The Menlo Charity Horse Show, which has been held in Atherton, California for 51 years, has closed its doors due to increasing costs and a dwindling volunteer base. The decision was made after the 2024 competition, which saw rising sponsorship but also rising costs, making the show no longer viable. The show has faced cancellations in the past due to COVID and renovations at the Menlo Circus Club, where it is held.

Competition from other horse shows, such as the USEF Pony Finals and multi-week circuits like the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, also contributed to the decline of the Menlo Charity Horse Show. Many exhibitors chose to attend other shows that overlapped with Menlo’s dates, leading to a decrease in support for the event. The changing landscape of horse shows and scheduling, as well as uncertainty over the California show schedule, further impacted the ability of the Menlo show to continue.

Despite its closure, the Menlo Charity Horse Show has a long history of supporting charities such as the Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, the Children’s Health Council, American Wild Horse Conservation, and Equestrians for Mental Health Awareness. The show’s organizers hope that people will continue to support charity horse shows and consider what they want the future of showing to look like.