by Donna DeYoung

We did some research on numbers of horses entered in the IALHA shows from 2003 to 2008 and came out with some interesting results. Unfortunately, IALHA did not post the total entries each year for the National Championships, so we were left comparing shows that have run for multiple years. We used only purebred numbers (as opposed to halfbreds entered at the show). Statistics show that overall attendance at the IALHA shows has dropped since 2003 with the better show year occurring in 2005.

Shows in Wisconsin

Shows in Wisconsin seem to be holding fairly steady or increasing. This is a heavy show-prep area known for bringing multiple horses to the National Championships each year and is home to the IALHA show committee chair Gareth Selwood.

The Baroque Classic show in Elkhorn, Wisconsin has stayed fairly steady with numbers ranging from 18 (in 2003) to 31 (in 2007).

The Baroque Horse Festival in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, numbers have risen steadily through the years from 22 in 2003 to 39 in 2007.

The Oshkosh show numbers in Oshkosh, Wisconsin have fallen to 7 in 2006 from a high of 23 in 2004.

The Region 3 Championship show in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, has shown a slight drop in 2007 (39 horses) from previous years (2006 had 43 horses and 2004 had 41 horses).

Shows Up North

These shows appear to be fairly rare and small. The Canadian show in 2006 had fewer than in 2005 (35 compared to 44).

Shows in Florida

Shows in Florida had been dropping steadily.

The Florida regional shows (not including the championship) have fallen in numbers to just 7 horses this year.

The Region 7 championship show in Newberry, Florida has fallen almost 50% in 2007 (27 horses) since 2003 (47 horses).

Shows out East

The 2007 show did fairly well.

The Eastern Regional Championship show in Lexingon, Virginia, numbers fell drastically in 2006 to just 33 horses but rose in 2007 to 60 horses. The highest show year was 2004.

Shows Out West

Shows out west in Oregon, Washington, and Colorado have had dropping attendence.

The Festival of the Andalusian horse show in Boring, Oregon, numbers in 2006 were about 50% less than the number of horses in 2003 (26 compared to 49 horses). Results were not available for 2007.

The Go for Baroque show in Olympia, Washington had an increase in 2007 over 2006 (25 compared to 19).

The Rocky Mountain show in Colorado has had numbers drop to 33 in 2006 from 40 in 2003.

Shows in California

California has the most shows each year but even there attendance has fallen almost 50% in places.

The Rainbow Royal in Burbank, California, had a drop of 50% in 2008 compared to 2004 (20 horses compared to 42).

The Region 1 Championships in Burbank, California, had lower numbers in 2007 (69 horses) compared to 2003 (79 horses).

The Fiesta of the Spanish Horse show in Burbank, California, numbers fell in 2008 to just 46 horses. Previous years had shown growth from 65 horses in 2004 to 83 horses in 2005.

The Spring Breed Classic Show in Burbank, California, has had a slight increase to 45 horses in 2005 then dropped to 40 horses in 2006.

The Surf and Sun show in Del Mar, California had about 50% less horess in 2007 (23) than in 2004 (44 horses). The biggest year was 2005 with 66 horses.

The Ventura horse show in California had fewer horses in 2005 (33) than in 2003 (39).

Shows in Texas

Show attendance has fallen in Texas with a drastic decline at the SWALHC show.

The Pin Oak show in Texas has fallen to 20 horses in 2008 from a high of 33 horses in 2005. Numbers have fallen steadily since the show started.

The Texas SWALHC show dropped substantially in 2008 to just 12 horses from a high of 45 horses in 2005.

What does this mean for the 2008 National Championships?

You can probably expect to see fewer and fewer horses but the advantage is that you will see more horses per class at this show than at any other show.

For example, we looked at some statistics as to the total number (purebreds and halfbreds) entered in various classes at some regional shows. This year, the Fiesta of the Spanish Horse had 47 entries but 46 classes out of 94 classes had ZERO entries and only 9 classes had 4 or more horses entered in each one.

The Pin Oak show had 24 horses entered, 22 classes with zero entries out of 67 total classes available, and 9 classes with 4 or more horses competing.

The SWALHC show had a huge reduction with only 14 horses entered this year and 72 empty classes out of 92 classes offered! Only 4 classes had 4 or more horses.

The Rainbow Royal had 25 horses entered and 47 empty classes out of 101 classes offered and only 8 classes with 4 or more horses.