Thoughts on new BE day pass membership?

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SnowGoose

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I see that on top of paying £32 for horse and rider day tickets plus a £70 entry fee and £15 start fee, (not to mention travel costs!) BE have now decided you need to pay an extra £10 day pass annual membership to entitle you to buy a day ticket in the first place. While it is not a huge amount over a season, as a rider can only enter 4 events on day tickets, these are presumably bought by people starting out or just targetting a couple of specific events each year, it strikes me this extra charge is hardly encouraging people to have a go.

What do others think?
 
I hadnt heard this. Quite honestly i think BE prices are getting ridiculous.
I am looking for a new horse at the moment,(not very successfully i might add!) and my aim is to do all the unaff ODEs in my area. I cannot justify paying BE prices anymore.
 
I think it is ludicrous.
Give people the choice of joining it, sure, I'm all for that. But to make it compulsory. No!

Fwiw , I used to be a full BE member and now have a young horse starting out. We did one BE90 just to test the water at the end of this year on a ticket. I wouldnt have done that if BE had expected me to pay the day ticket membership too- it was pricey enough as it was!
 
Just got this email today from BE about it:

"New membership category for Day & Training Pass users

As a previous user of Day or Training passes we know that you appreciate the versatility and flexibility that these passes offer. We also recognise that as a Pass competitor you have previously had limited membership benefits and haven’t enjoyed the full range of wider benefits that British Eventing has to offer its members. We are therefore pleased to announce that we have introduced a new membership category for 2014 - Day Pass Membership.*

Member benefits of Day Pass Membership:

Free access to the British Eventing Member Advantages scheme which gives you instant access to discounts on holidays, hotels, equine insurance, clothing and luxury items to name but a few of the special deals available. There are many money-saving offers available from over 400 British Eventing partners.
Third party insurance for the day of competition for which the Day or Training Pass has been purchased.
A free Members’ Handbook (normally priced at £8.50 for non BE Members) containing all our rules and dressage tests
The right to purchase Day and Training Passes
Full Members’ discount on the Baileys Jump Training and JAS winter competitions
Membership rates for British Eventing’s training courses held throughout the country by BE Accredited Coaches www.britisheventing.com/training
As a Day Pass member you can take advantage of upgrading to Full membership without having to pay the £15 joining fee.
Day Pass membership costs just £10 for a calendar year and is required if you wish to compete on a Day or Training Pass or if you want to purchase a Horse Day Pass. The new Day Pass membership will run from January 2014.

Day Passes will remain at the same price for 2014 with a Training Pass costing just £10 for horse and rider combinations and a Rider and Horse Day Pass costing £16 each. Training Passes can be used to compete in BE80(T) classes whilst Day Passes can be used in competitions up to Intermediate Novice level.

For full details and to view the full fixtures list visit www.britisheventing.com."

*Day Pass membership is an Associate membership and has no voting rights
 
Ouch. My horse did 2 BE80s and 2 BE90's on tickets this year in his first season as wanted to ensure best possible ground etc. Was planning on getting full membership next year, but looking at the increased prices on both entry and start fees, not sure I'll bother......
 
Gamebird said:
BD associate membership is free...
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So is BE associate membership.

TBH I think it's good - means those competing on day tickets are still members of BE. I think too many people don't take 'going affiliated' seriously enough. A Training pass for BE80 is only a tenner for a combination, and after BE 80 you should probably be starting to think about being a member anyway, in my opinion. Sticking to four events a year at Be90/100/Novice is just going to whack the prices up for everyone else.
 
khalswitz said:
So is BE associate membership.

TBH I think it's good - means those competing on day tickets are still members of BE. I think too many people don't take 'going affiliated' seriously enough. A Training pass for BE80 is only a tenner for a combination, and after BE 80 you should probably be starting to think about being a member anyway, in my opinion. Sticking to four events a year at Be90/100/Novice is just going to whack the prices up for everyone else.
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But some people (such as me) are at university half of the year and so are limited in the events they can do. I compete at BE90/100, but with being over 4 hours away half of the year, I can only fit in around 4 events in the holidays anyway. It doesn't mean I don't take going affiliated seriously, but I have other commitments.

