champion; Malcolm settled for second place
Back before bloodlines became increasingly mix and match, horses from each nation often represented a distinctive look and required a particular approach that varied by country. Seeing how riders of different backgrounds coped and adjusted to each horse often revealed great equestrian insight as well as luck, But times change, and when show jumpers regularly began selling for seven figures, it seemed the wisest course was to let them dance only with the rider who brung them (to slightly revise a quaint expression).
At the 2014 show jumping world championships, Beezie Madden and Robert Ridland watched as Patrice Delaveau rode Beezie’s mount, Cortes C.
Thus the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy,. France, was the last time for the show jumping Final Four, with a former Olympic champion, Jeroen Dubbeldam of the Netherlands, taking the honors.
There was excitement at the last Final Four show jumping presentation in 2014, where Jeroen Dubbeldam won, France’s Patrice Delaveau was second and Beezie Madden claimed bronze. (Photo © 2014 by Nancy Jaffer)
Some had derisively deemed it the world catch-riding championship, which really isn’t the point. And it was felt by many that these horses didn’t need to jump three extra rounds after nearly a week that included team competition, as well as individual efforts.
But the Final Four concept lived on for 11 more years (with much smaller fences) at the Platinum Performance/U.S. Equestrian Federation Show Jumping Talent Search Finals, in both the East and West venues.
After the flat phase, gymnastics and jumping a course, the four highest-scoring riders would jump a shorter course to determine the final placings, which weren’t decided until each rider had finished the route on the others’ horses — just like the world championships format.
There were challenges for the Talent Search competitors with that approach, but as the years passed and the Juniors and Young Riders involved became ever-more skilled, the ride-off usually boiled down to fine points (though not always; refusals and other mishaps were not unknown).
The Talent Search began in 1982 with the idea of developing riders who could someday represent the U.S. on international teams. It had many memorable winners who went on to do that, including McLain Ward (1990) and Brianne Goutal (2004) in the East and in the West, Meredith Michaels (1986, though she eventually rode for Germany) and Skylar Wireman (2020), who is on the League of Nations squad in Abu Dhabi next week.
The Talent Search has been through many iterations over the years (at one point it was run on a grand prix field with a grob and a bank at the U.S. Equestrian Team’s Gladstone headquarters). But the biggest change is coming this autumn, when the Final Four will be no more. The changes were made with recommendations from the USEF’s Talent Search task force, sent on to the show jumping committee (chaired by Beezie Madden, who coincidentally rode in the 2014 world show jumping championships’ Final Four.)
USEF Youth Chef D’Equipe DiAnn Langer, an advisor to the task force, noted eliminating the Final Four also is a horse welfare issue. As she pointed out, in the era of social license to operate, having the horses jump four rounds instead of one in the final phase could be interpreted as asking too much of them.
Word came out this week that the Talent Search Final Four is being replaced by a different test for the top 10. The first three phases will remain pretty much the same (the flatwork will involve a minimum of eight movements to be performed in two and one-half minutes before going on to gymnastics) and all competitors will jump a course in the third segment.
Explaining the decision to do away with the Final Four, USEF Managing Director of Show Jumping Lizzy Chesson said the competition “is an important part of the jumping pathway.”
She added that those offering input for the change were “making sure it (the Talent Search) stays relevant to where the sport is gong at the top level and keeping it fresh and exciting,”
Dropping the Final Four in favor of a test for the top 10 came because “we were trying to make it a jumping final mixed with equitation,” Lizzy said.
Now the final phase will be a modified winning round format on the clock, held over a shortened 1.15-meter course.
“Judges will evaluate athletes’ ability to combine speed with short turns, accuracy, efficient track selection, and control, while maintaining classical riding principles and showcasing the horse’s ability to jump clear,” the specifications state.
Each rail down will result in a 4-point deduction, but time and faults will not be the sole determining factors.
“Time has become far more critical in jumping,” Lizzy pointed out. A 2022 rule change that involved going from one time penalty added for every four seconds commenced over the time allowed, to one penalty for every second commenced, has made a big difference. And in League of Nations competition, she noted, ties in jumping faults are broken by the time taken on course.
News that the Final Four would be no more came as a surprise to some top trainers whose students had won the Talent Search multiple times.
In regard to how eliminating the Final Four will affect the Talent Search, Stacia Madden said, “I think it makes it much more like any other competition.
Stacia, who trained 2024 Talent Search East winner Taylor Cawley, observed, “I think the Final Four was one of the real goals and objectives of the kids. It was a very unique format. It was such a level playing field. It’s not like Washington (the Washington International Horse Show Equitation Finals) where the draw of the horse really plays into it. Sometimes that can be a real game-changer.”
