Horse shows are one of the most exciting parts of the equestrian lifestyle — but they’re also one of the most expensive. Between entry fees, stabling, shipping, and new equipment, the costs add up fast. The good news? If you’re running an equestrian business, many of those expenses are tax deductible. The key is knowing what to track and how to track it.
What Counts as a Business Expense? If you’re operating a legitimate equestrian business — whether that’s a lesson program, a boarding facility, a training operation, or a breeding program — horse show expenses related to that business may be deductible. This can include:
- Entry fees for horses you’re showing as part of your business
- Stabling fees at the show
- Horse transportation and shipping costs
- Trainer and coaching fees
- Equipment and tack purchased for business use
- Travel expenses (hotel, meals, mileage) if the trip is primarily for business
The Golden Rule: Keep Everything Separate The biggest mistake equestrian business owners make is mixing personal and business expenses. If you’re showing your personal horse for fun and your client’s horse for business in the same weekend, you need to track those costs separately. A dedicated business bank account and credit card makes this infinitely easier.
How to Track Show Expenses Here’s a simple system that works:
- Create a “Horse Shows” category in QBO — every show-related expense gets coded here
- Save every receipt — photograph them with your phone immediately and upload to QBO
- Keep a show log — note the date, location, horses shown, and purpose (business vs personal) for every show you attend
- Track your mileage — the IRS allows a standard mileage deduction for business travel. Use an app like MileIQ to log automatically.
What About the Horse Itself? This gets more complicated. A horse used in your business may be depreciable as a business asset, but the rules around this are nuanced and depend heavily on your specific situation. This is exactly where having a good bookkeeper and accountant on your team pays off — literally.
The Bottom Line Horse shows are a significant expense for most equestrian businesses. With the right tracking system in place, you can make sure you’re capturing every legitimate deduction and walking into tax season with confidence instead of dread.
If you’re not sure whether your horse show expenses are being tracked correctly, I’d love to help. Book a free discovery call and let’s take a look at your books together.