The survival of struggling national-level jumping show circuits, the places where riders can improve their skills at less cost than on the international level, is a global concern.
It was a topic last week at both the U.S. Hunter Jumper Association’s annual meeting in Florida and the International Jumper Riders Club general assembly in Geneva.
Jessica Kurten, an FEI board member and chair of the IJRC athletes committee, pointed out there is an advantage for riders to save money by competing in national classes until they are ready to move up to FEI.
She mentioned that while the national circuits have declined in some countries — it has been a real cause for concern in the U.S. — in others, they are still highly regarded. In Switzerland, for instance, most elite riders support national circuits.
Those in attendance at the IJRC session agreed, however, it would be difficult to find organizers for new or revived national shows when there already are waiting lists for the increasing number of international 2- and 3-star circuits, which are more lucrative to run.
“It’s seen as ‘cool’ to be competing alongside you guys,” Irene Verheul, secretary general of Equestrian Organisers and director of Jumping Amsterdam, told the elite riders in attendance at the IJRC session.
“Everyone wants to compete 2- star and 3-star. People like to be able to say they are going to an international show.”
The U.S. has seen a proliferation of what some at the USHJA meeting referred to as the “big box shows,” which run for weeks at a time. That means riders don’t have to travel as often to compete.
Several of the multi-week show locations, such as TerraNova and the World Equestrian Center, both in Florida have housing available that is adjacent. In Wellington, home of the Winter Equestrian Festival and the Adequan Global Dressage Festival, there long has been a real estate play, with many riders owning second (or first) homes and farms in the village.
Years ago, the major shows in the U.S. offered only major classes. The main trainer would go there with the stable’s more experienced competitors, while an assistant would take the barn’s lower-level riders to smaller, or local, shows.
The big shows now offer divisions that may go down to itty-bitty level, meaning every rider in the barn can compete there, even those who are just starting out.
As 5-star shows proliferate — often on the dates of the smaller shows — the latter often experience difficulty bringing in enough exhibitors to keep going. The situation also affects the USA’s historic boutique shows, even those with a well-known profile and FEI classes, because they run for only a week or two on the crowded calendar.
At the USHJA meeting, Louise Serio, a prominent figure in the hunter community who was involved with the former Brandywine show in Pennsylvania, noted the boutique shows “may struggle with footing. Some of them struggle with all the expenses of the horse shows. It’s amazing how much it costs to put on a horse show.”
USHJA President Britt McCormick wondered, “Are we our own worst enemy? Now we insist on having engineered footing in every single ring, from short stirrup all the way to the international derby ring, and the jumper ring. We have created a culture where if it’s not good enough, we don’t go.”
He pointed out, “Not that long ago, jumping on sand, jumping on grass, was the foundation of the sport. Have we created an unsustainable system? Once those boutique horse shows are gone, they don’t come back. And what does that do to us? This is a discussion we need to have on what does quality really mean, and what’s acceptable and what’s not.”
There has been a suggestion at the meeting that perhaps the USHJA Foundation could help boutique shows with items they need; a tractor for instance.
Britt responded, “Part of the thing we struggle with is, are we responsible (as an organization) for making sure horse shows stay in business? I don’t think so; that’s not our job.”
Another item of interest for the industry involves a new listing of maximum fees FEI organizers can charge show jumpers for services and utilities. It will be implemented in April. Eleonora Ottaviana, executive director of the IJRC described some of those charges as “fantasy costs.”
“We understand the situation is different indoors and outdoors and that times are changing,” she said, but even so, “the riders can contribute to, but not pay the full bill.”
She added there is confidence that having caps on those charges “will not cause any problems for shows that already operate in a professional and responsible manner.”
However, it was noted that a separate discussion on the subject is still needed in the U.S., “where costs are notably higher.”
Eleanora pointed out young riders cannot be asked to spend 6,000-8,000 Euros, or even more in dollars, on entry fees. Riders at 2- and 3-stars are hardest hit, with lower prize money but increasing costs.
She said it is “not fair to use the maximum cost allowed and the minimum prize money request.”