|
Post by ladybuzz on Oct 4, 2011 19:49:31 GMT
Help needed please.... I've qualified my old lad for Olympia and was going to take him down in the horse box (we live in Lancashire) as I thought that it would make the long journey more comfortable for him but I've just seen the Emission Zone charges!!! £200 a day .... is that right?? So now I'm toying with the idea of just taking him down in the trailer (which he travels amazingly in anyway) and if needs be breaking the journey up and including a stop over on the way down and on the way back. The main concern that I have is the weather.... as it has snowed for the past couple of years. Jut wondered if anybody has taken there horses down in a trailer in these conditions and their opinions. Thanks in advance
|
|
joey
Full Member
Posts: 254
|
Post by joey on Oct 4, 2011 20:13:25 GMT
If your lorry has never been into the lez zone you can take it once and get a warning which is exactly what i did last year - but i made trebble sure first that my lorry had never been in the zone you need to ring up and find out that your lorry is not on the list good luck weve qualified again so cannot take our lorry so either going to have to hire or sort something out : i would not go all that way in a trailer, took us 8 hrs in that snow from nottingham the roads were a nightmare.
|
|
|
Post by ladybuzz on Oct 4, 2011 20:39:23 GMT
Thanks Joey I don't know if I dare attempt it .... bit of a wuss when it comes to things ike that! lol! knowing my luck.... they will fine me straight away!! Do you know the emission charges include newish (06 plate) 3.5t?? Maybe another option. Hopefully we shall see you there
|
|
ww
Newbie
Posts: 29
|
Post by ww on Oct 4, 2011 21:29:25 GMT
So glad you've asked this !! I'm stuck on what to do aswell and coming from cheshire! Don't want to travel him in a trailor as he's never been in one before and wAnt to no he's going to be ok going all that way!
|
|
joey
Full Member
Posts: 254
|
Post by joey on Oct 5, 2011 16:27:19 GMT
well i did it last year and did not get charged other than that its 230. to hire a 3.5 tonn for the weekend
|
|
|
Post by ladybuzz on Oct 5, 2011 19:13:29 GMT
Thanks for your help Joey .... Think I may go down the 3.5t route WW .... It's quite refreshing to know that I'm not the only one worried about the transport situation. Hope that you get sort something out! Maybe we should all wish that the snow stays away this year! Lol! ..... Well at least till after Olympia!! Anyway ..... Hopefully I will see you both there .... Eeeeeek I'm getting a bit excited now
|
|
|
Post by ponyfun on Oct 11, 2011 12:17:28 GMT
Lady buzz, I qualified last year and we took our lorry up, we know it's reliable, comfortable for us and the horse. It did cost us the emissions charge but don't forget if you decide to take a small lorry you won't have anywhere to sleep! It was knee deep snow and freezing but we were Cosy in our lorry, hate to think how much a hotel would be in London!! Don't risk not paying it's not worth cheating. Olympia is an amazing experience and worth every penny! Good luck to you x
|
|
|
Post by Dipsy on Oct 11, 2011 12:47:29 GMT
I think it would be better to travel a horse or pony in a lorry personally myself, just due to the fact that its more secure for the horse being transported down the M1....plus alot warmer :-)
Good luck at Olympia !! x
|
|
|
Post by orangeblob on Oct 11, 2011 13:19:11 GMT
OK, i live 2 miles away form the emmission Zone. If you have a 3.5T you are OK, no charge, after 3rd Jan 2012 3.5T will have to pay if they are older 3.5 tones. If you are in Lancs take a look at Barlows www.barlowtrailer.co.uk/Horse_Wagon_Hire i think he is up your way, he hires 3.5T and his Duo weekender you can sleep in. If you take 7.5ton and the lorry is older than 2006 you will most likly have to pay the charge. There are always Premier inns or travel lodge to stay in but being close to christmas it will be costly :-(. Hope this helps and good luck at Olympia, what have you qualified for?
|
|
|
Post by frobster on Oct 11, 2011 15:33:17 GMT
We are staying in a hotel close by and got a very reasonable deal considering the time of year/location! Saying that, we booked straight after we qualified mid-September and it was one of the last rooms left then.
|
|
|
Post by ponyfun on Oct 11, 2011 19:08:39 GMT
I think it would be better to travel a horse or pony in a lorry personally myself, just due to the fact that its more secure for the horse being transported down the M1....plus alot warmer :-) Good luck at Olympia !! x And imagine towing in the snow we had on the Saturday last year, just get prepared so you don't miss out, last year there was at least one competitor who couldn't get there coz of snow, how disappointing!
|
|
|
Post by ladybuzz on Oct 11, 2011 21:34:25 GMT
Thanks everyone for all your help. My mum is organised and has booked a hotel so that's the sleeping arrangements sorted :-) but think we are going to hire a 3.5t and take him down in that and just take our time. Fingers crossed the snow stays away this year :-)
|
|
|
Post by catkin on Oct 14, 2011 16:57:28 GMT
We run about 7 or 8 ponies at Olympia each year for the Finale. The year before last, our lorries and trailers couldn't get out of the car park at all because the snow and ice was appauling. Last year we got out with both a very big lorry and a trailer but it was touch and go getting home to Herts. I think if the weather is terrible, either option is dangerous and so its a hard call. So, I would factor in the other considerations such as cost of accommodation etc. You may well find that hiring a lighter lorry is cheaper and you've got the advantage of sleeping with your tack etc rather than lugging it around London. Very best of luck when you get there.
