What did you think?

[Deleted]

Just back from a lovely time at Equifest Lovely time but very glad to be home

I have to say I do think Betsy is just the nicest and most tolerent show organiser every - so hats off to her.

I also found the judges I met to be very friendly, helpful and smiley

Yes we experienced problems, mainly with lack or organisation for stabling and uncertainty of placings/times for dressage BUT we came away happy with some lovely memories and photos

Thank you Betsy and your crew

[hatman]

We must see photos from team pink

[dimwit]

I did the stewarding in ring 8 on Thursday and Friday and really enjoyed it, i meet some lovely people with lots of happy kids on fantastic ponies. The judges worked really hard to make everyone feel special and gave some good advice Well done to Betsy and her staff it was a pleasure to help xx

[pipandwill]

We had a lovely time!!
Pony was fab, and so well behaved.
Especially pleases with him jumping clear round his first ever open worker with all the big guns!
The only one thing is we had a bad encounter with the day lorry parked next to us friday/saterday, there horse kicked our lorry and they didnt even tell us, we do have a witness, and they came and parked next to us again on saterday and we asked them if they had, and if they had just said 'yes' and said 'sorry' it wouldnt of been a problem at all becuase things like that just happen, they completly went off on one, we had said nothing rude at all, they tried calling us every name under the sun, they soon back-tracked as soon as they found out we had a witness.
If the people involved read this, you should be ashamed, your behaviour was so rude and un-called for. Its quite sad how such a lovely show was slightly ruined by a few individuals.
But everyone else, every class, evenign performance was fab. Classes took a while to do, but every class had very high standerds.

[dancer]

Not a good year for us - in fact, so bad, we won't be going back for a variety of reasons.

[mcw]

Really hope the Blue stabling plan is changed back to last years layout. We were miles away, it was very chlostraphobic too.

Tbh, didn't enjoy it as much as last year.

[Ziggy]

I do think it was much more busy than last year, classes huge and horses and ponies everywhere. Guess that proves how popular equifest has become.
Only issue for me was walkway between rings 6,7 and 8 seemed to get a bit 'hairy' at times as it is quite narrow for the amount of traffic both human and equine. Also felt warming up area near these rings was tricky at times as again very busy and big horses going round with little lead rein ponies seemed a bit fraught at times. These of course are limited observations as it was our first time not sitting on the side lines at a show of this size. Could be the same at all shows??
LP were you dressed like a chilli!?

[Redsky]

We had some great results and really enjoyed it, pony behaved perfectly and held her own in top class company, the only mistake I made was bringing the OH as he moaned all week lol so next year he can stay at home
We had a sponsors stable so we were really well placed for all the action and will deffo try and get one next year, it was so worth the extra!

[marsh]

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We generally had a good time at Equifest and thought that the rings were a good size and the workers courses were well built and fair. Also we were allowed to change a class which looked as though it was going to clash (all be it for a class on another day).

A couple of points that I would like to make though -

1. I can't understand when you have 2 judges and large classes how the results can be decided without using some kind or marking system or notes. There is no way that you can possibly remember how every single pony went / looks and then match them with a fellow judge. How many times have you seen a pony go extremely well but then strip badly / have conformation faults or vice versa, which completely alters which place it will finish in. In a couple of classes we watched it looked as though the judges were taking turns pulling them out of the line up to place them. Then in others, ponies were left in the back line, suddenly pulled in above other ponies that had already been placed as the judges appeared to have missed them out. The ponies lower down the line were then sent back as they were lower than 10th.

2. Could late entries not be taken on the day of the class that you want to compete in. Not everyone is there for the duration and can enter the day before.

3. Would it be possible to open the indoor for warm up sessions prior to the classes starting in the morning for 10-15 min slots for a charge to allow ponies & children to have a spin round before going in there for classes.

[sunnylynn]

We had a lovely time, found everyone freindly and really enjoyed watching the evening performances.

I know this may sound a bit daft and a bit OCD but....bars of soap in the toilets - yuk- thankfully we had squirty carex soap in the lorry, far more hygenic!