The 2024 Talent Search East winner Taylor Cawley with her mother, Molly Ashe Cawley, and trainer Stacia Madden.
In the Washington, the riders who switch off their mount ride only one other horse, and if that horse happened to be quirky, there were no other chances, the way there were in the Final Four.
“When you had to ride all the different horses (in the Final Four) it was a very level playing field, I thought,” Stacia commented.
She added, “I was not privy to any of the conversations to know why this was changed. Nobody had asked my opinion, which was fine, but I was just a little bit surprised that I didn’t hear anything about it beforehand.”
Eleanor Rudnicki jumping in the 2025 Talent Search Finals East.
Trainer Missy Clark, who coached the Talent Search East’s 2025 winner, Eleanor Rudnicki, noted, “There’s two sides to every coin,” but added, “when the World Equestrian Games eliminated the (show jumping) Final Four, I can’t disagree with that. It was great while it happened.”
The presentation for the 2025 Platinum Performance/USEF Show Jumping Talent Search Finals East.
In terms of dropping the Final Four in both the world championships and the Talent Search, however, she noted, “I think it’s a better format for today’s world.”
Missy believes it’s better for the horses too, “it’s not so much jumping in one day for them. I support the decision.”
Andre Dignelli, a trainer who won the class himself in 1985 when he was a young rider, said of the decision to drop the Final Four, “I think initially it’s going to be a shock, because a lot of kids, as they’re growing up, probably dream of riding in the top four. That’s what made those finals different.”
At first, he commented, “it’s going to feel like a loss, but I think if they do it right, it’s going to be okay. Your ability to ride a jump-off smoothly is basically going to be the winner. You’ll probably see more kids that are in the lead stay in the lead, you probably won’t see as much jumbling around.”
Andre pointed out, “I think it will probably work and in the end, I think it’s probably a good thing.”
He noted that many of the horses have more demands on them after the Talent Search because they will going on to other finals in the ensuing weeks. At the same time, Andre did mention that “the Final Four gave those kids that were really, really good riders who had ridden a lot of different horses, but didn’t have the one famous horse, the opportunity to maybe out-ride the other kids.”
In his case, he said, “Once I was given the opportunity it gave me a shot at winning.”
Taylor Cawley, the 2024 Talent Search East winner, said that for her and the other three who made it to the last phase that year, participating in the Final Four was important.
“That was my favorite part of my entire equitation career, the finals and the final four switch,” said Taylor, who also won the ASPCA Maclay finals at the National Horse Show..
At the Talent Search, she said, “I feel like that was where I learned so much, from riding the other riders’ horses and watching the other riders, then kind of getting to feel it out on your own. The other riders, all four of us, that was our goal. that was what we looked forward to.”
Taylor’s mother, trainer and grand prix rider Molly Ashe Cawley, was second in the Talent Search herself in 1987 and her brother, Neil Ashe, won the class in 1986. Molly, who also had been a Talent Search judge in the past, was nostalgic about the Final Four.
“I think it’s probably nicer to the horses to do one more round, instead of four,” she conceded.
“But the Final Four, that was something. Now it’s feeling like another equitation final.”
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 29, 2026
At age 19 after a brilliant career, Ballaghmor Class will leave the arena for good, his rider, Oliver Townend has announced.
He described “Thomas” as the horse is known, “as one of the most successful event horses in history and a phenomenal partner and teammate to me.”
Citing “Thomas’s consistency at the top level of the sport,” Oliver noted the flea-bitten grey’s brilliance has been well-documented.
“He won Burghley on his CCI5* debut at just 10 years old and from there, went from strength to strength to achieve a further three titles at the top level, plus an Olympic team gold medal at Tokyo 2020. He completed 13 five-star events in his career and finished in the top-five 11 times”.
In the U.S., his victories included the MARS Maryland and Kentucky 5-stars. His final start was last October in the Pau, France, 5-star, where he finished twenty-first. Thomas is an Irish Sport Horse by the Holsteiner Courage II.
Oliver said, “Thank you to Thomas’s owners, Karyn Shuter, Angela Hislop and Val Ryan for supporting the fantastic journey that we have all been on together with this incredibly special horse, and to our team who have looked after him so beautifully over the last 14 years.”
