Let's Get Past the Band-Aid Mentality
This is a period in which many of the horse-world's stakeholders are worried about its future. And for good reasons.
Most of horsedom's trackable numbers--registrations, transfers of ownership, show entries, association memberships, horse prices--are in decline, while the costs of horsekeeping are rising. The pinch on individual budgets is ballooning upward to have negative effects on the budgets of breed and sport groups. With less money coming in, there's less money to get things done, and that tends to breed dissension in the ranks--which only complicates the task of figuring out how to get along on less.
Might as well come right out and say it: The horse world is in recession. And I sure wish we were seeing more evidence of big-picture thinking when it comes to survival strategies.
Instead, we're being overrun by the Band-Aid theorists who think that the way to fix the horse world's woes is to tape more show classes, more futurities, more donated belt buckles (or other prizes), more registration categories, more ill-thought incentive schemes, and more nickle-and-dime-ya fees onto its ailing body.
The belief that more toys and entitlement programs are the answer is like adding trendy appliances and a home-entertainment addition on to a house with a leaking roof and crumbling foundation--with the idea of making it more valuable and attractive to buyers. Ain't gonna happen.
The indicator-numbers are showing us that our problems lie not with the bells and whistles we offer, but with an infrastructure that's too big to be supported by the numbers of people who can still afford to stay in it. This is a shakedown period, in which people have real bottom-line issues that'll determine whether they ride out the storm or jump ship.
How can we blame those who choose to jump, when the proposed solutions to the leaking boat amount to nothing but adding more cargo?
posted by Juli Thorson @ 10:35 AM
9 comments
9 Comments:
Wow, well said.
Oh boy, am I with you on this one.
Juli,
You have mentioned thoughts that have been on all of our minds, but what is the solution. You hinted at " less is more" give us details, I would like to know what you think.
I have heard many ideas most are temporary patches like you've said, and no one has presented a realistic, attractive solution.
There are online forums that go on and on and on about how expensive shows are and how we are losing people and all the problems that we are facing, but few offer up suggestion to fix the problems.
I majored in Marketing and Business and I am at a loss on how to fix the higher ends of the show industry. The only thing I can come up with that might work on paper is a MAJOR scale down of all shows even at the top. Shorter - Cheaper shows with less classes. Get the exhibitors in and out of the ring more than once or twice a weekend and for UNDER $300.00.
2 & 3 day events would open it up for working folks to participate without taking time off work. (Giving folks more money to spend on more shows!- what an idea?!) Short blasts instead of long hauls. Shorter shows would also allow clubs to use less expensive facilities. Management could ease up on haul-ins -they fill our classes after all.
I can remember shows where there were no RV plug-ins, little to no power in the barns, and when the sun went down guess what? We were done riding. WE LIVED and we still had FUN.
A friend of mine shows in Wyoming, central, I think, and they have short 3 days shows like that in inexpensive arenas, its not much for stall and less for classes - and they are PACKED 3 to 4 point JR classes each day and 2-3 point novice classes. She says the shows are very old school but most people go home happy and ready for the next one.
This scale down theory would be fairly unpopular with a certain group of people. And the thing is... that group of people are the ones making the decisions and/or influencing those making the decisions. Which is why we keep getting patches and ineffective programs instead of what we really need. I am not even sure if that is the answer but at least I offered something. Doing so on some forums is like waving a red flag to a bull, like saying go ahead now find everything wrong that you can with my theory. But I feel safe here so there you go - that's my take.
Steph,
Well, my view of what constitutes the horse industry goes way beyond the tiny sliver represented by breed shows...and while I know you're one who does see the bigger picture, I do get really frustrated sometimes by the number of people who DON'T see the bigger picture
But, to address your post specifically:
I'm with you 100% on the cost scaleback thing. Somehow, breed leadership and show planners have GOT to acknowledge the need and demand for weekend-type shows other than the marathon, 4-day, job-killing, dollar-burning events we have now. If they don't, whole levels of exhibitors are going to continue to flow out to other areas of interest. The grassroots level of exhibitor is almost completely ignored by the breed associations and the show planners, more so than ever, with one exception: The Appaloosa Horse Club has been approving single-day shows with a pared-down class list, and in 2 years they've grown from just 6 shows in the nation to nearly 50. They attract a completely different clientele than the longer shows do, but it's a clientele that was not being served before.
I think horse activity in general is going to bhave to ecome much more localized in nature than it's been, if for no other reason than the price of fuel.
If you're old enough to look back 12 or 15 years, it's really astonishing how much more commercialized, professionalized, and consumeristic all aspects of the horse world have become during that time. This, in many ways, is turning out to be our downfall.
Juli
Of course you are right, I only addressed one portion of the industry. The post was a little tunnel visioned but I had the big picture in mind I was only drawing from my recent experience - breed shows - but the "top of the line shows" have a trickle down effect on the industry as a whole regardless of whether its AQHA, NBHA, NRHA or whatever...
