A few weeks ago in our Dressage Today Gallop Poll, we asked for your best tips on how to continue showing when you’re facing a tighter budget. You delivered with thoughtful, real-world advice to help your fellow dressage riders continue pursuing their competition ambitions even with limited funds.

Thank you, Dressage Today readers and fans, for your savvy budgeting strategies. Here are some of your most helpful suggestions:

Embrace Schooling Shows

“Go to schooling shows. Dressage is a deep sport with a lot of room for advancement. Add in the medal programs and all the different divisions and the opportunity for growth is massive. Why spend thousands to be told your 10-meter circles are terrible when you could pay $100 and do a quality schooling show? Unless you’re actually going for a medal or riding above Fourth Level, you probably don’t need to be shelling out the money for big shows.”

~ Sam Kambeck

“Schooling shows are definitely more affordable if they’re not too far away. My group has started renting Airbnbs to save on hotel costs and we cook our own meals. Many recognized shows near me offer ‘opportunity’ classes, which helps save on some membership fees. We braid our own horses and bring our own hay and shavings if stabling.”

 ~ Joyce MacDermott

“When my budget is tight, I focus on schooling shows and clinics and skip everything else. I focus on bettering myself and my horse instead of showing. I tend to do one or two big years of showing and then a year of saving. Mind you, a big year for me is three to four recognized shows.”

~ Maddy Feliciano

“Schooling shows and virtual shows. The fees tacked on to rated shows’ entry fees are huge. [At schooling and virtual shows] I still get an evaluation from a judge of sorts, and I don’t cry about it.”

~ Jan Mahoney

“For me it’s local shows where I can do a schooling show one day and a recognized show the next day at the same venue. I love BCHP [Bucks County Horse Park, Revere, Pennsylvania] shows. They are so nice to deal with!”

~ Wendy Furlong

“Support local schooling shows. We hosted a bunch of incredibly adorable schooling shows a top-tier facility with great judges. But despite hearing from the community asking for more schooling shows, hardly anyone came to make it worth continuing.”

~ @aynsley_foss

Get Creative

“I love to show, and at this point I can’t show at local shows because I ride FEI. I forgo a tack stall and pack efficiently so I can have a trunk outside my stall. I show in one class a day and only put in for a qualifying score if I really need it. I bring my own shavings, because it’s half the price the shows charge per bag. I meal prep lunches and snacks. I share hotel rooms as much as I can. I avoid buying wine or cocktails when we go out to dinner and instead bring a beverage for myself to have in my hotel if I want. All the little things add up!”

~ Liz Ketterer

“I put $100 away into the horse fund every week. This money is for showing and clinics only.”

~ Daniela Valentgas

“Staying in my horse trailer instead of hotels, bringing my own food, and sharing trailer rides. Do all work yourself. It’s the only way I’ve been able to show my whole career.”

~ Kathleen Bailey

“At overnight shows and clinics, sleep in your trailer to save on hotels. I have a fold-out cot and a mummy [sleeping] bag and have slept in the horse compartment for up to five days at a time. Get good at meal prepping. Buy good meal containers, pre-make every meal and pack it in coolers. Food prepping at home saves hundreds of dollars versus eating out at shows, and it’s healthier.

“Buy used tack and attire. I promise you the judge doesn’t care what brands you’re wearing or if you’re ‘on trend’ with your style as long as your turnout is clean and well fitted. Stop wasting money on stuff you don’t actually need. Things as insignificant as $16 bottles of detangler are really wants, not needs. Dilute some conditioner in a spray bottle and use that instead. Chances are you don’t need another saddle pad or pair of breeches. Sell what you don’t use and save it for shows. Fix things instead of replacing them.”

~ Sam Kambeck

“We usually haul-in to shows and don’t pay for stalls except at big shows. I mostly do schooling shows with some closer rated shows mixed in. If you are staying overnight, it’s usually cheaper to bring your own hay and bag shavings. I also do my own braids, which saves some money.”

