National Horse Show

What National Horse Show does

The National Horse Show Association of America, Ltd. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates the second-oldest horse show in the United States, founded in 1883 at Madison Square Garden. The organization annually produces the National Horse Show, a 12-day indoor equestrian competition featuring hunter, jumper, and equitation divisions, with the 143rd edition scheduled for October 21 - November 1, 2026 at Tryon International Equestrian Center in Mill Spring, North Carolina. Its core product portfolio consists of three nationally sanctioned equitation championships (ASPCA Maclay National Championship since 1933, Hamel Foundation 3'3" Equitation Championship since 2017, and THIS Adult Equitation Championship since 2019) and premier jumper classes with prize purses up to $100,000, plus the NHS Grant Program and an endowment fund.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: entry fees from competitors, corporate sponsorships (anchored by three title sponsors across the equitation championships), and charitable donations/endowment contributions. The organization governs qualification through 10 regional Maclay Area Championships across the United States, which funnel riders into the national finals. Operationally, NHS runs with 8 employees and an Executive Board led by Chairman William H. Weeks and President Jennifer Burger, with technical infrastructure limited to a third-party Show Management System for entries/results and ClipMyHorse for live video streaming.

Name

National Horse Show

Legal name

National Horse Show Association of America, Ltd.

Website

https://nhs.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The National Horse Show is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1883 that operates the second-oldest horse show in the United States, hosting annual elite equestrian competitions including three national equitation championships and Grand Prix events for hunter, jumper, and equitation riders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Equestrian Event Organization

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Spectator Sports (7112), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)

SIC

Services-Racing, Including Track Operation (7948)

akta.pro primary industry

Equestrian Teams & Stables (Racing/Show Jumping/Eventing) (MPAKABAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Equestrian & Rodeo Facilities (MPAKAEAM), Sport/Show Horse Training & Performance Programs (AFAEAGAF)

Keywords

• Equestrian competitions
• Horse show events
• Equitation championships
• Hunter jumper classes
• Equestrian nonprofit events

Headquarters

HQ city

La Center

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Entry Fees: Competitors pay entry fees to participate in the National Horse Show, with various classes and divisions offering prize money.
2. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors provide financial support in exchange for brand visibility, logo placement, and association with the prestigious equestrian event.
3. Donations/Endowment: As a 501(c)(3) organization, NHS accepts charitable contributions and endowment donations to support the long-term financial stability of the event.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The National Horse Show organizes and hosts an annual multi-day equestrian competition featuring three national equitation championships (ASPCA Maclay, Hamel Foundation 3'3", and THIS Adult), premier jumper Grand Prix classes, and hunter classics. Competitors enter through a Show Management System and qualify via 10 regional Area Championships held across the United States. The organization also administers a competitor grant program and an endowment fund to support the event's long-term sustainability.

Product overview

The National Horse Show is an equestrian competition organization that organizes and hosts multiple prestigious championship events annually. Its core product portfolio includes three major equitation championships (ASPCA Maclay National Championship, 3'3" Equitation Championship, and Adult Equitation Championship), premier jumper competitions (Grand Prix), hunter classics, and supporting programs including a grant program for competitors and an endowment fund for long-term financial stability. The organization also coordinates Area Championships across ten geographic regions for qualifying competitions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship: Major equitation final established in 1933, one of the most influential junior competitions in the United States
• NHS 3'3" Equitation Championship Sponsored by the Hamel Foundation
• NHS Adult Equitation Championship Sponsored by THIS

Products and services

• NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship The premier national equitation final established in 1933, promoting effective and correct riding on the flat and over fences for junior riders; qualification runs through 10 USEF-sanctioned regional Maclay Area Championships.
• NHS 3'3" Equitation Championship Sponsored by the Hamel Foundation National-level equitation final for riders competing at the 3'3" fence height, designed as a stepping-stone championship toward 3'6" equitation; riders qualify through the Hamel 3'3" class at regional Maclay Area Championships.
• NHS Adult Equitation Championship Sponsored by THIS Premier national final for adult amateur riders featuring three age divisions (18-21, 22-35, and 36 & Over); one of the only top-level equitation championships dedicated exclusively to adult amateur competitors; title-sponsored by THIS (Taylor Harris Insurance Services).
• $100,000 National Horse Show National Standard 1.45m Grand Prix The premier jumper class at the National Horse Show featuring a $100,000 prize purse at 1.45m height, targeting elite professional and amateur jumper competitors.
• $75,000 NHS Hunter Classic The featured hunter classic competition at the National Horse Show, highlighting performance, style, and skill over two rounds, with a $75,000 prize purse.
• NHS Grant Program Financial-assistance grant program for NHS competitors with demonstrated financial need, providing stall, entry fees, and a stipend to cover additional show-related expenses.
• NHS Endowment Endowment fund established in 2018 to provide long-term financial stability for the National Horse Show, allowing the organization to innovate, adapt, and preserve its longstanding traditions.
• Area Championships Regional championship classes for the Hamel 3'3" and THIS Adult Equitation Championships, held at existing Maclay Area Championships across 10 geographic regions in the United States.

