Equestrian Events

Where I live, we occasionally run into a unique event that takes over the roads, most large parking lots, and this one property in particular. My guess is that the economic impact on the town is pretty good considering everyone dines out, buys feed, restocks the groceries in their trailers, and probably takes a few minutes to visit our quaint downtown and do some shopping. No, it’s not the circus, although that also comes through town at least once a year. I’m talking about a large equestrian event.

There is a large horse farm just north of where I live that hosts show jumping competitions periodically throughout the year. As you drive by you can see horse jumping rings, horse trailers for days, groomed horses, people in riding clothes, and ribbons hanging on everything. The last time I drove by and saw the tents I wondered what unique aspects there were to planning a horse show.

Like any event, I imagine it would have the typical registration needs, a marketing and advertising strategy, an event schedule, timelines, deadlines, and staff or volunteer needs. I assume medical staff would be required on-site and there would be a heavy focus on safety, inspections, insurance, and permits. Someone would have to coordinate check-in, trailer and car parking, and organize getting spectator seating delivered and set up around the rings. I’m sure there would be holding pens or areas for the horses while they wait their turn and also a process for providing feed, straw, water, carrots, and sugar cubes.

Because I’ve driven by this farm for years, I know there is a large, flat area where the riders and their teams setup trailers and campers. I’m not sure if they sleep there or if it’s only for getting dressed and waiting around but there is a lot of them. Someone definitely coordinates off-site parking of the larger horse trailers because when the show is in town, the local mall looks like IT is the equestrian center. With that many people on-site, the event planner would certainly add porta potties and handwashing stations, food trucks or some type of food outlets, a potable water source for both horses and humans, and provide access to electricity or generators.

Some aspects of planning an equestrian event that I hadn’t considered were the number of horse rings needed. There is a warm-up ring and potentially several show jumping rings depending on the number and type of jumps being judged. A farrier and a veterinarian should be on-site (or at least on call) as well. A farrier is someone familiar with horse hoof care (I had to look that one up). Then of course, there are the judges, prizes, ribbons, and an awards ceremony which is what most likely happens in the large tent. Not only judges, but also stewards. A judge is responsible for what happens inside the ring while a steward is monitoring what happens outside of the ring. The steward ensures the competition rules are being followed in the warm-up ring and spaces in between. The rules for a horse show are not only enforce while the horse and rider are in the ring but throughout the entire show.

There are other things to coordinate like a PA system, judges booth, an in-gate person, an announcer, judges supplies, and more. And, like any outdoor event in Northern Illinois, there either needs to be a contingency plan for weather or everyone needs to bring their galoshes.

Who out there has planned an equestrian event? Tell us one thing we should know that you learned on-the-job? Leave your comment below or send me an email!

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