United States Eventing Association

September 23 marked the Autumnal Equinox and official start of fall, and across many USEA Areas the fall eventing season is in full swing. In addition to the many recognized opportunities available, your fall season is likely to also be packed with schooling outings. Whether you and your horse are headed out with your trainer and a group to cross-country school, or you’ve entered a schooling show to fine tune your skills, we’ve compiled some ways to make the most of your practice outings this season.

“People don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it,” says leadership expert and author Simon Sinek. As the equestrian industry is a passion-driven one, there is perhaps no quote better suited to eventing professionals. Driven by love for the horse and for the sport, finances can seem more of a necessary evil than a motivating factor for business owners and operators in the equestrian space.

The summer eventing season is in full swing, and while that means many trainers are focused on the goals for their horses and clients, it’s also a great time to consider tools to boost business growth. Whether the objective for this season is to expand your customer base, increase profits, or develop a specific area of business, digital marketing tools are here to help. An umbrella term for any type of online marketing effort, digital marketing comes in a variety of forms—and there are many to sift through!

To make a horse show happen is no small feat. It requires tremendous dedication, time, and sometimes heroic acts from a large village of people. One of these village heroes is the horse show secretary or organizer. Processing entries. Sorting through payments. Verifying documentation. Assigning ride times. Changing ride times. Working out stabling charts. Handling rider, owner, trainer inquiries—these are just some of the many to-do list items of a horse show organizer.

A well-constructed jump chute enables a horse to naturally find the correct striding and answer jumping questions while decreasing the chances of a runout. Best practices for eventing businesses do exactly the same for their customers. Truly! The basic principles of a jump chute offer a great deal of information for businesses in the eventing world.

Time is precious. Time with your horse even more so. If one of your resolutions for the New Year is to spend more time in the saddle or more time enjoying the barn, you’ll want to implement these best practices to minimize stress and make the most of 2023.

Last fall, USEA educational partner STRIDER continued their popular Professional Development Webinar Series for equestrian business owners with "Proven Business Models in the Horse World." This interactive panel discussion presented by Ride iQ featured Olympic Eventer & International Show Jumper Doug Payne, International Dressage Rider Lauren Sprieser, and acclaimed horsemanship trainer and colt-starting expert Colton Woods.

“Schooling shows are about learning, not about being intimidated,” says Miranda Kettlewell, VP of Dressage for Commonwealth Dressage and Combined Training Association (CDCTA).

For horses and riders, schooling shows are a great way to practice without the added stress and expense of a recognized or sanctioned competition. Venues and clubs can offer schooling shows as a way to open the door to their communities, increase their revenue or membership, and partner with local businesses.