~ Meaghan Croteau

“Strategize! Figure out your budget and identify what costs you can eliminate, solve or manage in creative ways. Everyone’s idea of a ‘budget’ is different. You can minimize expenses with thoughtful planning and skill acquisitions. For example—do you have the resources or ability to haul your own horses? Can you braid or groom? Are you equipped to stay on site rather than get a hotel? Or are you willing to share a room with someone?

“Pack a cooler with meals you plan ahead of time and skip restaurants and convenience-store foods. Be intentional with your clothing and equipment. There are seasons of life that require more financial creativity and some that allow us to splurge. Know what you want to splurge on when that option is available. Showing is not inexpensive but with some planning you can make it possible.”

~ @krista_kehoe

“It’s a challenge to balance finances and a growing daughter who seems to be in and out of clothes, boots, gloves, etc., in the blink of an eye! That on top of the haul-in fee, the trainer fee, the stall and show fees—it adds up quickly. My daughter helps around the barn, paints rails, cleans stalls and tack, grooms and rides other horses when owners can’t.

“I’m not afraid to admit as a barn mom, I’m always looking for items around the house to sell, from clothes to trinkets. We purchase equestrian clothing from used online marketplaces or when it’s on major clearance. My husband is a teacher and works at a variety of barns during the evenings and weekends, doing everything from landscaping to maintenance. We braid ourselves and bring our own snacks to shows. We also are honest and say no when we can’t make a show.”

~ @loandbeholdequestrian

“Share a tack stall with someone! I’ve done this, and it helps!”

~ @lauraseeber

“Learn how to braid your own horse. It’s a small savings, but it adds up! And it’s not rocket science, either. Practice makes perfect!”

~ @talltaleequestrian

“And then get paid to braid for other people!”

~ @ashleyekeller

Be Selective About the Shows You Choose

“If you want to save money and enjoy competing, schooling shows close to home are a great option. If your goal is championships, choose and ride tests that you are able to perform well. You can then receive qualifying scores from each show. Some shows have one show on Saturday and a different one on Sunday to help riders gains scores from two different judges and two different shows in one weekend.”

~ Karen Smith

“Pick and choose the judges you want to be in front of. Always fill the weekend, i.e., choose venues offering multiple shows over the course of a several consecutive days. Show in multiple classes per day if your horse is fit enough to do so. You came to play, so get in the ring! Travel with friends—not everyone needs to haul in separate trailers to get the horses there. Camp onsite. This is doable even without a living quarters trailer.”

~ Deborah Cole

“I just don’t show very often. This year I went to two shows to qualify for Regionals, then another one as I moved up a level. Regionals went better than expected so adding Nationals will make five shows total, which is the most I’ve shown in two decades. It’s still possible to make it all the way to Nationals with minimal showing, though, and I love that about our sport!”

~ Sarah Pojanowski

“I still like to show at rated shows even in the lower levels, but as an adult amateur, I no longer aspire to attend Regional Championships and Nationals as the cost of these competitions is prohibitive. Instead, I earn enough scores to qualify for awards through GMOs and breed associations.”

~ Jennifer Kaiser

Show Without Your Trainer or Seek Virtual Coaching

“Honestly, I don’t take a trainer with me. I invested in my riding and can competently—and successfully—navigate the lower levels on my own. If I wanted to pursue going up the levels again then I’d probably want someone helping me, but do I really need them to help me warm up for four days? Probably not.”

~ @natashareid_eq

“Stop paying to bring your coach along to shows by asking for virtual coaching for your warm-up. The tech is available. Unless your coach is the one taking you or your team to a show, get warm-up support or coaching between classes virtually. I guarantee it’ll be cheaper.”

~ Sam Kambeck

Thanks again to our incredible Dressage Today community for your savvy tips to help others keep showing when funds are tight!