By Ariane Stiegler
As much as we all enjoy competing in our respective divisions, the issue of fees charged at horse shows always becomes a sore subject for riders, trainers and parents. Here’s what every exhibitor needs to know about mandatory charges, common add-ons, and why your bill looks the way it does.
The Non-Negotiables
Only two fees remain the same at all shows across the country: a $23 per horse fee from the USEF and a $10 fee from the USHJA. Each show is required to have an ambulance on the grounds or on call at all times (per USEF GR1211).
Fee Cheat Sheet
| Fee Type | Typical Amount | Notes |
| USEF Drug & Medication | $23 per horse | Mandatory for all USEF-licensed competitions |
| USHJA Fee | $10 per horse | Applies to rated hunter/jumper classes; must be published in prize list |
| Ambulance Requirement | Varies by venue | Per USEF GR1211: ambulance on grounds or on call during competition |
| Office Fee | $25–$75 | Covers administrative costs; varies by show. Most commonly $35 |
| Grounds Fee | $0–$50 | Charged to day-horses that hack or trailer in; covers facility wear and tear |
| Class Fee | $30–$100+ | Charged per class entry; varies by division and show size |
| Scratch Fee | $10–$50 | If scratching after prize list is published or once class has begun |
| Late Fee | $20–$50 | Applies if entries are submitted within one week of competition |
| Credit-Card Fee | 2–3% of total bill | Processed at the end of the show unless prepaid by check or cash |
| Production/Environmental | $10–$30 | Covers costs like ring maintenance, manure removal, and promotional materials |
Add-On Fees: Why They Differ
“Every competition organizer has unique factors contributing to the cost of managing a competition,” Carly Weilminster, Sr. Director of Sport, Communications and Social Media at USEF says. “These may include costs such as the venue size, staffing, venue management and/or rentals, and maintenance. The costs for operating and hosting events vary widely across the country. While USEF fees are standardized across licensed competitions, each competition organizer will ultimately determine the entry fees for their competition. All fees must be published in prize lists and cannot be altered once the prize list is finalized.”
David Burton, Manager of ESP in Wellington, notes, “Office fees have been standardized for ESP for several years. Needless to say we provide a very high level of service with the use of Show Grounds Live. I would also argue that our WEF human accident response with a minimum of 5 paramedics and an ambulance on site on every competition day is the best horse show program in the country. We also have an emergency equine transport with lowering hydraulic floor and a minimum of one vet onsite at all competitions.”
Another fee some shows will charge exhibitors is a “grounds fee” for those who don’t have stalls but hack or trailer over. Although it may seem unfair, Burton notes: “Horses that walk on the facility still poop, use electricity, water and cause general wear and tear on the grounds. Security needs and general liability associated with all the horses and humans needs to be augmented.” Some fees, he says, like late fees are only valid one week before the competition, and scratch fees only if the class is already in progress.
Troy Powell, head horse show secretary at the Hampton Classic Horse Show, notes with the rise of the computerized system, exhibitors can put a deposit on their credit card but have the option of paying their bill with a check or cash. Like most shows today, a 2-3% credit‑card fee will be processed at the end of the show. Furthermore, another fee will be charged at most shows that have to process the final bills, although most shows offer an online checkout. “Just read the prize list, or come to the office and ask questions,” Troy says.
While organizers cite their budget drivers, exhibitors often feel these add-ons most acutely.
How Riders Feel the Pinch
Hunter riders have issues about the number of classes offered at the specific shows during the winter months in North East, as the picking are slim to compete in order to qualify for indoor shows or Devon: Oftentimes, the 4 jumping division format and one flat class is altered, and riders only have one day to jump 3 classes and a flat, oftentimes reluctant to do so for the welfare of their mount. Furthermore, they are frustrated to find entry fees skyrocket $100 more than during the summer where they can jump their horses on two days and accumulate more points.
One west coast rider (name withheld) has become increasingly frustrated: “over the past 4 years, the basic show fees – office fees, stall, and association fees have increased by 44% she notes. On top of that, I am now required to pay mandatory production fees, environmental fees, manure removal fees, and credit card fees. At shows before I even enter a class my bill is between $675-$770. We are being priced out at horse shows,” she says .
Another point worth raising is the horse show office hours and daily online cutoff for adding and scratching classes: Oftentimes, show offices close at 4pm, while riders, grooms and trainer show until six or seven p.m. In the jumper ring, many decide after their horse performs if they are going to enter another class the next day or not. The dilemma becomes: should they enter and scratch ensuring a scratch fee or not?
BJ Ehrhardt, avid rider and trainer, notes that sometimes “the fees are bigger than showing two classes. Let’s make the class fees higher, have less classes with more money, she suggests” It’s hard as trainers to explain to your clients they just spent $800 on two classes” she says. “Going to horse show is supposed to be the fun part of the sport, but now it’s taking away. It’s out of control. The smaller horse shows still manage to make money, so there shouldn’t be such a big gap with the big shows where there are over 80 horses in a class. How many people can really afford this?” She wonders.
On the flip side, show managers face hard costs of their own.
Show Management’s Cost Math
Dereck Braun, President of Splitrock, explains that fees depend on the location of the shows and the fees in that specific state. ‘California is a much more expensive state than Kentucky for example. Stall fees are in relation to infrastructure and location cost. In Terranova, stall costs are less because they build that infrastructure and want to make it accessible to everyone.(And they are the nicest stall of any shows in the country. The cost to operate is more expensive, it’s the nature of the beast,” Braun says.
“It is an expensive sport because it cost the organizers an arm and a leg. Depending on an event, it can cost us anywhere from $600,000 to $3,000,000 for our June shows in KY: we employ over 140 people. It’s unrealistic for people to think that a premium horse show is going to cost less. We are always looking at way to give our clients a better product in KY, we offer massive discounts for local riders like 50% off for certain entry fees, free shipping. We want to encourage people to show within their means. We give carrots and donuts for every horses every day. Our ribbons are some of the biggest ones in the country,” Braun says.
Can Fees Be Standardized?
With that in mind, the question becomes: As the equestrian industry is not a spectator sport in the US as it is in Europe and other countries in the world, how can both management and exhibitors co-exist in a sport that is becoming increasingly expensive? The cost of living has gone up, and so has the cost of gas, use to fuel tractors to drag rings, etc. But should there be a standard across the country set by the Federation about overall fees so that exhibitors have a better understanding of what they are paying for? With all the costs associated with showing, will fewer riders be joining the sport in the years to come? Braun isn’t so sure. “I don’t think we’re going to lose any people, we are gaining them, at least at the level where we are putting our events,” he says.
Until then, print your prize list, flag any unfamiliar fees, and don’t hesitate to ask for explanations. The more questions exhibitors ask, the more pressure there is for transparency.
Ariane Stiegler is an avid amateur Jumper rider, owner of Double A Stables and writer for GQ Magazine & many equestrian publications. She served on the USHJA Amateur Commitee and launched the Amateur Rider Association of America to give riders a voice in the US.She is French & lived in Paris for 20 years.
