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Shows...

We believe that one of the best ways to keep the equestrian industry alive is by providing affordable options for showing your horse. After all, being a competitive rider isn't easy. It takes a great deal of work - both emotionally and physically - as well as persistence, and dedication. Horse shows are the ideal way to show what you and/or your horse have accomplished. Unfortunately, the cost of attending horse shows with trainers is usually outrageous. Although we can't control show fees, we can control what we charge and how we charge it.

Irvine Training does not have a flat fee for any show we attend. Instead, we calculate our fees very differently than most training barns. While other barns charge a flat fee PLUS hauling, bedding, show fees, trimming, and hunter braiding if needed, we try to be more economiaal.

When you consider the costs involved with showing horses, you have the following: hauling, the trainer's hotel, tack & groom stalls, the trainer's fee, bedding, show fees (office fee, USEF fee, class fee, etc.), show trimming, and hunter braiding if needed. Here is how we break those down:

Hauling: Regardless of how many horses are riding on the trailer, the cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance is just about the same for one horse as it is six, so why should everyone pay 80 cents per mile? At Irvine Training, we charge a hauling rate of 80 cents per mile, however, the total is divided among the clients with horses attending the show. For example, if the round trip to and from a show is 600 miles and five clients are taking horses, we multiple 600 x .80, which equals $480. We then divide that total by the number of clients going, which in this case would be $96 each. While most training facilities have a MINIMUM $100-125 charge for each client when it comes to hauling, we do everything we can to make sure you don't pay more than you absolutely have to.

Trainer's Hotel: While the trainer's hotel cost is usually included in the flat fee most barns charge for shows, we have found that it is usually much cheaper to book an average hotel, well in advance, and then divide the cost among the clients attending the show.

Tack & Groom Stalls: This is another cost that is usually included in the flat fee other barns charge. However, prices for show stalls can vary tremendously -- even between Class A shows. Therefore, we only charge what the show charges for stalls when it comes to tack & groom stalls, and our clients split those fees.

Trainer Fee: Our training fee is negligible compared to other barns. We charge our clients $75 per day for Class A shows and Regional shows, and $150 per day for National shows, but ONLY ON THE DAYS YOUR HORSE IS SHOWN. If we attend a week-long show in which your horse is only shown three out of six days, you are charged $75 for those three days. Why should you have to pay us for your horse to stand in a stall?

Show Fees: As we said above, we can't do much to control the fees charged by shows. However, we will send you an itemized estimate including the above costs as well as what your show fees will be. We send in a blank check from each client along with their show entry, and ask for a separate check to be made out to Irvine Training approximately two weeks before we are scheduled to leave for the event. Many clients find this helpful because they don't have to pay all of the expense at once.

Show Trimming: While other trainers charge clients at least $25 for show trims, we feel this is part of what you pay us for on a monthly basis. We believe that our $600 training fee includes keeping your horse "show ready" in every capacity. Irvine Training does not charge clients for these services.

Hunter Braiding: Irvine Training's manager, Kari Hester, provides braiding services to clients free of charge. Although we cannot guarantee Kari will be at every show, she will happily braid your hunter at the shows she attends. This prevents our clients from having to pay the $35-50 charge associated with braiding at shows.

Body Clipping: If you horse requires full body clipping before a competition, we will provide you will a turn-key estimate of the cost beforehand.

On average, a Class A show with Irvine Training costs approximately $700. This includes EVERYTHING. Hauling, the trainer's hotel, tack & groom stalls, your trainer fee, show fees., etc. The same show with any other barn would cost between $1,025 - $1,850. Furthermore, our clients do not pay us directly for show costs. We send in a blank check with each client's show entry, so you do not have to worry about the cost of the show until the day after it's over. You pay us the hotel fee, hauling, the tack/groom stall cost, and the trainer fee two weeks before we leave to go to the event. This helps clients who made need to split their show costs over two paychecks, etc. In short, we will work with you however we possibly can!

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