Where Will All The Horse Shows - and Showers - Go?

I've been a horse owner for over 20 years now. We all understand that taking on a 1,000+ lb. animal requires a lot of emotional involvement, love of the creature itself, and, perhaps most of all, the financial commitment. It can sometimes be a daunting task for those weekend owners who have their horses boarded out and ride as a hobby, for enjoyment. For those who have one horse, it's been challenging enough in recent times - for those of us with more than that, it may be getting a bit tricky.

I don't think I have to say it out loud for everyone reading this to agree that the United States is in a financial panic. You can't turn on the news, listen to the radio, or read any major internet news web site without hearing about the financial crisis and recession that we're in, or at least starting. With gas (and diesel) prices soaring to places we never thought they would go, I don't think there's a person in this country that isn't saying 'uh oh' and seriously reconsidering where their money is spent. I know I am. And probably many other horse owners are as well. And let's face it - as much as we love our equine friends, they are not necessarily on the 'essentials for life' list like food, water and air (although I would definitely say I have sacrificed my own food intake over the years for my horses, when the need arose).

Last year was a great year for me and my show horses. I traveled to Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania and just about everywhere in between, showing miniature horses at the Local, Regional and World level. I showed 4 miniature horses last year in various performance events, with each of them (thankfully) having extremely successful show records to show for it (so the 15,000+ miles on my new truck wasn't entirely in vain). We even racked up a few AMHA World Top Tens and Top Fives, 3 AMHA Eastern Championship titles, an AMHR Country Pleasure Driving Hall of Fame induction, an AMHR All-Stars Top Ten in Showmanship, and an AMHA Honor Roll Top Ten in Showmanship, along with the much-anticipated retirement of my favorite miniature stallion from his competitive career.

But this year is going to be very different, it seems. Much as I want to show like I did last year, there's a lot of factors that are weighing in at once. Diesel is $4.35 a gallon (holy cow!), and rising. Feed prices are rising fast. The bale of hay that I paid $2.75 for last year is now up to $5 or more. I'm sure the Northwest isn't the only area being affected by this economic problem, and I'm sure I'm not the only horse person this year suddenly not preparing as much for my horse's show careers as I'm preparing for how I'm going to pay for their feed in July and August.

I've watched horse shows fluctuate over the past 20 years - one year there's 30 horses in a class, the next there's 80, the one after that there's 15. It all depends on a number of miscellaneous factors, particularly at the higher levels of competition.

But my curiosity is piqued as we start April of 2008.... When most people are usually putting the finishing touches on their show critters this time of year, and buying new shiny equipment to wow the judges - are they now carefully setting aside their show equipment and bracing themselves for the economic times to come, vowing to show in 2009 instead? Are they weighing in the factors of paying their own personal bills (mortgage, credit cards, utility bills) against the 'fun' factor of showing their equines in competition? And what about those who keep their equines being conditioned by trainers - are they suddenly moving those animals to boarding facilities or home, to save their money for more necessary things in life like the car payment or their mortgage?

I have been a horse show junkie for as long as I can remember. Like many others like me who are addicted to such adventures, regardless of their level, I will literally do just about anything to afford to go to a horse show. I've been very clever over the years in my abilities to make enough money to show at the level I love, yet this year I'm sitting back and saying 'OK, I have to make sure there's going to be enough money to keep my animals fed this year - for the first time in a long time, this showing thing might have to be put on hold.'

Am I the only one? I sincerely doubt it. And don't think I'll be alone in my hesitations about showing horses anytime soon, with the massive media frenzy that tends to feed on people's fears (i.e 'There's going to be a blizzard, stock up on bread and milk' , or, perhaps, similar panic to the Beanie Baby craze of the late 90's), and take all the fun out of being alive. Right now my herd isn't too large - I did some shifting around over the winter, sold a few, and I currently have far less critters on the property than I normally would this time of year. And while usually I have planned well into the summer what shows I will be attending and who I'm taking to the Nationals or Worlds, I find myself saying "Well, my goal is to go to two Local/Regional shows and the Nationals this year, I hope", rather than planning to be at a horse show pretty much every weekend from April through October.

It has definitely changed my perspective on a lot of things, and I'm sure I'm not the only horse show enthusiast second-guessing myself right about now. I have always been concerned about my horses' care and welfare first, no matter if they are part of my show string or not. And right now, I want to make sure I don't run in to a shortage of anything for them - feed, grain, or otherwise. Anyone else out there like me? Please feel free to share your stories here - I'd like to see if I'm just backing off a bit on my lifelong horse addiction (which I sincerely doubt - it's in my blood, and no cure), or if this industry, much like many others, is going to take a downward turn in 2007 as well.... Please share your stories - I'd love to hear them!