HOYS NEWBIE Help!!

[nimbus123]

;D

Hi,

We have qualifed for the first time, and would love all your tips, from Hotels that have parking or shuttles. Where to eat, whats a must to take ( of course the hubbies wallet). Would really love your help!!

Thanks

[lfd]

Im no use as never been but Well done you must be so excited!!

Just remeber hubbys wallet and Pony and im sure you will be fine !!

[nimbus123]

Thanks IFD,

Yes over the MOON!! Its his first season so very happy!!

[ponymum]

If you are staying in your lorry , then make sure you have comfy boots or shoes! The walk from lorry to stable to the ring is a long way! At least 10 mins walk....so before you go down to your class, double check you have everything in your grooms basket as believe me you wont want to have to go back!

[melons]

is yours the little grey welsh a that got the ticket at moreton? If so, what a stunning pony..xx

[nimbus123]

Thanks ponymum

[nimbus123]

Hi Melons,

Yes that was him, thanks. His name is Wintersend Nimbus, He was only backed in November by Steven Hulston-Critchley. So we are very pleased with him xx

[arrogorn]

lots of rugs, ponies get very hot in warm up and its a long walk back if a cold night lots of ponies get a chill.

good shoes a must you really do walk miles.

lots of energy drinks as you wont sleep and are on the go for the whole time your there.

its an amazing experience good luck

[catkin]

To add to the above:

check your working in times carefully both in the Caldene and in the outside ring. They are limited so you don't want to miss them!

Make sure you watch some classes before so you get a gist of what happens.

If you are staying in the lorry take plenty of ready made food, somehow the time just slips away and you don't have time to cook the things you thought you would - hence the queues for and price of the toasties!

Be prepared for the class to be over in a flash!

Depending on the time of your class, take a lamp/torch to use round the stables if you have to plait, etc

Take massive haynets so you don't have to keep lugging them to and fro over the carpark.

Take a wheelbarrow or trolley to get your stuff to your stable, including tack. Its a long walk everywhere!

Get a friend to video/take pics, you will not have the time or concentration powers!

Try very hard to take in and enjoy every moment. Its so easy to get carried away sorting things and not actually enjoy that you are there!

ENJOY!

[nimbus123]

Hi

Thanks Arrrogorn & Catkin, thats all really good info, someone told me that you were not aloud to that photo,s/video. Is that true? xx

[tabbyx]

Nimbus, I was taking pics for friends in a few classes last year and the lady doing the seating etc. came and asked me if mine had a flash on as there was one from that section of the stand that did, obviously I'd turned mine off as didn't want to spook the ponies, she said I was fine to take photos&videos as long as I didn't have the flash on.

[nimbus123]

Hi tabby, Thanks for that xx

[bunny]

hi nimbus, its our first time too, we are in your section and wanted to say how much we like your pony We have been given lots of bits of advice very similar to some above and another one was always to make sure they are bandaged and tail kept bandaged right up when warming up as the surface really sticks - ours is white...

I wanted to know if we get there the day before, can we ride at all then, we thought about going as soon as the gates open lol, not that we are at all excited... but didnt know if we would be bored ?

[nimbus123]

Hi Bunny,

Thank you. Whats your pony callled? I have been told you get an allocated slot the day before, to warm up, from what I have been told its about 30mins. xx

[joey78]

Nimbus, your lad reminds me so much of the pony we took last year & the judges at this years final qualified mine last year - hope that doesn't make you more nervous ;D

Agree with the bandages - we took 12 white legs & 2 white tails last year & came home with 2 bin liners full of pony washing
Don't forget you have to wear your bridle numbers at all times whilst exercising.

This is our 2 greys cooling down in the collecting ring before the walk back to the stables.




You will get an allocated riding time in the arena sent out with all your passes & things, but my advice would be to get on plenty of time before, the walk from the stables to the arena on a section A is about 15 minutes and you don't want to miss your time. They let you in the collecting ring if the slot before you is still on.
On exercise you all have to stay on the same rein until the steward tells you to walk, and it's also a good idea to let the pony have some time stood in the middle looking around & taking it in.

There is also a small outdoor school near the stables, but again it is on a schedule which you can check each day in the stable managers office - there will be a few slots for ponies thorugh the day so plan ahead if yours will need more work prior to the class.

