Episode 2: State of the Equine Industry

“We’re trying to do too much with the same people on the same day [at our horse shows].” – Brian Dygert.

The last 5 years of western horse showing has brought massive evolution. We’ve seen the creation of events like the Run for A Million and American Professional Horseman from Teton Ridge and expansion in the development of new shows. Additionally, the growth of established shows is evident through stalls and entries. In some ways we are growing. However, in many others we are not.

This episode explores questions like: Is horse show activity ready for modification? Do sports like reining, cutting, reined cow horse, and ranch riding need to develop a fan-based approach? Does subjective scoring hold our sports back? Is it time for our national organizations to collaborate again? Breed shows like the American Quarter Horse Association and American Paint Horse Association, discipline-specific shows like the NRHA Derby, NRHA Futurity, and emerging segments like ranch riding are all faced with these questions.

Brian and Jody will debate the issues and share statistics that shed light on ideas and possible solutions. They also discuss the differences between the working western horse show industry and other prominent sports like rodeo, golf, and basketball. Using comparisons of professional leagues like NFR, NFL, NBA, and PGA, they’ll discuss challenges that horse shows face.

Chelsea Sutton moderates this conversation.