2024 is a wrap, and 2025 is already under way! It’s time for the State of the Spot—our opportunity to reflect on the year past and set our sights on the year ahead. When I say “we,” I don’t just mean the Horse Spot team; I mean you too. So let’s jump right in!

Technically, Horse Spot’s birthday is April 1st, so I’ll save the exact growth numbers until then. For now, think of the State of the Spot as a chance to:

• Hold ourselves accountable for last year’s goals
• Celebrate our wins (and yours!)
• Share our vision for the future

But first, I’d like to point out: on January 11, 2024, we proudly announced that Horse Spot had a presence in 3 states. Now, we’re in 27 states and 3 countries!

2024: Growth and Rolled Up Sleeves

I’ve got receipts for our 2024 goals right here, and I’m excited to share how far we’ve come.

Online Entries

It’s hard to believe, but online entries launched on January 1, 2024—barely a year ago! When we first rolled it out, the system only supported submitting basic entry information for horses and riders. It was pretty bare-bones, but it got us started.

Over the course of 2024, we added more features:

• Adding and Scratching Classes
• Editing information on existing entries
• Saving payment methods
• Making prepayments

The feedback from show secretaries and riders has been amazing, and we’ll keep fine-tuning to make online entries even simpler and more powerful.

Payments

If you’re a secretary using Horse Spot, you already know we’ve changed the payment game. Balancing your show by the end of the event—or even the day after—is no biggie. Gone are the days of chasing people via text and email for weeks to close out tiny balances!

In addition to the existing credit card processing, we introduced:

• Save payment methods
• Remote payment requests
• Support for Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Amazon Pay
• Prepayments

All these improvements mean less hassle for everyone and fewer open tabs after the show.

Blog

We launched our blog to give you a better way to stay informed about Horse Spot. Before, we relied mostly on social media for big announcements, which (let’s be real) isn’t the best platform for keeping track of updates over time. With the blog, you can always check in on our newest features, changes, and community highlights.

Advocates Program

Our Advocates Program is all about bringing passionate Horse Spot users together to help shape our future. Advocates get insider info, early access to select features, and direct lines of communication with our product team. You can be our eyes and ears, sharing what’s working and where we can improve. Plus, our Advocates get to represent Horse Spot at local events, clubs, and shows—helping build our community from the ground up.

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Shadow a Pro

Kids and adults alike can “Shadow a Pro” at a show by simply sending us an email with the subject line of the show they are attending. We’ll set it up and do the rest. Exhibitors can have the chance to sit with a judge, walk the jumper ring with a course designer, and so much more. It’s a unique horsemanship building experience for anyone looking to learn more outside of the saddle.

User Dashboards

Every Horse Spot account holder now has access to a powerful dashboard to easily navigate and manage entries across shows. Need to make adds or scratches? Want to edit a rider’s details? The dashboard lets you handle it all in one place, so you can focus on what truly matters: enjoying your events.

Live Scoring

Live Scoring might be one of our most exciting endeavors from 2024. We’ve been working diligently behind the scenes to create a system that allows event organizers, competitors, and fans to see results in real time—without any guesswork. While full roll-out is slated for 2025, we did some pilot testing in late 2024, and the response has been incredible. No more waiting hours (or even days!) for final results to be posted. Stay tuned for the official launch soon.

2025: Buckle Up

With a fresh year comes fresh ambitions. Here are some of the big projects on deck:

• New Website: A polished new look with improved navigation and functionality. We want to make sure you can find what you need quickly, whether you’re on your phone or computer.
• Dressage: Expanded features for our Dressage friends, including specialized entry forms, ride times, and scoring modules.
• Organizations: Partnering with more equestrian organizations to provide integrated memberships, show registration flows, and easy reporting.
• Documentation Site: A robust knowledge base so you can find answers (and ask new questions!) faster than ever.
• More Online Entries Customization: Expect even deeper customization, covering things like feed and bedding, show fees, waivers, and membership verifications.
• Integrations: More third-party integrations to keep all your equestrian tools in sync, from scheduling apps to marketing platforms.‍
• Live Scoring: We’re taking live scoring from pilot phase to prime time, aiming to roll it out across more shows and disciplines.

Made by Equestrians for Equestrians

Since day one, Horse Spot has been “made by equestrians for equestrians.” Our entire team (including you!) puts in the hours, pours in the passion, and keeps the feedback loop flowing. The result? We deliver features and tools that truly address real-world pains in the equestrian community.

As we charge into 2025, know that we’re committed to hearing from you—good or bad—and transforming those conversations into exciting improvements. Whether you’re a rider, a show secretary, a sponsor, or simply a fan, we’re here to ensure Horse Spot makes you proud and keeps you coming back.

Thanks for being part of the journey. Here’s to an incredible 2025! ‍

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Photo Credits:

EQUINIUM at The Ridge at Wellington Groves
Emma Lynn Photography at The Big Sky Classic

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