BLUE STABLING AT EQUIFEST

[twiglet19]

Hi everybody,

I was down at Equifest on Wednesday with my sister, checking in with the gang in the office, and sorting out final details for the blue stables. I just want to remind everybody, that due to the shenanigans that took place last year, a new system is in place. This is printed on the stabling form, but we all know that you are very busy people and do not always read what is on form. The system is that when you arrive, you will be parked up, asked to come and book in at stable managers office, where you will be given a stable card, asked to come back with your horses and then will be escorted to your stable. This means that everyone who has booked and paid for a stable will get one. The stabling will be done by rote ie: starting at stable no 1 and filling from there. Stables will not be preallocated. This means as stated on form, that your ponies and horses, if you wish them to be stabled together or stabled next to your friend etc, must arrive together. To stop people pinching stables, this will be strictly enforced. It really really works folks, please give it a try. It has worked well at Scope now, for some 6 years, it took some getting used to, but does work. I am really looking forward to meeting you all, and I know that you are reading this and thinking b****r but we are there to help. Your show will go much better if you play with us!!!

[Welshcob92]

is this just for blue stabling or for red too? thanks x

[twiglet19]

The title tells the tale ;D

[gem86]

I love a good bit of organisation Very excited!

[snowflake]

I think it's sounds well organised & a good idea.

[bumblebee]

One question - what do we then do with said horses whilst we're putting beds down etc in stables?

[anna85]

My question is I've booked 10 stables under one name (mine!) for a group of us coming from all over the country. Do we all need to be there or just one person (i.e. me) as booked under one name to check in with stable managers and get the stable allocation?

I'm hoping Equifest isn't ruined with this scope system; as a major part of it is being able to set up our camps with friends like in previous years and being very sociable.

[bumblebee]

Jun 13, 2012 17:16:46 GMT anna85 said:

I'm hoping Equifest isn't ruined with this scope system; as a major part of it is being able to set up our camps with friends like in previous years and being very sociable.

Same - I'm almost dreading it now

[09rebel99]

We're the same. All booked under 1 name but probably not leaving all together :-(

[bumblebee]

Ah - just seen on FB that bedding will already be down in stables so ponies can go straight in, and if bringing multiple horses you don't have to unload them all at once.

[holly1]

If it prevents what happens last year then surely its a better system.

[jpojl20]

i hope the bedding isnt put down ready. we are allocated so many bags and i like to top up half way through id like to be able to decide how much i want .

[bumblebee]

They've said they'll be at least 2 bales down in each stable (enough to safely put a horse in) and we'll be able to collect the rest once we've unloaded etc.

[ponyfun]

If you need all your horses together then guess they mean you have to bring all horses to office at same time-nightmare! Just imagine the croud of horses, it's bad enough when it's just people on foot!!

[bumblebee]

I brought this up on the FB page (as I am coming alone with 2 ponies who don't get along very well so leading them both and trying to put beds down would be impossible!) - got the reply that beds will already be in stables (2 or 3 bales worth - not all 5 so you'll still have some spare) and that you will only have to bring one pony to stable manager if you cannot manage them all at once - as long as you let them know that you've got another however many to unload then thats fine.....or so they've said.

[ponyfun]

The first post on this thread says bring your horses along to stable manager so I'm guessing you can't just bring one horse along for a few stables booked!

[bumblebee]

Taken from FB:

Betsy posted:
"There will be two Stable Managers at Equifest this year. One for the Red, Indoor, Pink and Show Jumoing stables, the second (Catherine and her team) for the Blue. There will be 750 stables in each area. Exhibitors will arrive at their areas, park and report to their appropriate stable managers. In the blue stables, the stables will already have bedding in them so you will take your horse/pony to the Stable Manager and get your stable numbers and put the horses into their stables. Similarly with the red stables you will need to park and report to the Stable Manager. Bedding is optional for these stables so once you have your stable numbers you then can bed your stables down and put your horse(s) away. If you have multiple horses and not many people to help, report to the stable manager, get your stable numbers and then put the first horse away. You can then go back to get the other horses. Just let the Stable Managers know!!! We are not trying to make life difficult for anyone, just trying to ensure the safety of your horses and to make sure that we know exactly which stables are allocated and to whom!! The only stables that will be pre-allocated will be the Indoor stables. The system will work if you give it a chance! For those people with young (in hand) horses, if you are stabled in the Blue stables, they need to be well handled and able to be led safely in hand. The in hand rings will be a distance from the blue stables so they need to be controllable!!! The Pink stables were put where they are specifically for in hand horses so that they are closer to the in hand rings."