|
|
|
Post by tangerine on Oct 14, 2011 18:00:48 GMT
Remember the lorries are parked at earls court, quite a trip away, well not walking distance so if you sleep in your lorry you can't back to your horse/pony easily . We usually park up box, unload along with tack feed etc, drive box to earls court,get shuttle bus back and book in hotel close by with tack etc. Not ideal but the best for checking horses/ponies. Ps please remember it is so hot in the stabling area you wont need masses of rugs, in fact ours wore summer sheets !!!!
|
|
|
Post by quadrider on Oct 14, 2011 19:27:59 GMT
I've been to Olympia with the quadrille - some of the stables are hot but others downright chilly - we have been in both and been in outside ones too. Lorry park is a fair trek too far to carry tack etc. in the past we've used the lockable Ifor williams tack boxes and/or put a car in the ncp car park with stuff in We stayed at the Olympia Rooms hotel - very reasonable and clean etc tho no food but a lovely hot shower!! Short walk away, if you decide to stay in a hotel or b&b book it ASAP! Due to the lez charges we've opted to be transported on the last couple of occasions but then we did need to take 2 lorries or Parkers massive one. Good luck
|
|
|
Post by ladybuzz on Oct 16, 2011 14:28:00 GMT
Thanks everyone for all your comments. I think we have decided to hire the 3.5t and we have already booked a hotel close to Olympia so will have a lovely hot shower waiting for us :-) fingers crossed the weather isnt too bad! Does anybody know if there are a lot of people take their horses in 3.5t boxes?? :-)
|
|
|
Post by chloesmum on Oct 16, 2011 17:49:27 GMT
Oh boy this is all new to us! Having just qualified yesterday and never expected to! We don't live that far from london and have a 3.5 so that is good news re low emission zone, so although it is an R reg we should be o.k. this year is that right? Not sure about the hotel thing - guess we are now too late but will take a look tomorrow. Think this is where friends with flats in London could be useful!
|
|
|
Post by ladybuzz on Oct 16, 2011 18:39:16 GMT
Well Done Chloesmum! Hopefully I shall see you there. We only booked the Novotel a few weeks ago and there were rooms left then. VHS recommended this hotel! I find all this emissions zone stuff quite confusing but if you go on the LEZ website there is a facility to put your reg in and it will tell you whether you are ok :-)
|
|
|
Post by lauren123 on Oct 16, 2011 19:03:51 GMT
I've just qualified for Olympia and have never been before so I too am a bit confused with congestion charge parking ect. Is the parking really far from the stables? We were thinking of going in a 3.5ton and staying at the premier inn? But what do you do with all your stuff if wagons are miles away! First time at Olympia for me so any info wud be great! Thanks x
|
|
|
Post by ladybuzz on Oct 17, 2011 10:49:32 GMT
Congratulations! Have you qualified for the Veterans too? It's my first time too but we are doing exactly the same as you propose... 3.5t and a hotel. Have been told that you stop and unload horses at Olympia and then take the box to a car park at Earls Court (there is apparently a shuttle bus that goes from the car park to Olympia and back). We are planning to take all our tack etc to the hotel and going straight to the stables in the morning with everything. If I am wrong... feel free to correct me :-) I am trying to collect all this info too!
|
|
|
Post by catkin on Oct 17, 2011 11:00:16 GMT
Some facts that might help.
When you arrive at Olympia you either pull into G gate or might have to park in the road outside H gate. You will then be allocated a stable to unload. Some are inside and yes, its very hot in there. Some are in an outer hall and are cold and a few are in the tunnel/roadway between two of the halls. These are FREEZING, a sort of wind tunnel. So I would strongly suggest you take lots of rugs and deal with it when you know where your stable is.
Your lorry should then be taken immediately to the Seagrave Road carpark at Earls Court. Its a 10 minute drive away if you know the way. To avoid stress I would strongly suggest you sus the route out before you go. If needs be PM me and I could put some instructions together! There are courtesy buses running to and fro but they are fairly infrequent. We often walk (a long way) or get a cab. Ideally ask the van driver to follow you there, or you follow them!
Security is tight and excellent. I would be happy to leave anything like rugs and feed outside the stable, tack of course is a different matter.
Hope thats useful.
s
|
|
|
Post by lauren123 on Oct 17, 2011 17:10:04 GMT
Thats brilliant thanykyou really helpfull. think we are going to stay in hotel ive found one just a short walk away! Another question. I only qualified this weekend but didnt get any cards or anything does all the entry stuff just come through the post?
|
|
|
Post by lauren123 on Oct 17, 2011 17:18:31 GMT
Sorry 4got to put. Ive qualified my fell for the heritage ridden not the vetrans xx
|
|
|
Post by minkara on Oct 17, 2011 17:56:01 GMT
masses of not too expensive hotels nearby a\t earls court, one train stop away, and then loads of good cheap places to eat there! this will be our fourth year and love it :)the parking bit is easy at seagrove rd and the courtesy buses are brillaint, really lovely drivers if you talk to them, one even took us to our hotel a couple of years ago!! only downside is olympia is strict on times to get in and out, with the veterans is really soon after the class, so i usually drive home and kate and friends watch , shop, and get the train back to kent :)the best show ever just before christmas, and the veteran crowd are usually rreally friendly
|
|