Make sure you are down to the ring in plenty of time for your class - they will NOT run late but if your pony is a bit sharp, keep them outside in the horse walk whilst they applaud the winners of the previous class as it's very loud even in the collecting ring.

Allow plenty of time to get in to the lorry park as there can be a queue for the vet and again in the stable managers, as a minimum it will take at least 30 mins to get 1 lorry/pony parked.

But most of all It's the best experience ever & you will be on a high for days afterwards so have fun ;D ;D

[nimbus123]

Hi Joey,

Brill info, thank you so much for your effort and time!!
NERVOUS!!! Just a little bit..
But really cant wait!!
Your pony look lovely!!
Thanks again xx

[bunny]

Nimbus, we have tryfel arrow. Some fab advice Joey, made many mental notes, thanks

[beauty2004]

Its our first time to and as i dont have living in a box i am going to book a hotel. Want to keep costs down but need somewhere fairly close or that provides a shuttle (v. early morning). Can anyone suggest anywhere.

[showsmart]

If wanting to stay in a hotel as a competitor then the Crown Plaza is the best bet. The others are quite a way away, and although they have shuttle buses the buses drop off at the front of the complex for the spectator entrance and you will need to get right to the far side for the stables entrance. The Crown Plaza is next to the stables entrance.

[beauty2004]

Crown Plaza want £250 a night which is a bit expensive for me. As i dont suppose we will actually get any sleep can you stay in the trailer/car (not ideal i know) but is it allowed?!.

[nimbus123]

Hi Beauty2004

We are staying at travel lodge YARDLEY, ITS ONLY ABOUT 35.00 A NIGHT, the 900 buses runs every 30mins, its the BIRMINGHAM Airport bus so think it will go early in the morning. Its got a MAC D nxt door and a buffet resturant within walking
My thoughts are its a bed, I will be at the NEC for all day and evening x x

[nj]

There is still room in the Novotel Brimingham airport, the air shuttle goes every 3mins and only taked 90seconds to the LG arean, that's where we always stay and works a treat.xxx at present it's 135 a night

[chloesmum]

Hi Kate glad you got booked in to same Travel Lodge! You will be able to drive your car back to NEC in the morning and park in the car park next to the lorry park - sometimes you have to climb over the fence but it is only a short walk to lorry park, helpful if you are carrying riding gear and lots ot bottles!
Chloe has managed to get day off (thank God) but we won't be up till Tuesday evening.
See you then!

[nimbus123]

Hi Lesley,

Thanks for that info, bottles are very heavy !!
Cant wait !! See you there x x

[girly]

Take some old carpet up for the stables. The stables are in a parking area and the bedding is expensive. A carpet underneath saves money.

[nimbus123]

Hi Girly,
Good tip!!

Thanks x x

[melon]

Sept 10, 2012 18:49:43 GMT girly said:

Take some old carpet up for the stables. The stables are in a parking area and the bedding is expensive. A carpet underneath saves money.

We are doing this as after last year it's just too worrying with the concrete and spent a fortune on bedding for one night!

Best of luck to everyone competing and enjoy all of those watching
Honestly can't believe how quick its coming and how it'll go even quicker when we are there!

[nimbus123]

Hi Girly and Melon,

Taken the tip from both of you, Thank youl !! we have a carpet store, so have taken some rems of carpets and will be taking them up with us!! X X

[bunny]

another tip noted, thank you

[deejay]

Lots of good tips so far. Comfy footwear is a must - you will loose count of the times you walk up and down to the arena! Don't forget to renew your gas bottle ( we spent a couple of hours one year trying to find a supplier when our ran out the night before our class) ooops my fault. The tip about bandaging legs for working in is a must. Take more than one set, the surface sticks like glue to the feather of M&M's. The stables are on the tarmac car park so carpet is a good idea, saves slipping and not so many shavings. Take food with you. There is a 24hr toastie outlet in the competitors area but not much else. Put a safety pin inside the flap of your jacket pocket - yes we did have a button pop off in the collecting ring just before the class. The outside arena is fine during the day - plenty of time to warm up. We don't go to the arena until the class, and as we live quite close, we arrive in the morning.

To everyone going, especially newbies, good luck, have a great time and enjoy every moment.