Equifest stabling

[blueskyes]

We are hoping to go this year, having given all Championship shows a miss for a couple of years. However, I am a bit concerned about the stabling. Is the Blue stabling for the duration? And is it laid out any different to last year? I recall reading quite a lot of negatives about blue stables last year in terms of distance from where lorries parked. Plus, is the lorry parking for the blue stabling on grass or hardstanding? We would need to take a tent also, so need to know these things!

[equifest]

Thank you for your message. We have listened to the comments on the Blue stabling last year - and are making changes to this area. The provisional plan of the showground is on the Equifest website (www.equifest.org.uk - under "schedules"). The stables for the Blue area will go against the north fenceline (where the BSPA Rings were - for those who were at Equifest 2012). This will give much more area for parking and also allow the stables to be more spread out - while still trying to create a safe area for the stabling. None of the stables will be far from the parking - so walking will be cut down substantially. There should be plenty of space for tents - most of the parking will be on grass in this area. The one thing that we will have to be much tighter on this year though are the hook ups.... IF you want to park with a friend and you have a hook up but they do not - we may not be able to park you right next door.... We have hook ups in specific areas and only limited numbers - so people with hook ups will be parked together...

I hope that this helps.

Betsy Branyan

[thatboythatgirl]

Betsy, Will the red members stable B have a PA system as when the purple stables where there 2 years ago there was no PA system so could hear no announcements for the rings

And also will the easibed offer be on this year as I didnt like having to have it with the blue stables last year as I still had to buy additional bedding on top as I personally think its a horrible bedding.

[Karen, garrettponies]

Thanks Betsy, that sounds much better! Blueskyes - thats a much better place, you can always come and find me if you need a warm up ;D ;D

[equifest]

We will definitely get some speakers to Red Members Area B - I am not sure if it will be full "call up" though - until we speak to our PA Company. At the moment we have not done any deal for either Easibed or shavings. We are still in negotiation - but all stabling areas will have an "option" on bedding - so it will not be compulsory. On the downside, this does mean that the bedding will take longer to be delivered on the first day - as I expect that there will be a bit of a backlog trying to get bedding around 1500 stables!

[cazcox]

We are going to stable for the first time this year. Could you tell me which stables are nearest to the M & M youngstock inhand rings. Thanks.

[shortfatanhairy]

Hi am bringing a (well behaved ) stallion to equifest this year can you tell me are stallions allowed in all stabling areas or do I need to be in a specific place? Also do the stallion stables have full grill style doors? Many thanks :0) Am hoping to stable in red section a.

[smalley]

We were in red stables last year and they were great! The stable managers were really helpful and gave us an end stable which we wanted (grumpy mare problems!) the only problem was when we arrived on Tuesday evening we couldn't find anyone to get us some bedding, so the ponies slept on grass..

[paige1316]

Sound fab can't wait

[equifest]

To try to answer your questions:

Cazcox - it depends how long you are coming for. If it is just 1-2 days, you are probably best in the Pink Day stables, which are not far from the in hand rings. If you are planning on coming for the duration and entering several classes, yo would be better becoming an Equifest member and booking the Red Members 'A' stables - which are also close to the in hand rings (but these stables are the first to get booked up - so you need to book them ASAP.)

Sortfatandhairy - we don't generally have set stables for stallions - but try to keep them separate from mares or at the end stables. The Red stables are the biggest and strongest - so are best for stallions. Some have grills on them - but not all. To be safe, you would be best to bring some bars if you have some and then fasten them to the door. The red stables are used for the Shire horses at the Shire Horse Show - and manage to keep fully grown Shire stallions in.

Smalley - the fodder shop is open from 10am on Tuesday, generally until around 9pm that evening - just so you know. If you can try to arrive by then we will be able to get fodder to you. Most of the stables (except the indoor and pink) are on grass though - so if worst comes to worst no harm will come overnight.

[shortfatanhairy]

Thanks for the info Equifest :0)

[mcnaughty]

Equifest .... when are the schedules being posted on the web site/being sent out and when can we book stables?? Assume both are done at the same time - is this via post or can you do this on line??

[blueskyes]

Thankyou for reply Betsy, very much looking forward to it! Thankyou too Karen for offering to share your warmth!! Got room for another 5?? ;D

[equifest]

McNaughty - we are just finalising the schedule now - and waiting for the last few Judges to confirm and we will then go to print. We hope to have the schedules available mid/end March. Once we have the schedules available we will put them on line and also the stabling / entry forms etc. The only change we are making with stabling this year is that for every stable booked at least one entry must be made per horse/pony. This is because last year we had several people book stables early and then completely forget to make any entries - which did cause a lot of problems!!