What does it cost to ride?

A typical rider will ride from one to four teams on a ride-night, and the cost breakdown is as follows.

Arena Fee.
There is a $6 arena fee that everyone pays. That money goes to the Fairgrounds.

Team Fee per Individual:
Each team member pays a $10 fee for each team they are on.  In other words, a team's total cost is $30.  Each team rides twice, or two 90-second "goes."
Riders may have more than one team, but their individual cost is $10 per team.

Non-Member Fee:
There is a $10 non-member fee that is waived the first night.  You will not have to pay that fee unless you want to return on a subsequent Monday night and ride.  If you decide you want to continue, it is much cheaper in the long run to join the club.

So let's say you decide to ride two teams. The total cost will be:

  6.00 Arena fee
10.00 for first team
10.00 for second team
  0.00 for non-member fee
-------
26.00

Horses:

We recommend you give your horse a chance to work with cows before you attend a ride night.  It can sometimes be pretty overwhelming for them to be in a strange environment with all the sights and sounds of a penning arena.  Asking your horse to enter a herd and try separating out a cow can sometimes overload them, especially within a 90 second time-frame,.  We want you and your horse to be safe and successful, and for you to enjoy the experience.  There are several trainers in the area who specialize in cow work, and can help you and your horse try it out.

And of course, the legal part:

The Fairgrounds requires a signed waiver, and if the rider is under 18 then a parent must sign with them.  The simplest way is to download the waiver and get the paperwork taken care of before you come.  Just download the Membership Form and fill it out, leaving the "type of membership" blank.  That's all we need to satisfy the Fairground's legal requirements.  We also have waiver forms on-site at the sign-up table.

One more thing.  Safety is always a consideration, so we ask that you not leave your horse unattended.  Please get someone to hold him if you need to visit the snackbar or restrooms, etc.

We hope this helps answer some of your questions.  Warmups start at 6:00 and practice starts at 7:00.  Teams must be chosen and turned in by 6:45.

There is additional information in our FAQ page, WVTPA FAQ's, and we always recommend a rider familiarize themselves with the rules - WVTPA Rules - before coming out.