Not-So-Speedy Dressage
From Endurance to Dressage
Before last weekend, I had never needed to back out of a show before. And technically, since this show got rained out, I'm calling it a show cancellation rather than saying I cancelled. When I was still showing at Introductory Level, I entered a show that was also cancelled due to rain. Of the more than 50 shows that I've attended (many of which were two-day events), that's my experience with cancellations. Obviously my data set is quite small. The show secretary sent out an email saying that refunds were on their way. I even wrote about how happy I was going to be to get my money back given the huge vet bill I had just incurred, so imagine my disappointment when I saw that the check was a fair amount less than I was expecting. I am not mad; I get it. The secretary no doubt incurred some expenses in organizing the show. Even so, the $56 in office fees she kept seems a little steep. Had there been 30 riders, I haven't checked, but that seems like a reasonable number, she made $1,680. That seems like an awful lot of pre-show expenditures.
I don't know what her expenses were, maybe she had to pay the judge, but I know she works at the facility in some capacity and puts on a series of shows there, so I don't think she had to rent the place. I am not writing any hate mail or sending any complaints, and I will go back for other shows. I am just curious to know what is the standard when it comes to refunds at USDF-rated dressage shows. Have you ever cancelled or had the show get cancelled? What kind of refund did you get? Please share your experience with refunds. I'm definitely curious. Usually officials and EMTsand association fees and so on do need to be paid even if the show is cancelled. It's a total bummer for the competitor not to get a full refund and I appreciate the venues that try to make up for it somehow when possible...but you nailed it; that's what's probably going on. 3/17/2016 06:56:57 am
Hmm ... I hadn't thought of those expenses. I wonder why the office fees vary so much from show to show? Especially from one USDF show to the next.
I've never had a show cancelled on me- but I know some USEA horse trials that have been cancelled due to poor conditions... and the competitors weren't refunded a thing. It surprised me when you said your show was going to be refunding you money! 3/17/2016 06:54:58 am
Your last paragraph - YES! Originally she was only going to refund me the stabling costs (before the show was cancelled) for which I was grateful. I even explained that I had a vet's diagnoses. I think if you sign up, you need to go or be prepared to lose your money UNLESS you have a genuine medical issue that precludes you or the horse from competing (broken arm, etc.). How many of those can there be?
The event I backed out of, I totally get it if they wanted to keep more of my money. I signed up, but I did cancel before the close date. so I was due a refund, per the rules. I was just pissed it took so much pestering to get it back. I would have sucked it up and gone by myself (because I love the facility) if I wasn't moving up a level at their show. I really wanted my trainer there for that! 3/17/2016 06:26:26 pm
As a rule follower myself, I would have been very annoyed as well! 3/17/2016 07:21:10 am
Most events won't give you any kind of refund, especially after closing date. I've been lucky enough to get a credit for everything except the stall fee (meaning they kept $150) but that was definitely more than a lot of places would have done. Costs to put on an event are completely through the roof, most of them barely break even, so I get it. I don''t like it, but I get it. 3/17/2016 06:28:09 pm
Wow! I haven't heard about no refunds in this part of California (for dressage). I think it's customary to get some of it back and most of it if the show is cancelled. I think I need to read each show's fine print a little more closely! This is one of the reasons I love hunter/jumper shows... at least my local ones. We sign-up ahead of time, but you can add/scratch right before with no penalty. I've never lost money by having to cancel a show last minute. Someone who shows rated will have to chime in about how that works with rated shows, but I know *some* money is refunded. 3/17/2016 06:32:03 pm
My friends that ride in the small h/j series here in town say the same thing. The bad part is not getting "times" though. I do love that about dressage.
I had to scratch one recognized dressage show last year because my horse came up lame a few days before. 3/17/2016 06:34:24 pm
That was really nice of the show secretary. I have seen that stipulation in the rules before which is why I told the secretary immediately that we had a vet appointment. Had it not rained, she was only going to refund my stabling costs. My trainer suggested that if it happens again, I should ask that my entry be applied to a future show. That would totally work for me.
We had to cancel a show once because of a hurricane. We did total refund to all competitors and ate the cost of the license and such. We were lucky that the airline let us keep a credit for the judge's flight and the judge waived his fee. 3/17/2016 06:35:09 pm
I love the refund policy, but I think I can do without the hurricanes! :0) Comments are closed.
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About the Writer and RiderI am a lifelong rider.
I began endurance riding in 1996 where I ultimately completed five, one-day 100 mile races, the 200-mile Death Valley Encounter, and numerous other 50, 65, and 75 mile races. I began showing dressage in 2010. Welcome to my dressage journey. About Speedy GSpeedy went from endurance horse to dressage horse. After helping me earn a USDF Bronze medal in the summer of 2020, he is now semi-retired. Speedy is a 2004, 15'1 hand, purebred Arabian gelding. His Arabian Horse Registry name is G Ima Starr FA.
About IzzyIzzy was started as a four-year old and then spent the next 18 months in pasture growing up. I bought him as a six-year old, and together, we are showing at the lower levels. He is a 2008, 16'3 hand warmblood gelding. His Rheinland Pfalz-saar International (RPSI) name is Imperioso.
National Rider AwardsState Rider Awards
State Horse Awards
Working Towards:
CDS Sapphire Rider Award Third Level: 63.514% Third Level: 62.105% Fourth Level: Fourth Level: 2023 Show Season
Show Rating (***) CDS/USDF/USEF (*) CDS (s) Schooling (c) Clinic (r) Ride-a-Test Clinic 2023 Show Schedule
TBD 2023 Completed … Pending 2023 Qualifying Scores
Regional Adult Amateur Competition (RAAC) Qualifying Training Level 3 Scores/2 Judges/60%: Score 1: Score 2: Score 3: Archives
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