Its the first time that we stayed away at a big show (apart from Suffolk county) and I must admit I did find the stabling quite claustrophobic, at least at Suffolk the temporary stables are such that the horses can see over their stable doors and the gangways are a bit wider.

Well done to Betsy and her crew, to organise something as big as Equifest is a huge job and I think a great job was done xx

[iluvmyponies]

I thoroughly enjoyed myself! Not got a single complaint other than done thieving scumbag stole my hat & gloves from around the sponsors wash area, rather than handing it in to the office!
Other than that the week was fantastic! Everyone was lovely, especially the stable managers who swiftly sorted out our slight issue when we arrived late Tuesday night! So thank you very much. The evening performances were electric! Really enjoyed it!
Think I have just about persuaded my mum (Redsky) to come next year!

Well done & thank you to Betsy & team, & of course the judges & stewards.

MTA-Next year could the revised schedule be sent out rather than the original. We were going off the original all week & very nearly missed our placing in the evening as the original said 8.30pm but apparently the revised schedule said 7.20pm.

[showingforfun]

Second year we have been and had a FAB time. Just a bit warm at times-pony was melting on Saturday along with us.

Only down side was the Equifest Arena-no more seating than last year and it was like a sauna in the evening performance's.

[dancer]

Aug 19, 2012 10:42:01 GMT iluvmyponies said:

MTA-Next year could the revised schedule be sent out rather than the original. We were going off the original all week & very nearly missed our placing in the evening as the original said 8.30pm but apparently the revised schedule said 7.20pm.

This is one of the reasons we won't be back - missed one of our classes due to the start time being 'revised' so that it then clashed with another.

When making entries we are careful to ensure that classes won't clash but this counts for nothing when the schedule is revised after entries close - I can't afford to lose entry fees due to something out of my control so will be spending my money elsewhere in future.

[rubyshoes1]

We only went to watch, enjoyed it although could have been really annoyed by all the "saved" seats in the evening performance, quite a lot were unoccupied for a lot of the evening with people coming & going but getting mates to reserve seating, bit like the Germans with sun loungers I thought!!

[snowflake]

Aug 19, 2012 14:31:50 GMT dancer said:

Aug 19, 2012 10:42:01 GMT iluvmyponies said:

MTA-Next year could the revised schedule be sent out rather than the original. We were going off the original all week & very nearly missed our placing in the evening as the original said 8.30pm but apparently the revised schedule said 7.20pm.

This is one of the reasons we won't be back - missed one of our classes due to the start time being 'revised' so that it then clashed with another.

When making entries we are careful to ensure that classes won't clash but this counts for nothing when the schedule is revised after entries close - I can't afford to lose entry fees due to something out of my control so will be spending my money elsewhere in future.

This year we could only choose between Equifest & BSPS, due to limited funds!
& this is the reason we chose BSPS. As much as we loved the atmosphere of Equifest, the evenings, etc BSPS has a timetable & seemed better organised.

We were considering whether to change back to Equifest next year, but after this think we'll stick to BSPS again next year!

[stroppycow]

We really enjoyed the show, we met some really nice people and made new friends and the organisers very smiley and helpful at all times but there was a few downsides to the showing side which has put us off a little for next year.

1) we did alot of the worker classes there, and was very dissapointed with the way it was ran, the plaiteds was run fairly, but the m&m was not. If you had one pole down in the m&m you was then unable to do your show and conformation. I suppose the reason for this was to keep the ring flowing but at affiliated shows you can still be placed even with a pole down.
We all pay the same money so should be able to do all 3 phases unless elminated.
My pony is only a novice so needs to learn that once she has jumped she then needs to come back out to settle back down into show mode.

2) IMO the M&M workers was grouped wrong. The highlands got there own sections and there was very small numbers in the classes where as the connies/nf and D's was all together there was a very strong amount of connies there and D's so when together this just made the classes ridiclously huge, so maybe need to be split next year and this may give everyone a chance to do all 3 phases.