I also think BE worded the email poorly - until the end I was under the idea this was optional, not compulsory! I am now struggling to be able to justify entering BE events at all, and may sadly have to stick to the few UA events that run around BE tracks. I absolutely love eventing, but feel I may soon have to give up until I am much older and have a more substantial income!
 
victoriaaf said:
But some people (such as me) are at university half of the year and so are limited in the events they can do. I compete at BE90/100, but with being over 4 hours away half of the year, I can only fit in around 4 events in the holidays anyway. It doesn't mean I don't take going affiliated seriously, but I have other commitments.

I also think BE worded the email poorly - until the end I was under the idea this was optional, not compulsory! I am now struggling to be able to justify entering BE events at all, and may sadly have to stick to the few UA events that run around BE tracks. I absolutely love eventing, but feel I may soon have to give up until I am much older and have a more substantial income!
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If an extra £2.50 per event puts you off, in my opinion you don't take it seriously enough - either that or your finances are very tightly stretched and maybe unaffiliated would be more suitable! It's £10 per year for goodness sake, and they are giving you membership benefits for it!

I'm afraid I have little sympathy for the lack of funds through uni situation - I was there until last year, and I had to wait it out until I could afford to do horses the way I wanted to. If you are relying on your own money and can't afford to do it, then just wait... an extra, what, four years max of going unaff won't make a huge difference to your life.

I know I come across as a bit harsh but I just think we pay well over £150 per event competing on tickets (closer to £200 if you have to stable like we often do) and an extra £10 a year that gives us membership benefits is causing a huge fuss?
 
I got the email today as I did one 80(t) in October.

Tbh I don't mind the idea. You get the handbook, get membership discounts on training, don't have to pay the joining fee if you get full membership and pay members rates for the jump training and jas. I don't think that's too bad a deal.
 
I think you are all over reacting ! The benefits for many if they do JAS and jump training will outway the cost by a long way. There is a very logical reason this had to come in.There has for sometime been an uneasiness about day ticket riders not carrying the same insurance cover at events.
 
Every year there always a post about how expensive be is and lots of "I'm not doing it next year". However the majority of events still have wait lists so people will still pay the money
 
I think it is a good entry option and the benefits seem to far outweigh ten quid a season. Eventing is expensive to compete in, but also to run. In my view this makes it safer - properly insured and supervised.
 
But everytime it's 'Oh, it's only £10 extra', but these extras add up.f you just want to test the water I really don't think it should be compulsory to pay for needless pieces of paper and training discounts you're never going to use.
 
TheMule said:
But everytime it's 'Oh, it's only £10 extra', but these extras add up.f you just want to test the water I really don't think it should be compulsory to pay for needless pieces of paper and training discounts you're never going to use.
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It is all a matter of choice. If this ^^^ is your view then go unaffiliated as a better (cheaper) way to 'test the water'. BE are (presumably) encouraging you to become a member - hence the offer of discounts should you do so - as well as trying the sport. You state you are never going to use 'needless pieces of paper' for example, the memebrs handbook, containing the rules of the affiliated sport offered as part of the new deal, so why are you wanting to try an affiliated event ? And, pertanently, why should BE let you, if you have no intention of ever becoming a member or - so it would seem - reading the rules ? Although I am sure it isnt the case with The Mule, I find it quite alarming that I may be out on course with someone who hasn't read the rule book and use this example only to illustrate that the 'pieces of paper' on offer are not needless - they are quite important and would ahve to be seperately purchased under the old system.
 
Bestdogdash said:
It is all a matter of choice. If this ^^^ is your view then go unaffiliated as a better (cheaper) way to 'test the water'. BE are (presumably) encouraging you to become a member - hence the offer of discounts should you do so - as well as trying the sport. You state you are never going to use 'needless pieces of paper' for example, the memebrs handbook, containing the rules of the affiliated sport offered as part of the new deal, so why are you wanting to try an affiliated event ? And, pertanently, why should BE let you, if you have no intention of ever becoming a member or - so it would seem - reading the rules ? Although I am sure it isnt the case with The Mule, I find it quite alarming that I may be out on course with someone who hasn't read the rule book and use this example only to illustrate that the 'pieces of paper' on offer are not needless - they are quite important and would ahve to be seperately purchased under the old system.
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As I am sure you understand, it is quite rare to find an unaffiliated which tests you in the same way as a BE does, for example with flower pots, decorations etc around the dr and sj arenas and on the xc fences. I'd like my young horse to see it and to know she is ok with it!

