06/09/2026
Come out and be a part of our show this Sunday, June 14th! At our shows, “you don’t have to win to feel like you belong.”
Horse shows have always been about more than ribbons. They’re communities. They’re proving grounds. They’re places where kids grow up, professionals shape their craft, and horse lovers gather to celebrate their shared passion. But anyone who’s been part of the sport for more than a few years will tell you—horse show culture has changed.
In Episode 437 of The Plaidcast, Berry Porter joined host Piper Klemm to reflect on those shifts. Porter has watched the horse show world evolve from local weekend gatherings into massive, professionally run events.
“Things are different now,” Porter said simply. “It’s bigger, faster, more expensive.”
Today’s horse shows often span multiple rings, run for weeks at a time, and attract competitors from across the country. They feature elaborate setups, livestreaming, high-end sponsorships, and prize money once unheard of in the sport. Klemm noted that while this evolution has elevated the visibility of the industry, it’s also created pressure.
“We see these incredibly polished videos and curated experiences,” she said. “But there’s a real gap between that and what a lot of people experience day to day. It can make the sport feel less accessible.”
That accessibility issue is echoed in Porter’s observations. While he’s proud of how far the sport has come, he’s also seen how rising costs and intense competition have pushed some people away from the showgrounds entirely.
“In the old days, people just came out to be part of it,” he said. “You didn’t have to win to feel like you belonged.”
📎 Continue reading this article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/06/15/how-horse-show-culture-has-changed-and-why-its-worth-preserving/
📸 © Carly Nasznic