Thomas will make his final bow at a retirement ceremony in the main arena a the Defender Burghley Horse Trials Sept. 6. He won that testing 5-star twice, most recently in 2023.
by Nancy Jaffer | Jan 26, 2026
The price of showing–and the ever-rising cost of owning horses–have been the hot topics over the last few years. For the U.S. Equestrian Federation, it came to a head with pushback when a fee increase (effective April 1) was announced last year.
In an effort to find answers, at its annual meeting this month USEF held a forum with key figures from the industry to discuss competition costs. The federation noted that a University of Guelph (Canada) study released late last year found that the cost of keeping a horse in that country had risen 466 percent since 2010, while the average income only rose 15 percent. As USEF pointed out, the cost of showing isn’t just horsekeeping plus the amount paid for entering shows. There also are the fees for hotels, travel, training and coaching, meals, and more.
All of this is why US Equestrian included a panel discussion on competition costs as part of the educational program in its 2026 annual meeting, which was held Jan. 15 to Jan. 17 in Louisville, Ky. Simply said, we hear our members’ frustration and decided to host a panel discussion between horse show managers, competitors and trainers to start the conversation. Panel experts , representatives of various breeds and disciplines, as large and small competition organizers, trainers, competitors, and breed group leadership.
Judy Sloan, USEF board member and amateur competitor, moderated the panel; that included: U.S. Hunter Jumper Association President Britt McCormick; Michael Stone, president of Wellington International, home of the Winter Equestrian Festival; Lisa Blackstone, Arabian Horse Association president and exhibitor; Tim Roesink, Morgan trainer, judge, Morgan Gold Cup Regional Horse Show president and Heather Petersen, show manager, dressage steward/TD, amateur competitor and horse show mom.
We feel it is worthwhile to recap the session (edited for length) on this website, because the topic is on everyone’s mind. If you have time to listen to the whole session, here is a link to a replay of the presentation. Otherwise, go to the summary below.
USEF stated: To understand why the entry and other fees you’re paying have been going up, it’s helpful to first understand the expenses a competition organizer has to cover. Whether or not they’re running a sanctioned show, they have to pay for the facility, staff people, officials (including per diems and travel-associated costs), prizes, and sometimes footing maintenance or even footing changes.
Petersen runs a number of dressage and eventing shows around the country and presented averages from last year’s competition season. For her larger shows, the average budget was between $150,000 to $200,000, of which 40 to 50 percent is paid to the facility. Stalls cost about half that 40 to 50 percent, sometimes as much as $50,000. Shavings are also within that facility budget; for Petersen’s competitions, the horse show was charged an average of $14 to $16 a bag for them. Travel and lodging for officials and employees were about 10 percent of the total budget. Golf cart rental was about 2.5 percent or $5,000, and the day rates for judges, vets, farriers, and EMTs were about $27,000 for a four- or five-day show on a $200,000 budget.
Petersen pointed out that much of the profit for these shows came from sponsorship – otherwise, they would have lost money. McCormick, likewise, recalled operating shows with a similar total budget that could either come out $5,000 in the black or the red, which prompted him to stop organizing competitions years ago.
Petersen says she often hears frustrations from competitors who believe that USEF and affiliate fees are what drive horse show prices up. Her analysis found that on average, the fees for both USEF and the U.S. Dressage Federation were about $6,000 of a $200,000 budget, or 3 percent each. USEF requirements do result in other expenses, such as a veterinarian and an EMT, but some of her shows also have nighttime security or biosecurity personnel who help to verify vaccination and Coggins tests, which aren’t required by USEF but are safety and welfare services.
Roesink, who is chairman of the Gold Cup Horse Show, said that Morgan competition for 200 to 250 horses costs about $160,000 to put on, of which $70,000 is the facility cost. Stone agreed that entry fees don’t come close to covering the prize money in Wellington. WEF has 530 employees during the show season, 100 of whom stay year-round.
Expectations vs. Costs
One recent development that factors into the expense of horse shows is an evolving expectation of facility features, particularly footing. Since the evolution of artificial footing, panelists agreed many competitors expect shows to offer engineered footing but may not realize that it costs seven figures to install and to maintain.
“I think we’re our own worst enemy,” said McCormick. “We’ve insisted on having this specialized engineered footing for whatever reason. For the upper levels, yes, that’s a game changer, but for the most part, the idea of riding on sand or grass is just out the window. And that limits your abilities to put on a horse show. How do we walk that back? I’m not sure we can.”
Petersen was quoted $85,000 to $125,000 at one facility to remove the existing sand footing in one arena and replace it with engineered footing after her competitors demanded it.
“If that’s the footing you guys want, that’s what we have to pay,” she said. “And that cost gets passed to you.”
