Authors: Walker Neely, Huseman Chelsie, Cater Melissa, McCorkle Dean A, Hanselka Daniel, Zoller Jennifer
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Virtual Horse Shows: A Lasting Shift in Equestrian Participation The COVID-19 pandemic catalysed an unexpected expansion of equestrian competition through virtual showing platforms, prompting researchers to investigate whether this format would become a permanent fixture in the sport. A survey of 251 adult horse show participants and supporters revealed overwhelmingly positive reception, with 91.2% reporting genuine benefits and nearly 60% intending to continue virtual participation alongside in-person competitions once these fully resumed. Notably, three-quarters of respondents anticipated *increasing* their overall show involvement, whilst mean scores indicated significant improvements in both technology attitudes (M=1.6) and motivation to ride and compete (M=1.4), suggesting the virtual option has genuinely energised participation rather than simply cannibalising in-person entries. Decision-making differed markedly between factors: internal considerations such as budget constraints and recording capability had moderate influence, whereas external incentives—judge feedback, division availability, and awards—proved far more influential in driving virtual show entry. For equestrian professionals advising clients on competition strategy and workload planning, these findings suggest virtual showing is unlikely to disappear and may warrant integration into annual competition calendars, particularly for riders managing financial or logistical constraints, though longer-term outcome data will clarify whether this pandemic-driven trend sustains once in-person competitions fully normalise.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Virtual horse showing has sustained industry engagement during disruptions and may represent a permanent expansion of showing opportunities worth incorporating into your business model
- •Budget constraints and ability to record rides are moderately influential factors for participants, while judge feedback, available divisions, and awards are strongly influential—tailor virtual show offerings accordingly
- •The sustained interest in virtual showing (59.8% planning to continue) suggests demand will likely persist; consider offering hybrid in-person and virtual options to capture diverse participant preferences
Key Findings
- •91.2% of survey respondents reported benefits to participating in virtual horse shows
- •59.8% of participants plan to continue showing virtually when in-person shows resume
- •76.1% of respondents anticipate increasing their participation in showing (in-person or virtual) due to virtual showing opportunities
- •Respondents showed improved attitude toward technology and increased motivation to participate, ride and show