Who hasn’t gotten to a show and realized they need an extra set of hands? A groom or braider, someone who can help your horse relax at the end of the day with some bodywork or take them out to handgraze? ShowAssist, a new mobile app, intends to fill that gap. The Free App, which is available on Google Play and the Apple App store, connects equestrians with support staff at shows in the US and Canada — whether you need help for the day or the whole show circuit.

ShowAssist does not require a subscription and it doesn’t cost anything to post jobs or apply for work. It even manages the payment upon the completion of the job. Job descriptions are listed in English and Spanish and a toll-free bilingual support number is available. Payments are automatically processed at the start of the service period and are released within 24 to 48 hours at the end of the service period using Stripe. The company makes its money by charging the owner/rider a $10 convenience fee along with a 5% service fee based on the amount paid for the job. Fees are only assessed when an assistant is hired.

ShowAssist was founded by the mother and daughter team of Deidre McAuley-Hayes, an intellectual property attorney, and Malachi Hinton, an amateur jumper rider.

“As a horse show mom, I enjoy helping Malachi when she is competing,” McAuley-Hayes said. “The idea for ShowAssist came about in the summer of 2019 when we realized that there was no way for riders and owners to instantly connect with experienced grooms, braiders and others who are looking for work.”

McAuley-Hayes said the mobile app is show-driven, so people can easily find jobs at upcoming shows.

ShowAssist will list all USEF Premier AA, National A and select B-rated hunter/jumper shows and all Platinum, Gold, Silver and select Bronze-rated Equestrian Canada shows within the app. All jobs are searchable by show within the app.

ShowAssist is donating a portion of its proceeds to the Show Jumping Relief Fund and the Equestrian Aid Foundation to assist those whose livelihoods have been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

What a great idea and so nice to see a mother and daughter team finding a way to work together!