I’ve spent my entire life in the horse industry. At 54 years old, I’ve watched the Arabian horse world evolve through several different eras, and over the last 35 years as a professional trainer, instructor, and horsewoman, I’ve seen firsthand how people enter our industry—and more importantly, why some don’t.
Lately, I’ve found myself asking a question that I don’t have the answer to: Are we pricing new riders and horse owners out of our industry?
When I started my career, my business looked very different than it does today. As a young trainer, I wasn’t buying the horses everyone else wanted. I found myself drawn to the horses that didn’t quite fit somewhere else. Maybe they were sour. Maybe they had developed bad habits. Maybe they simply weren’t thriving in their current jobs. I’ve always had a soft spot for those horses. I wanted them to trust me. I wanted to figure them out. I wanted to give them another chance. What started as a personal passion eventually became a successful business model. I would buy horses, retrain them, repurpose them, and match them with riders who needed them. Many of those horses went on to become successful partners for their new owners. As my teaching business grew, my focus shifted from simply finding horses to finding the right horses for my clients. That’s when one of the most influential parts of my career entered the picture: the Addis Equine Auctions.
To this day, those sales hold a special place in my heart. The first time I attended, I brought an eight-horse trailer hoping to buy one horse. I came home with six. Over the years, those auctions became a major part of my business. I would study the catalog for weeks beforehand. I would arrive early and ride as many horses as possible. I wasn’t looking for bargains—I was looking for opportunities. Opportunities for my clients, opportunities for horses, and opportunities to create successful partnerships. These weren’t neglected horses or throwaway horses. Many came from respected programs and reputable trainers. They were horses that simply needed a new home, a different rider, a different purpose, or a quicker sales avenue than traditional marketing could provide. For trainers like me, the auctions created access. They allowed us to find quality horses at realistic market values and place them with riders who may not have otherwise had the opportunity to own an Arabian horse.
Back then, there was a healthy middle market. There were certainly elite horses commanding elite prices. That has always existed and always will. But there was also a large population of horses selling in the $10,000 to $25,000 range. With the right trainer, rider, and program, many of those horses could become successful competitors and beloved family horses.
Today, that middle market feels much smaller.
Somewhere along the way, things changed. Whether it was the impact of COVID, the reduction in breeding programs, the loss of larger farms producing significant numbers of horses each year, or simple supply and demand, the market today feels dramatically different than the one I built my career in.
The horses that once sold for $20,000 are now often listed for $50,000 or more. The horses that once brought $40,000 to $50,000 may now be priced at $80,000 or even higher. Are there horses worth those prices? Absolutely. Exceptional horses have value, and they always will. But I also believe there are many horses being marketed at price points that place them out of reach for average families entering the industry. That’s where my concern lies.
I live and work in an area where many people would assume every horse owner has unlimited resources. The reality is very different. Many of my clients are hardworking families making significant sacrifices to participate in a sport they love. They budget carefully. They save. They prioritize. They invest in their children’s dreams.
When a family enters the horse market with what they believe is a substantial budget—perhaps $40,000—and quickly discovers that many of the horses they are shown are priced far beyond that, the experience can be discouraging. In some cases, those same horses see significant price reductions months later. That raises difficult questions about valuation and market expectations.
The challenge isn’t that there are no horses available. The challenge is finding horses that are realistically attainable for the people we hope will become lifelong participants in our industry.
As an industry, we frequently discuss declining participation, shrinking show entries, and the need to attract new horse owners. Those conversations matter. But if we want more people involved, we also need to talk about accessibility. For most newcomers, the biggest hurdle isn’t the horse show bill. It isn’t membership dues. It isn’t class fees. It’s buying the horse. That first purchase determines whether many families can even get started.
I don’t pretend to have all the answers. I don’t know if the solution lies in breeding more horses, creating new sales opportunities, developing stronger trainer networks, or simply having more honest conversations about value and accessibility. What I do know is that over the course of my career, I’ve watched the pathway into horse ownership become increasingly difficult for many people. And that concerns me. Because the future of our industry doesn’t depend solely on the top-end horses or the wealthiest owners. It depends on creating opportunities for new riders, new families, and new horse enthusiasts to find a place within it. If we truly want to grow our industry, we need to ensure there is still a pathway for people to enter it. The question is: what should that pathway look like moving forward?
Education for lesson programs and instructors
Hi Julie! It’s Jennifer from Michigan. You bought a lovely 1/2 Arab from me in the 90’s. Yes, l believe we are extremely low in inventory in our breed and therefore, it’s getting catered to more elite that can afford the the 100k horse. For example, if you attend Region11, 13 or 14 yo here in the midwest the horses that win are typically quite pricey in the amateur riding classes. We need to get back to making it important to breed our arabians so there is a large selection of horses in all price ranges and a large selection of shows for everyone to show in.
It’s not just the new families getting into horses. It’s also some of us either looking for the first horse or getting back into horses. Limited budgets really come into play there, too. That middle of the road horse now days is even out of reach. I realize costs are skyrocketing for breeding, care, and training. I don’t have the answers, either. Ive been in this industry for 60+ years and have watched the decline, too. My daughter and I have also worked with the horses that somehow just didn’t fit where they were and had some good success both as show horses and the safe family trail horse. We do route for them as well. But even now, they seem to be looked at as a profit maker by some. Again, I wish I knew an answer. Only to just keep my eyes open for that under rated potential I see that someone else might be missing, lol!
Thank you for this thought provoking article!
Julie, thank you for a great read. I know families that have Arabians for three generations who no longer feel they can afford to show at our shows. I don’t know the answer that we do have a problem..
Not only is the price of the horse high, but every other price to have the horse has also increased. This also increases costs for training barns. I personally show an open show circuit for Arabians and half Arabs and it’s growing in size. We try to keep the shows affordable and family friendly. After showing at a few regional shows and seeing politics affect placings, I’d rather spend my money elsewhere. I’ve invested to have my foals sweepstakes nominated but if I can’t afford the high level trainer, then that’s also not worth the investment for the horse I’ll keep forever. I’d love to compete at a higher level but I can’t justify the cost for a chance at a fancy ribbon.
Absolutely costs are rising everywhere, but as those costs go up, middle income earners budgets go down. When my kids were younger I literally scoffed at paying 200 every four weeks for shoes. Now I do that for two horses in my barn. We have less places to ride. Less places to learn, farm costs are skyrocketing so even keeping at home is eroding from
availability. I would never pay over 5k for a young horse now it’s 20k before they are two. That’s a HUGE gamble. When you add in the breeding faults that result in maintenance for even younger horses, training practices and judging practices that makes the small amateur/trainer like I started as impossible to be successful on their own. People give up the fight and move on.
Completely agree Julie. It is also the ones who have been in Arabians for years, shown for years to Regional level and have been successful that can’t afford to keep doing any longer. At 55 and a teacher, I find myself in a space where i can’t afford the shows, being in year round training to be competitive even with a super horse. I decided to sell my HA and now despite him being a solid show horse,dead broke, ridden by a jtr and in full training ready to go, to even get anyone to look at him. I dont’ know what the answer is, but as a amateur rider/shower since 1998, it is heart breaking.