Waiting for next year on Red Hills Horse Trials

It’s not just the equestrian event that is lost with the cancellation of the Red Hills Horse Trials this year; it’s also the hotel rooms that won’t get filled from the 25,000 visitors expected that mid-March weekend.
And dinners that won't be served, the tips that won’t be earned at local restaurants.And sales that won’t be made by vendors at the event.
And money that won’t be raised for local nonprofits.
In fact, based on a study by Florida State professor Mark Bonn, Red Hills contributes about $239,000 to the local economy each year. I would bet the economic impact is much higher than that, more than $11.32 per person attending the event.
The bad economy makes itself worse when it forces good economic drivers such as this event out of action. Red Hills is not alone among events that will have to be cancelled due to the economy, of course. Most organizations in town are hurting. Many are looking at whether they can afford to risk spending money on fund-raising events that have a diminished chance to be successful.
But what hurts about this one-year loss of one of the nation’s top equestrian events isn’t just its impact on the economy; it’s also the loss of a little of the magic, one of the things that make Tallahassee different (read: more special) than any other place.

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