
Episode #41
Where Does All the Money Go?
The U.S. horse industry has an economic impact of about $177 billion. So why does it still feel so expensive just to participate? This week, Elizabeth and Reynolds follow the money — from horse-show bills and USEF fees to tack stores, prize money, media, real estate and the outside investors who increasingly see opportunity in the horse industry. They look at what Dover Saddlery’s collapse says about equestrian retail, why Greenhawk chose only some of its former locations, and what companies like CVC and McCourt Global may see that traditional horse businesses haven’t figured out yet. They also compare the enormous prize money already available in some western disciplines with what riders see in the hunter/jumper world, and ask whether ventures like Premier Jumping League can bring new money into the sport from spectators, sponsors and media instead of relying on the same riders and owners to keep paying more. Because everybody may have a perfectly good reason for what they’re charging. But the rider or owner is still the one paying all of it.