And you're right it is way more commercialized than it it ever has been. I was young but I not too young to remember the old school shows.
Just the other day I listened to one of my buddies telling me that they were not going to return to a smaller show in Montana because they didn't have plug-ins for their LQ trailer and stalls were "bad". Sad. It was a fun show. Me on the other hand I couldn't afford not to go to that show - it was fairly well attended and I can still show twice only showing Sat. and Sun.
"Job killing" isn't that painfully accurate! Well said.
I hope to see something in H&R on the subject. You guys are so lucky to be in a position of influence...
Steph,
In the early days of this blog, I wrote a post about the demise of the breed shows, called "Dinosaurs in Our Midst."
There's nothing that says the breed-show system is guaranteed to survive and remain "the standard" for show competition. I can remember the days before breed shows were common--when the shows that really "mattered" were the multi-breed AHSA shows.
The breed-specific shows gradually took their place, but now the open shows are beginning to edge them out as favored places for people to go and exhibit their horses.
I know the show in Montana you're referring to. Funny how the concept of "demand less, but end up with more" has yet to make its way into the minds of a certain level of player!
Hi Juli,
Just want you to know how much I enjoy your blog; I've lurked off and on for a long time.
I agree, this is a shakedown period for the horse world, and I really don't think it's a bad thing. I think the nation as a whole is seeing a 'shakedown' in some areas, or at least should, IMO. A lot of people are spending beyond their means, and horse people are some of the biggest culprits. A lot of people can't have just one horse, they need four. Not just one show horse, one for each discipline. Not carpool, but must have LQ trailers that cost an absolute fortune. Not just one horse and a goat in the backyard, but they now must breed, breed, breed....whether they know what they're doing or not. In my opinion, it's just sheer excess. Less is most definitely more, and if it takes a recession to prove it, then so be it.
I find that the people who whine and complain the most about shows are the people that don't do well, and/or have unrealistic expectations. I'm not saying that some shows don't need to improve what they offer; they absolutely must. I don't understand why, at a breed show for example, you must have a hunter pleasure mares and geldings class, a stallions class, a maiden class, a novice class, a limit class, four adult amateur to ride classes (not even age-split), and then the junior classes. All in hunter pleasure. And this goes on for the other disciplines as well. No wonder these shows are so darn long with so much overhead.
But really, the people that DO THEIR HOMEWORK, save wisely, spend wisely, and truly love showing just because they love SHOWING, will do it no matter how far they have to drive, how much vacation they have to finagle at work, etc. In the realm of things, I'm just this side of poor, and yeah, I know that I can't go do eight a-rated and 3 regional shows a year, and two nationals. Big whup. THat's not because the show world is messed up; It's because my husband and I are just starting out, have education loans and a mortgage on a farm. That is just plain realistic. So, I plan accordingly rather than rant and rave at the system. Sometimes people need to step back and realize that it's not everybody, and everything else's, fault.
My last point is this: everyone wants to push "grassroots" and beginner shows. While they certainly have their place, especially in public relations for the various breeds and in attracting newbies to the industry, the last thing I want to do personally is show at a grassroots or beginner show at this stage in my life. If I'm going to spend my money, I'm going to spend it somewhere that it counts to my horse's achievement awards for the breed, or somewhere that I can qualify for a regional or national show. I'd rather spend a little more, and drive a little more, for a better-run, better-competitive experience. It is good to want to reach out to the newbies, but the associations need to be sure they don't alienate the veterans in the process. For me, if I'm putting the work in, I want to measure myself and my horse against a tougher barometer (and come up against it nicely), or I don't need to show at all. I've done the local thing, the schooling show thing, and (loooong ago!) the 4-H thing, and I'm over it. I don't mind helping at local events and helping newbies, but I personally don't want to show there myself---it's a dead-end for me. Just my opinion from out in left field!
:-)
I too remember when AHSA shows out performed anything the breed shows had to offer; and, I remember many of the trainers and kids who showed at the AHSA shows...Dick Shrake and all of his kids, Tim Whitney and his fellow competitors, etc.....
Whatever happened to taking you horse to a show just to have FUN ??
The best shows I have been to where just small saddle club shows
consisting of speed or pleasure...and some great donated food by its club members.....(Honestly thats all I can afford after an entry fee or two and a tank of gas).....
I think people are forgetting why we own these beautiful animals in the first place! Everything is about money, but I am blessed to be able to own my horses and keep them at home, sure, its more mouths to feed, but thats the commitment we made when we got them. My horses are my companions, the horse industry issues are starting to sound like Federal Government Politics.
Lets get back to the basics, I own 3 horses, thats plenty, but I am as practical as they come, I get by with what I have,
To many people think they have to have the best of everything.....
I thank God everyday I can go outside to here my boys nicker at me.
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