Also, as I'm sure you know, the rule book is all online so no need for a paper copy at all.
 
Bestdogdash said:
Although I am sure it isnt the case with The Mule, I find it quite alarming that I may be out on course with someone who hasn't read the rule book and use this example only to illustrate that the 'pieces of paper' on offer are not needless - they are quite important and would ahve to be seperately purchased under the old system.
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Ummm, or indeed, downloaded online for free...
 
Bestdogdash said:
I find it quite alarming that I may be out on course with someone who hasn't read the rule book and use this example only to illustrate that the 'pieces of paper' on offer are not needless - they are quite important and would ahve to be seperately purchased under the old system.
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The rule book is on the website for free - lot more environmentally friendly than sending out paper editions. So making you pay for something that is free is not really that good an offer.
 
khalswitz said:
Sticking to four events a year at Be90/100/Novice is just going to whack the prices up for everyone else.
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Whilst I don't have a particular opinion on this at present as not competed BE for a couple of seasons I fail to see how on earth day ticket competitors push prices up for full members? I also don't see why it means people are taking affiliated less seriously. I'm afraid the reality is that most of the competitors funding BE compete (brace yourself) for fun! Whilst I think it is a waste of money to compete whilst under-prepared etc I do think that, for the most part, people just want to go out and have a nice day, whether full members or day ticket holders
 
Having read all the details again I expect one of the big reasons they are doing it is to ensure that every person competing has adequate 3rd party insurance.

The other benefits (which I think are quite good) are there to sweeten the deal.

I'm quids in as was planning on jump training a couple of times anyway :)
 
Bestdogdash said:
I think it is a good entry option and the benefits seem to far outweigh ten quid a season. Eventing is expensive to compete in, but also to run. In my view this makes it safer - properly insured and supervised.
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I haven't been a member for a couple of seasons, what benefits do u get these days from BE?

khalswitz said:
If an extra £2.50 per event puts you off, in my opinion you don't take it seriously enough - either that or your finances are very tightly stretched and maybe unaffiliated would be more suitable! It's £10 per year for goodness sake, and they are giving you membership benefits for it!

?
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Really? Not taking it seriously because you think that well over £100 for one dressage test, sj round and Xc round is extortionate, and even if you have a blinder and win you could get a numnah or a body brush ;-)

And increasingly BE seems to be running at venues where there is an identical unaffiliated event for half the cost...

Like someone earlier said, you do have a choice....I will not be choosing to join again even if I have an eventing fit horse next season.
 
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This is an economically advantageous thing for anyone wishing to do JAS, JT &/or BE training courses, but I'd rather it were optional than compulsory.That feels like the right thing to do - incentivise people to 'join' in this way by offering them potential benefits but don't compel, as for many ppl these discounts, JAS, JT etc are not needed / used / wanted.
The handbook as a 'benefit' is totally ridiculous*since it is already freely available without cost online (as others have said). I'm a full member & haven't bothered with a printed copy of the handbook for several years.
As for the 'if you cant afford a tenner then you should stick to unaff' type comments, well really, how ridiculous. It's not about 'this' tenner, per se, it's about the seemingly endless increases in the number & variety of charges levied by BE in*different ways (rises in starting fees, abandonment premia, entries etc) & their cumulative effect on the membership & indeed day ticket participants. Are these measures sustainable & fair in a flat economy just coming out (we hope!) of a long recession in which salaries are not increasing commensurately?
 
avthechav said:
I haven't been a member for a couple of seasons, what benefits do u get these days from BE?



Really? Not taking it seriously because you think that well over £100 for one dressage test, sj round and Xc round is extortionate, and even if you have a blinder and win you could get a numnah or a body brush ;-)

And increasingly BE seems to be running at venues where there is an identical unaffiliated event for half the cost...

Like someone earlier said, you do have a choice....I will not be choosing to join again even if I have an eventing fit horse next season.
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Thinking that over £100 is expensive for one event is a completely different thing to objecting to a £10 per year membership fee. My point is that if the breaking point for you is an extra £2.50 per event when you already spend over £100 excluding petrol, stabling etc then yes I do think you are being ridiculous.

If the money bugs you that much, go unaff. BE compared to unaff has higher costs for a reason - BE has a minimum of three BE officials per event who are PAID to be there and trained to run to a standard, and then money has to go the BE, who not only maintain all records etc but have individuals dedicated to training, and developing the sport. That is why their events are double the price.