Quantifiable outcome

• 176 horse-and-rider combinations qualified for 2025 ASPCA Maclay National Championship
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Tryon International Equestrian CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2026Primary venue partner for the 2026 National Horse Show. Tryon International offers world-class equestrian facilities including indoor competition arena, outdoor rings, stabling, and on-site accommodations. USEF officially approved the relocation on April 9, 2026. The venue provides the infrastructure to support high-level competition with focus on horse welfare and footing quality.
• THIS (Taylor Harris Insurance Services)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2019Title sponsor of the NHS Adult Equitation Championship. THIS provides insurance services to the equestrian industry and sponsors this adult amateur equitation competition with three age divisions.
• Hamel FoundationcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2017Title sponsor of the NHS 3'3 Equitation Championship. The Hamel Family Foundation supports intermediate-level equestrians with this championship added to NHS schedule in 2017 as a stepping stone to elite competition.
• Phelps Media GroupcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial media partner for the National Horse Show. Provides media relations, press coverage, and marketing support for the event. Contact: [email protected]
• Shawn McMillen PhotographyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial photographer for the National Horse Show. Provides professional event photography coverage based in Aiken, SC.
• ASPCAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTitle sponsor of the NHS ASPCA Maclay National Championship. The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) partners to support this prestigious junior equitation competition established in 1933.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF): A multi-week hunter/jumper competition series in Wellington, Florida, hosting the largest winter prize money in the sport. Directly comparable event-driven model with shared rider pool and overlapping corporate sponsors.
• Washington International Horse Show: One of the most prestigious US indoor horse shows, held annually in the capital region and featuring similar hunter/jumper and equitation championships. Directly comparable to NHS in scale, target audience, and competition-driven nonprofit model.
• Devon Horse Show & Country Fair: A historic Pennsylvania horse show (running since 1896) with a comparable event-driven nonprofit model featuring elite hunter/jumper and equitation competitions. Directly competes for elite riders, sponsorships, and spectators in the US Northeast.
• Hampton Classic Horse Show: A premier Long Island, NY horse show featuring top hunter/jumper competition, similar high prize purses, and comparable sponsor-driven, association-organized structure. Targets overlapping East Coast exhibitor and spectator markets as NHS.

Others

• Kentucky Horse Park: NHS's former long-tenured venue in Lexington, KY, hosting major equestrian competitions and events. Functions as an adjacent ecosystem participant and former host whose programming overlaps with NHS's prior calendar.
• Tryon International Equestrian Center: The North Carolina venue and host of the 2026 National Horse Show. A venue/ecosystem partner rather than direct competitor, but it operates competing year-round hunter/jumper competitions that overlap with NHS's rider pool.

Broad incumbents

• Longines Global Champions Tour: An international show jumping tour featuring the sport's top-ranked riders and significant prize purses. Operates as a larger, broader incumbent that competes for elite rider participation and global equestrian sponsorships.
• Spruce Meadows: A world-renowned Calgary, Canada show jumping venue that hosts major tournaments (e.g., 'Masters'). Operates as a purpose-built facility/incumbent at a larger scale than NHS but in the same show-jumping competition category with overlapping rider and sponsor pools.
• CHIO Aachen / Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein: A premier European show jumping, dressage, and eventing festival and venue in Germany. A larger international incumbent with comparable high-purse competition format and overlapping global sponsor base.
• US Equestrian Federation (USEF): The national governing body for equestrian sports in the United States and the sanctioning organization for NHS competitions. A broader incumbent that oversees and licenses the same events and competitors NHS serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalHorseShow
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalhorseshow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-horse-show

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about National Horse Show