09/26/2025
Yup.... buying the horse is the easy part.
Daphne Thornton breaks down the fees you pay to be able to show up at a rated show:
"Let me begin by saying that, by and large, I am a USEF fan. We need a governing body. I am a Steward, and while I think the rules are sometimes onerous and confusing, I also know first-hand how necessary most of them are. USHJA brings some great ideas to the table as well. However, there is plenty of room for improvement in both organizations. The complicated and redundant fee structures are not a bad place to start.
An adult amateur client recently bought a horse. It’s her first horse, and maybe the only horse she will ever be able to buy. It’s a lovely horse. She is thrilled. We got the height, color, and gender she pictured for her dream horse, and a charming and quiet personality as well.
She was ready to go to her first USEF-rated show, and then I had to explain the memberships and fees she had to pay—just to be able to walk into the ring. Folks, it’s a lot.
Me: So, before you can show, there are just a few things you need to take care of. First, you have to be a competing member of USEF. I know they offer some other, cheaper memberships (why??) on their website, but do not buy any of those. You need the $80 competing membership. And you will need that every year you want to show. You could get a Lifetime Membership, but that’s around $2,500, and at your age…maybe no?
Client: So, $80? That’s not too bad.
Me: You also need to join USHJA as a competing member. They also have other options as well (again, why?), but you need the competing membership to show. That’s $85 a year, and you need it every year you show. Technically, you could just get a Show Pass every time you show, but those are $30, so if you go to 3 shows, you’ve already spent more than the $85. Plus, if you show on a Show Pass, you don’t earn points at that show (why??). They also have a Lifetime Membership at $1,500, but…older amateur? Again, probably no.
Client: So, a total of $165 to be horse show eligible? I can do that!
Me: Well… your horse also needs to be recorded with USEF. The previous owners did an annual recording for him ($95, paid every year). However, that’s going to expire in a couple of months. I recommend that you get him a Lifetime Recording ($300) under your name because if you have him for even three years, you’ve basically used that $300.
Client: Hmm… okay, that $465. A tiny bit steep, but I want to show, so let’s go.
Me: Um… he also needs to be recorded with USHJA, but you don’t want to do that yet. Client: Why not?
Me: Because when the previous owners did the one-year recording with USEF, they gave him a name, and you don’t like that name. SO, you first need to transfer him into your own name ($60 for that), and
then you need to change his name (another $60). If you do that before you record him with USHJA, you will dodge their name and ownership change fees ($20 each).
Client: Wow. So that’s now $585 before I can show?
Me: Yes…so far. But your horse, with his new owner and new name, now needs to be recorded with USHJA. Luckily, the previous owner did not do that, so you avoid the ownership change/name change fees. A USHJA recording is $75. But, it’s for the lifetime of the horse!
Client: Sheesh! Is there anything else?
Me: That $660 is all the money for today, but your USEF membership does come with a SafeSport requirement (and I am a FAN of that), and you must complete the training before you can show. That’s also a yearly requirement and comes with a big automatic fine if you show and are not SafeSport compliant, so don’t forget to do it (and so many people forget). If you do forget, crying in the show office won’t help. Ask me how I know that.
Client: So $660 and Safe Sport training, and I can finally show?
Me: Kind of? You can GO to the show. There are other organizations you may have to join if you want to compete in their classes. For instance, it is $35 for a rider to join NHS, and $50 for a trainer, and both have to be members to compete. The NAL membership is $45 per rider. These are yearly, not lifetime.
Then there are fees you pay to each show to be able to compete. There is a USEF fee ($23 per show) and USHJA zone fees. There is usually also a schooling fee, or ticketed schooling, a medic fee (USEF requires a medic), and an office fee.
Client: Okay, I kind of get the horse show fees, but aren’t I already paying USEF $80 a year to show, and USHJA $85 a year to show, and didn’t they just get $375 so that my horse could show? Why am I paying them again?
And I just shrug, because I don’t exactly know myself.
The love of competition keeps so many of us showing, but the maze of fees and memberships makes it harder than it should be. If USEF and USHJA truly want to support the sport’s future, simplifying the process… and the price tag… would be a good place to start.
📎 Save and share this article by Daphne Thornton at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/09/24/dont-forget-to-read-the-fine-print-breaking-down-usef-and-ushja-fees/
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