3) I was very unhappy with the m&m junior ridden large breeds class. There was 33 in it so the class was split. But the way they split it was unfair they put 19 in one half and 14 in the other with 5 from each half going through to the EP. Surly it should of been split 15/16 to make it more fair Does anyone else think the same?

[gilly]

we love the show, so i hate having a moan but, i agree with stroppycow about pole down and out no good for true novice. and my lorry at gate 10 next to fence very nice , stable opp side of show ground next to fence much to far to walk, i get cross with people who drive round show but, i think i might have been tempted had ih ad a car there. we also loved the event horse class fantastic c0urses

[09rebel99]

Agree with both points about the m&m workers. Agree with there needs to be more seating. Apart from that all in all we all had a great time again. Seems some confusion again over restricted classes as 1 won :-( very unfair. Oh and I was parked right next to a generator but that was just unlucky due to being right by a gate and it running a security light that was on all night!!!

[paddy123]

We only went to watch,, thought it was great.
However...
They really need to timetable it, if BSPS can do it to the minute surely they can too?
They should put a cap on the number in classes, don't think any more than 30 is reasonable.
Marks need to be used, in such huge classes there is no way the judges would remember what everybody did. Every judge had a steward each,, it would give them something useful to do

[stroppycow]

saltypony me and mom also came across this lady on the back row it must have been the same one as she was saving them for her 'toilet friends' do think they should consider having grandstands both sides of the ring, we had to leave early on two nights as my mom has a bad hip and cant walk round all day aswell as standing up all night!

[stroppycow]

also to add totally agree with paddy123 i was only saying this afternoon to my mom they need to lower the amount of entries in each class.
And really need to be taking down marks becuase trust me when your in a class with 40 other connies it can get a little confusing

[dancer]

Aug 19, 2012 8:46:41 GMT marsh said:

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In a couple of classes we watched it looked as though the judges were taking turns pulling them out of the line up to place them.

We saw a class where this happened - one judge pulled ponies in & the other sent them back out

[09rebel99]

Aug 19, 2012 19:09:03 GMT @lovepink said:

Read through the comments above.

I agree with lots and suggest the following

1. Cap the classes to 30
2. Get judges to write down marks/conformation/ridden etc and let the entrants have a copy
3. Dressage scores / results should be available for all to see
4. Dressage warm up/collecting area - should not allow driving horses, in harness with carts on - warming up in there too........ thanks to the foul mouthed lady - who insisted that dressage horses should be better trained - to accept horse in harness......?
5. Dogs really should be kept on leads and poo cleared up ??
6. Stable managers need to be politer and less defensive
7. Stallions need to be stabled AWAY from mares, children etc. Surely health and safety would recommend a seperate stallion stabling area?
8. Showers that work would be good? Loos that lock, flush and have loo roll - always a bonus?
9. Schedules that clearly show the rules/requirements for each class? Saying that Jumping is optional in RC horse and then having the judge say its NOT, is really not on???

I honestly did not once have a problem with dogs off leads, dog poo, no toilet roll and toilets flushed every time. I had no problem queing for showers as you have to hit it at the right time and didnt have a problem with them. We were over in the indoor stables and used the surrounding facilities and really couldnt complain. No they werent spotless but considering the amount of people catered for I think they did great.

PS if anyone knows a lady that has a little black and white mini shet 3yr old that was in j block could you please let me know. She was a lovely lady and would love to actually find out her name :-)

[karenp1980]

I totally enjoyed Equifest!! this is the third year i have been and it gets better and better!! the judges and stewards were fantastic. I took my 4 yr old and the judges made a real effort to give me advise and encoragement. The stewards let me warm in in a quiet warm up areas that were not near my ring and just said that if little ones come in please dont canter!

The blue stable staff. Well were do I start, they were fab!!! they had alot of people who just seem to think that the stable staff were there to help only them, erm no! I heard some pretty nasty people mouthing off to the blue team, and to be honest if that was me that they were talking to I would have refused to help them and have them put their horses back in their lorrys and leave!! I had a leaky stable and reported it straight away, the staff came with me and my horse back to the stable and sorted it!!