Which was then followed up with this from one of the stabling team:
"Just to say again, (am now making appointment with my doctor to up prescription for valuim.plus ordering more SB from winemark) if you are in blue stables, you will arrive, be parked up, either at a hook-up if ordered or just normally if not, leave LEAVE your ponies on lorry or trailer, come in to the very very old grey haired lady in stable managers office, say hello, book in, get crossed off my list, given a white postcard with your name and the mobile number you will have just given me, on top right hand corner will also have written the number of stables you have booked and paid for, (it will also say if you have a stallion) then you will return to your lorry/trailer and in your own time, unload your ponies, return to area near office and be escorted your stable/stables, which will already be bedded down. SIMPLES!!!! Please please folks give it a chance, it will work, it may seem a little (LITTLE!!) disorganised but help us to help you. Just to say again if you have the pleasure of owning 23 ponies you have entered them all for equifest and booked and paid for 23 stables that is what you will be given when you arrive. I promise we will not listen to you saying I have brought one pony from lorry and promptly give next stable to someone else whilst you go and get second/third pony okay. Am now going to lie down until I leave Northern Ireland to come to England on or about 10th August."


Also - Betsy's comment re: bedding:
"We will put at least two bales of bedding in all Blue stables. Sufficient for horses to be put in the stables safely. Until we have the stables up and bedding here we do not know how many bales each stable will require for a sufficient bed. All of the blue stables are on grass. If the stables do not require the full 5 bales you will be able to collect the rest from the stable manager. The amount of bedding that is required is a personal opinion, but there will be sufficient in the stables to put your horse/pony in safely."

[thatboythatgirl]

So all duration stables have gone and only 6 day stables left

[squeaky]

think its a shame we have been every year and cant get any stables, entries close soon so y have they run out? surely they should have stables up till closing date? i need 3 blue and im thinking whats the point in qualifing hen u know u cant go

[thatboythatgirl]

As stables are first come first served like all shows if you leave it closer to closing date you are less likely to get stables, as youve been able to book stables from unsprising theres non left especially after last year

[jessandoscar]

i have the same problem, cant get a stable considering making my cob sleep in the box

[gem86]

Stables have been available from March/April time so it's unsurprising they have all gone. I'd imagine a couple will be freed up after 1st August if people have booked and decided they can't go.

[lilyj]

I cancelled my Blue duration stable and hookup on Thursday, I'm sure other will be doing the same so could be worth it to keep on trying.

[twiglet19]

Stables that have been cancelled, will obviously be available to buy from the office. Refunds of stables is available upto August the 1st, so I am sure there will be stables free after that date. Could I please remind people not to sell or buy stables privately. This is what caused the horrendous problems last year.

[Laura&&MackyDee]

Omg howwwww confusing !!!

[sophiea]

IMO i dont think this is atall confusing and can see how it'll work anyway! x

[bessieboo]

Does anybody know if you get any bedding in the sponsors stables?

[squeaky]

i think the stabling format is going to corse a few problems as a friend is bringing 6 horses/ponies and 1 is a stallion how does she lead all of them down to the stable managers office??? im lucky only bringing 3 and have 1 per handler.

[b]

Jul 17, 2012 14:36:44 GMT squeaky said:

i think the stabling format is going to corse a few problems as a friend is bringing 6 horses/ponies and 1 is a stallion how does she lead all of them down to the stable managers office??? im lucky only bringing 3 and have 1 per handler.

I have copied this from part of Betsy's info that was put on face book, and put on here by Bumblebee, so I don't think your friend should have problems.
If you have multiple horses and not many people to help, report to the stable manager, get your stable numbers and then put the first horse away. You can then go back to get the other horses. Just let the Stable Managers know!!! We are not trying to make life difficult for anyone, just trying to ensure the safety of your horses and to make sure that we know exactly which stables are allocated and to whom!!

[clifton]

i am not looking forward to the stable arrangement according to the plan, it will be our luck because of the time we get there, we will have stables in the blue area that are near the boundery fence according to the plan and horsebox parking near the working hunter rings, it is going to be a nightmare getting stuff backwards and forwards from horsebox to stables all the time. it would have been so much better if blue stables had been split into two areas with anther block next to working hunter rings and parking in middle or alternatively the stable area more centralised with parking all araound. Could someone explain to me why stables could not have been allocated when you booked your stable/s. another thing i am worried about is having a stallion next to my mares after last year when the stallion kicked through the wooden stable next to us, what happens if something happens at night when you are parked miles away, wewon't be able to hear anything. sorry for the moans but i am expecting it to be a nightmare, we only came for the first time last year but i was a happy purple stable person, parked next our ponies to really hope i m wrong. last year we had thought we might book into blue stables next year as many of our classes were in ring 4 and the other rings we were in were also so far away from the purple stables, as it happens we didn't have a choice this year as no purple stables anyway. hoping the weather improves, gearing up for bad weather this year because if i am prepared i won't need it and it will be sun sun sun.