09/10/2025
Ok, I must say- the feedback we are getting is UNREAL!
As it’s opening a dialog!
Our show has previously been ALL VOLUNTEERS meaning, it’s someone giving up their time for the better of the equine community.
We asked the question, of potentially increasing our office admin fee, $10 per horse.
One persons response was, they didn’t feel it would help us be more organized. And, to be honest, while that comment stabbed- I want to break it down,
Showing isn’t a given, or a right. It’s a privelidge. Volunteers aren’t perfect. They are doing their best for a cause near and dear to their heart.
We are at the cross road of 2026 needing to have “paid” positions-
Paid positions for gate folks
Paid scribes
Paid office help
Paid day fees for photographers if that ranks high enough on folks radar.
That’s on top of
Paying out the best money for an Open Show in Alberta
Paying for prizes
Paying for 2 judges to flow things out in ONE day
Paying for ribbons
There is a lot of expense, and 2026 needs to be planned with that cost of doing business.
While our goal has NEVER been to make boatloads of money. We cant continuously lose our shirt, socks and underwear 😒
The one thing that is reality:
When it is volunteer work, if folks are tired, hot and sweaty, or become annoyed - they quit, they go home, no harm no foul.
However, when they are paid, there’s $15/hour (minimum) to their time. They are accountable to that. They have skin in the game.
Certainly, no show organization committee is perfect, and I’m not here to say that we are.
But we did offer
• prizes on day of show
• payouts same day
• post score sheets within 48 hours
• did hire judges to run show as fast as possible
• did hire out *some positions* in 2025 and the reality is 2026 probably needs more.
But we aren’t going to sit on our hands, and not try to provide a better exhibitor experience each and every time.
And for those still reading along, yes, $10 more per horse will help with organization in the show office- an extra $10 per horse on even a 60 horse show is $600. And that, my friends will get us approximately 40 paid hours for “paid positions” at $15 per hour.
Thats 5 people, at 8 hours on show day.
Thats 1 person to track placings in the computer.
1 person to be dedicated to hand out all ribbons
1 person to be at the gate
1 floater to help where needed
1 to help with trails….
I hope that this post can be shared. This isn’t about one persons comment. This is about recognizing that many shows (not just ours) are feeling the pinches of unmet expectations. Volunteer burnout. Needing to pay their help. That money doesn’t come from the sky. Sponsors are able to give less. Our sport is feeling the pressure of less attendees & more “cost” per person as a reflection of that.
So please, continue with the feedback, as we need to make some decisions for 2026 soon- and we are counting on you to help guide us.
❤️ 🐴 - KY
