Poor Woman Showing

Almost every post I've written in the last two months has been a show recap. I'm starting to fill out entries for the next block of shows coming up in July, and--as ever--along with that comes carefully looking at the budget to see how I need to space things out to work in the accompanying entry fees.

hopefully with less angry baby horse cantering this round

I named this blog Poor Woman Showing because it is me. I enjoy showing no matter the discipline. I need a goal to aim for, something to set out expectations towards each ride. While the lifestyle Hubby and I live now is vastly more secure and comfortable than where we were when I started blogging however many years ago, we still try to maintain as debt-free an existence as possible (I mean, let's be real. The house and car are going to get paid on for a good while longer.).

That means that I still sometimes feel like I'm living the poor life even if it's solidly in the Horse Poor category now instead of the How am I Paying the Electric this Month Poor. I don't get to charge it and think about it later; we don't have credit cards. Show season get planned out at the very beginning of the year. Gas costs are calculated. Memberships are rationed out and sent in one at a time when doable. The whole thing gets itemized, totaled, and put on my bulletin board to plan around the rest of the year.

I thought I'd share how I make my show season affordable while still hitting up as many opportunities as I can fit in. I'm sure these costs are going to seem unfathomably low to some of you, but remember--just because you have a larger budget than I do doesn't mean I think this is chump change. It takes a lot of planning to make every show season work, and there are a lot of things we give up to spend on the horse instead.

gotta budget in that satin

Memberships:

GMO: $40. I've never paid more for a PM in dressage because I've never had a horse that's made it worth it. I can get my scores towards my bronze with just my GMO membership, and that's all I've ever aimed for. Maybe if Opie continues his child genius ways I'll think about it in the future for Thoroughbred year end awards.

USEF: $80. Or maybe it was $85 this year?

USDF: $35. For Opie's registration. A one-time cost.

US Rider: $149. Optional of course, but I pay it every year for peace of mind.

Schooling Shows:

Entry fee: $10-$15 per test.
Secretary/Office Fee: $10-$15
Membership: $10. One of GMOs whose shows I go to charge an additional $10 per show if you're not one of their members.
Total: The schooling shows I've done so far this year have run me between $30-$50 depending on the discounts I get through my GMO or the extra I pay for another GMO.

Rated Shows:

Entry Fee: $40-$45 per test.
Drug Fee: $23
Secretary/Office Fee: $20-$30
Total: I pay $256 for a weekend of showing--same facility, but they split the two days into two separate shows so separate drug and secretary fees. The one day show I did last was $143.

The Other Stuff:

• No PM means I have no aim for qualifying for Regionals, so I don't pay the extra $15 GAIG fee for Training 3.
• I hate driving, so I only compete within a three-ish hour radius of my barn. This used to be extended when I lived in PA, but I'm so over it now. That means:
• No overnight stays, so no hotel fee.
• I work exclusively out of my trailer so:
• No stabling.
• No bedding costs, no stall cleaning deposit.
• My truck gets good gas mileage for an old lady. I take care of her, she takes care of me. She does especially good on the highway, and I generally can do a round trip for around $60.
• I bring my own food and drinks. I never buy show food and stick to whatever I packed in my cooler from home.

i also bring opie his own cookies from home and dole them out regularly.

What does your show budget look like? Do you plan for it at the beginning of the season, or are you able to take it as it comes?