Personally I think BE gets it from both sides - people moaning the events are expensive and with no prize money, yet people are quick to blame and expect BE to do more and campaign for things and do more tests whenever anything happens. They have to pay for these things.

Also, to whoever said about day ticketers making it more expensive - of course they do!! The more people that opt out of membership but still compete, means that BE has to make their money elsewhere than memberships - they have to raise entries etc to cover it. Simple economics.
 
suzi said:
Having read all the details again I expect one of the big reasons they are doing it is to ensure that every person competing has adequate 3rd party insurance.

The other benefits (which I think are quite good) are there to sweeten the deal.

I'm quids in as was planning on jump training a couple of times anyway :)
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See, it's a long time since I had day tickets but I'm sure they included your 3rd party for the day in exactly the same way they do, I think that's how they justified the price at the time! You also used to have to buy a ticket to do JAS but you could then use that ticket at an event in the season too.

I'm afraid I just don't buy into a lot of the reasons they are giving for introducing this.
 
khalswitz said:
Thinking that over £100 is expensive for one event is a completely different thing to objecting to a £10 per year membership fee. My point is that if the breaking point for you is an extra £2.50 per event when you already spend over £100 excluding petrol, stabling etc then yes I do think you are being ridiculous.

If the money bugs you that much, go unaff. BE compared to unaff has higher costs for a reason - BE has a minimum of three BE officials per event who are PAID to be there and trained to run to a standard, and then money has to go the BE, who not only maintain all records etc but have individuals dedicated to training, and developing the sport. That is why their events are double the price.

Personally I think BE gets it from both sides - people moaning the events are expensive and with no prize money, yet people are quick to blame and expect BE to do more and campaign for things and do more tests whenever anything happens. They have to pay for these things.

Also, to whoever said about day ticketers making it more expensive - of course they do!! The more people that opt out of membership but still compete, means that BE has to make their money elsewhere than memberships - they have to raise entries etc to cover it. Simple economics.
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Ok, so, say you buy tickets for you and your horse, that will cost you £32 on top of your entries, so you are contributing £32 per event in "membership". The most expensive membership for horse (grade 4 which is what most day ticketers are likely to be) and rider is £245 without any discounts, say they do 8 events over the season then they will contribute £30.60 in membership - this will go down if they do more events or run more than one horse.

So please explain to me how this costs BE money?
 
khalswitz said:
Thinking that over £100 is expensive for one event is a completely different thing to objecting to a £10 per year membership fee. My point is that if the breaking point for you is an extra £2.50 per event when you already spend over £100 excluding petrol, stabling etc then yes I do think you are being ridiculous.

If the money bugs you that much, go unaff. BE compared to unaff has higher costs for a reason - BE has a minimum of three BE officials per event who are PAID to be there and trained to run to a standard, and then money has to go the BE, who not only maintain all records etc but have individuals dedicated to training, and developing the sport. That is why their events are double the price.

Personally I think BE gets it from both sides - people moaning the events are expensive and with no prize money, yet people are quick to blame and expect BE to do more and campaign for things and do more tests whenever anything happens. They have to pay for these things.

Also, to whoever said about day ticketers making it more expensive - of course they do!! The more people that opt out of membership but still compete, means that BE has to make their money elsewhere than memberships - they have to raise entries etc to cover it. Simple economics.
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I think we will have to agree to disagree tbh. I do not think that these are different points as BE are basically charging you for something that you didn't have to pay for in previous seasons. I don't mind paying money if I know why, and I'm getting more out of it! As far as I can see this is a way of effectively squeezing more money out of the true amateurs who only want to event a few times a year.....and if this all is necessary to get the safety and quality of events how can Nigel Taylor run pretty much identical events unaff and aff at ALW without the extra money on top of the entry fee?

And surely the day ticketers provide more revenue for BE not less, I am betting that the majority of day ticketers would not join BE if the choice was to join and event or not join and compete at unaffiliated....so they haven't 'got' that money anyway? The day tickets surely are an extra?
 
I think it's ludicrous that you have to pay to be a member to use day tickets. I always thought the point of day membership was that you didn't need to be a member. Whilst it's only £10, I'm really not agreeing with the principle of charging for day membership.

It doesn't affect me as I will be a full member, but I thought the cost of paying the day ticket was the contribution towards the membership for the day ticket riders.
 
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