Fair enough the classes were running late, but wouldnt people rather the show be well supported and have the opportunity to compete against some quality horse rather than there only be a few in each class?

I cannot wait until next year!!!!! People cant help but find faults with something, but I cannot fault anything!!

[iluvmyponies]

I don't understand why people are complaining about large classes?! Of course if there are 30-40 ponies in a class it is going to go on for a little longer than normal, but pre-entries were released weeks ago so you could see if your class was going to take a while. The stewards did a fantastic job in all ridden rings getting ponies to go straight from their show, into confirmation & back into line to try & get through the classes to stay on time. I guess the people who would rather have classes much much smaller really just want a piece of ribbon?

[Karen, garrettponies]

To be fair the revised timetable was put up on the website a couple of weeks ago along with the pre-entry numbers, the stewards did their best in the rings were in to keep the classes moving along, inevitably there were delays.

Agree with Nursey over the collecting ring by ring 7 & 8, it was very hairy at times, my LR pony was crashed into by a girl on an out of control connie, thankfully the pony was unharmed and small jockey stayed on. Could have been very nasty, the girl jumped off, cracked the connie with a whip, got back on and went round again. If you are the girl on the connie - sorry would have been nice.

[horsesmakemehappy]

I enjoyed it very much even though it was only brother competing horses due to me been on one leg meant I cold spend time promoting the company and chatting in the sponsorship tent :@)

[chloesmum]

Thank you again to Betsy and Jenny and team for all your hard work and putting on such a wonderful show.
We really enjoyed ourselves (again) - really enjoy the atmosphere - great showground, great evening performances. Love being able to meet up with friends, watch other classes and cheer them on with no pressure of qualifiers. This is the show where I really feel we get to enjoy doing our ponies and have a good time.
Really exhausted and wish our stables hadn't been so far from our rings on the otherhand I should say thank you as I am sure I have lost weight even though my knee has now totally given up!!
Thank you to Kate and Paul; James and Stephen for your company all week and for the fantastic meal Paul - best curry ever!

[cayo]

super show as always the team always do their best we had a fab time but have to say i did feel for the blue stable residents having so far to walk with all their gear ,i would hav elike dto see the stables set up in long rows of back to back stables with rows of parking opposite each side i can see that they were put altogether to contain them for security but it was too far and didnt work with them all in one place maybe spread them out in to four corners next year if long rows and parking oposite not feasable .
also please ensure a marking system is used in all classes and are made available to view not only does it help with the results it gives competitors an idea on what let them down .
well done loved it will be back next year x

[melons]

We had a fantastic time and am already wishing we were back there as I am typing this with rain outside the window, would agree that the stables were a very long way from where we were parked and had the weather been wet we would really have struggled but this is the case at alot of big shows and we managed.. probably kept the pounds off after all the eating we did... I found everyone very pleasant and helpful, even down to the lady handing out the prize money, who said "really well done on your win" ! I think Betsy and the team do a fantastic job... they act on any points raised and go out of their way prior to the show to accommodate us..

Just a further point - I have read a couple of posts re a lady stewarding in the m and m rings being very abrupt etc... This lady also stewarded last year... I dont know here personally but chatted with her a couple of times whilst waiting to groom etc... she is aware that complaints were made about her and this saddens me (and her I would imagine)... She may have been a little abrupt but she consistently kept those huge classes flowing quickly and efficiently... when we got a top pull and I couldnt get over the ring to my daughter in time... she whipped the saddle off for us, smoothed the hair down and sent her on her way... as she did for many competitors... she was a lovely lady who stood all day in the blistering heat without a complaint... only intent on doing the job she was there to do... if you were not given time to brush your pony before the conformation phase then no one else was, hence a level playing field... to repeat I am saddened that she was aware of the negative comments against her I for one hope she is there next year running the rings so efficiently!