Certainly, panelists agreed, the artificial footing is a huge safety advantage for high-impact competitions, but there’s no data on whether it makes just as much sense for low-impact sports or levels.
Facilities
Petersen reflected on the number of facilities she had seen close or convert away from horse show rentals in the time she has been managing competitions. The general loss of agricultural land has been a factor in some cases, while in others horse shows have lost out to other events that bring in more people at a lesser cost to the facility.
For some organizers, such as those running breed shows, there may be a range of disciplines hosted at one event, each of which come with different footing or facility needs. That can make finding the right host (or even just a willing one) a challenge.
Many competitors have wondered why the same stall has a different cost at one show, compared to the show there one week earlier. Sometimes, this comes down to discipline and how the horse show is structured. Hunter/jumper classes and dressage classes have similar average entry fees for non-international, non-championship classes, but hunters and jumpers may make more appearances in a show (which may cover more days) than a dressage horse will. Some breeds and disciplines book more or less tack stalls and RV spots, which also affects the money an organizer can make on those line items.
Challenges facing the smaller shows
The panelists agreed that the top levels of their sports are strong when it comes to entries – despite the expense that comes with them. What concerns them is the smaller shows. Roesink said the Morgan breed has experienced growth in the number of smaller competitions, but this can cannibalize entries. In the Arabian breed shows, Blackstone pointed out that many of the smaller shows were formerly organized by local and state Arabian clubs and had a volunteer culture as well as a social element. That structure is shifting away from these volunteer-led efforts, and limiting opportunities at that level.
Grassroots
The biggest concern raised by the audience (both in-person and virtual) is where the next generation of competitors will come from. In a world that’s increasingly full of year-round sports opportunities for youth that are less costly, many in attendance felt it’s harder for families to find affordable lesson barns. Those that do can have a hard time grasping the cost difference between going to a schooling competition versus an organized show. The latter may make sense for riders hoping to qualify for regional or national championships, while the former may be a better entry point for beginners who don’t have those priorities.
“I think the importance of USEF is the fairness of sport,” Roesink said. “I think when you don’t have rules and regulations, and when you go unrated, it becomes a slippery slope.”
McCormick agreed that the extras USEF offers – maintaining the rulebook, performing drug testing, organizing investigations and resolutions, SafeSport, and other programs and services – may seem like extras, but they are there for everyone.
“We’re a little like insurance — you don’t need it until you do. And when you do, there’s no replacing it,” he said.
There are programs out there to make riding more affordable. Petersen cited urban farm programs, which can help subsidize the cost of lessons, while the U.S. Dressage Federation recently launched a grant program for dressage lesson barns and offers Opportunity Classes at a reduced cost to competitors. USEF offers USEF Lite as a way to reduce exhibitor and competition organizer costs, while enabling riders to get many of the benefits of a sanctioned environment.
Members were allowed to ask questions, such as, “Why can’t USEF put a cap on what shows charge for entries and other fees?”
McCormick: “I think people have to understand that USEF (and most affiliates) don’t ‘own’ the competitions and market forces drive prices. It would be impossible and unwise to regulate fees. One example that I give is when USEF eliminated the ability of local and state organizations to charge non-member fees or participation fees, a lot of those organizations disappeared and we are now feeling the effects of those local organizations either being gone or no longer affiliated with the USEF.”
Stone: “The cap for fees is not as easy as it seems. I think that fees should always be looked at. The FEI is currently looking at fees that are being charged in Europe in the jumper discipline, where there are fees for almost everything, even an unloading fee when the horses arrive. However, every location has different circumstances and different costs, so a show in Iowa has a completely different cost basis than one in California or Wellington. I don’t think the USEF or indeed any affiliate is able to decide that say the office fees should be capped at $25, or the stabling at $300, as every situation is different. From my perspective it would not be feasible.”
Why do I have to pay both affiliate and USEF fees?
McCormick: “The reasons for being required to belong to the affiliate as well as the USEF are numerous, but for the most part, there are multiple organizations with different roles and responsibilities.
Speaking for USHJA, the way we simplify it is that USHJA provides programs, education and advocacy, while USEF is in charge of licensing and regulation.”
Part of the expense of showing is all the gear. I feel like if others have the highest-end attire and tack, I need to have that too or I’ll be at a disadvantage in a subjectively-judged sport.
Petersen: Clothes are perceived as making a difference, but if they are legal, then the horse is really the only thing the judges are looking at.
Blackstone: I am an Arabian judge and never do you judge on show clothes, so long as they are legal. The horse is being judged only. This is a non issue.
