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Post by cg on Aug 28, 2011 21:09:14 GMT
Absolutely love equifest and it is the highlight of my showing year! I definitely agree with all the above! - The coloured classes 100% need splitting up more as there is just too many on the rings. Some of the classes had the non natives and traditionals in together!! So definitely more splitting there! - also we have been since it started and im sure it was first advertised as the amateur championship show! There is producers galore there now and a lot of proffesionals! Can we not keep it limited so the true amateurs get a go at the supreme rather than producers and have more for the amateurs like originally intended other than the home produced classes? congratulations on forming a hugely successful show but maybe more classes and split more and back to how it was in the beginning thanks  |
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Post by bigmama on Aug 28, 2011 22:13:52 GMT
Absolutely love equifest and it is the highlight of my showing year! I definitely agree with all the above! - The coloured classes 100% need splitting up more as there is just too many on the rings. Some of the classes had the non natives and traditionals in together!! So definitely more splitting there! - also we have been since it started and im sure it was first advertised as the amateur championship show! There is producers galore there now and a lot of proffesionals! Can we not keep it limited so the true amateurs get a go at the supreme rather than producers and have more for the amateurs like originally intended other than the home produced classes? congratulations on forming a hugely successful show but maybe more classes and split more and back to how it was in the beginning thanks like your comments and ideas  there have always been professionals/producers competing at Equifest altho to a far lesser extent in earlier years woudnt it be great to see a truly home-produced/amateur take a supreme @ Equifest agree about splitting more classes eg 4/5/6yrs old Welsh C&D were in a very small ring and with 36 entered and verywet slippery conditions due to the rainfall that day, it would have been wise to split these babies between C and D (we opted to miss the class to safeguard our pure novice pony) Great show tho and we have booked our transport for 2012 already |
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Post by barclaybob on Aug 30, 2011 11:53:36 GMT
Well done Equifest!
It was our 1st time at the show and we loved every minute!
My suggestions to improve the show are....
1) I think it's brilliant that you hold equitation classes at such a big show, but please can these be run as genuine equitation classes ie NO DOUBLE bridles and NO PELHAMS!!!! Surely an equitation class should be a snaffle bridle only!
2) Deffo more top 10's in the evening performance
3) More home produced classes!
4) Nicer Rossettes maybe?
I really can't fault anything else apart from one snotty steward that I encountered other than that it really was fantastic!
Can't wait till 2012 when the tribe will be back!!!
PS. Childeren on bikes and little boys on scooters really should not be allowed to charge around the showground at speed!!!
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Post by plinketyplonk on Aug 30, 2011 19:41:02 GMT
Solitaire : well said about the judge in the Concours class smoking in the ring. I nearly fell over when my husband pointed it out to me. Someone said it was one of the ladies off the Whittaker lorry stand who had been/was a showjumper. I have to say I didn't agree with her choice of champion and reserve, not least because these two competitors turned up a good 15 minutes after the class had started and judging was underway. I have rarely seen a Concours class competitor being asked to do an individual show and the more we watched the shorter each competitors show got as the steward must have been telling the judge they were short of time.
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Post by cayo on Aug 31, 2011 6:54:06 GMT
There were some beutiful outfits in the concours classes sadley as always the judges and many competitors are not really aware of what the class is about and many picked in these classes look more like ball outfits or worse saloon or can can outfits such a shame for those in correct outfits ,i see noth west champs have put on a concours called fantasia this year i asume for just these type of outfits different class altogether excellent idea.
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guestp
Junior Member
Posts: 57
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Post by guestp on Aug 31, 2011 9:03:15 GMT
Thank you for letting us give feedback this way. - toilets by workign hunter ing 1/yellow stabling were often out of loo roll and the showers ther were poor. The water pressure was weak and the temperature wasn't great either. It would also be great if you could provide extra hooks/a shelf as the whole shower floor gets wet and one hook isn't enough! those of you maoning about dirty showers - when people are trudging across fields then the showers are going to get dirty - wear your flip flops or cross and deal with it - the dressage times for the mini eventer need publishing in advance of the show. When the ring opens at 8.15 you need to know your time in advance. - the dressage ring was too far away from the workers ring and some people were not going straight from one phase to the next as directed and the stewards had no control over this as they took it on word that you were going where they sent you. - no comments on the dressage sheets this year - such a shame not to use proper sheets. - fabtastic workers courses in ring one all week. thank you. But agree with other comments that this ring was unsuitable for the training classes. - the confo/show ring for WH ring one had a lorry, gazebo and another vehicle (or tent?) in it - why? - it was great to pre judge the concours classes in ring 1 / main ring. I was also grateful for the extra time given allwoing individual shows. Thank you. - running training classes in WH ring 1 and giving up the other workers ring to BSPA meant those of us with workers ponies has no classes on the sunday. - please allocate stables in advance as per previous years - no finalist rosettes in the equifest classes. just rosettes to those placed. Last year they were given out in some but not all equifest classes. The year before every competitor in every final got a finalist rosette, the same as BSPS do - come on equifest, don't be stingy! - equinational do not have adequate staff to cover all rings. The arrival of flash harry was fantastic. 2010 and 2009 we had wins/decent placings in workers only to find not a single photo, or just a last minute photo as we did pulled up in the lap of honour. Please allow more than one photographer onto the show ground like they do at PUK in order to have all rings covered. Equinational are also expensive and unable to cope with the demand for orders. Last year i spent a lot of money only to find they were misprinted, out of focus, not to mention the frightful rosettes on the frames (why???) and getting them re-done was a nightmare and i gave up in the end. Photokinesis always offer reasonable print charges, moments do some great deals on montages, keys rings etc. Theere must be a lot of smaller set up who could cover the rings between them and will not charge an arm and a leg. I didn't buy a single print from equinational this year as i am so dissatisfied with their service. - please don't ban dogs and bikes. With so far to walk sometimes the bike is a godsend on a show ground! ETA - for 2012 an A4 card to have signed if you qualify - how big?! There must be a better system. Pockets bulging with cards looks so unsightly, and for smaller children their pockets are quite small. Please reconsider this system. |
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Post by agent on Aug 31, 2011 11:56:33 GMT
Modified to say.... This was not meant as a DIG or COMPLAINT at other societies! What I mean is - we dont often get to communicate so freely with the other societies, as they are in a more professional league - where equifest is for us grass routes riders. Apologies to anyone offended Can I just expand to say that, certainly with the BSPS you can have your say. There is an Area Chairmen's meeting coming up. Please, if you have feedback with regard the recent Champs - or anything else for that matter, drop your Chairman an email or a letter and they will take it to the table. Dont worry if you think the comments will be the same as others, or repetitive - may be surprised! |
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Post by workerfan on Sept 14, 2011 6:48:05 GMT
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Post by thatboythatgirl on Sept 14, 2011 17:51:39 GMT
[ Dressage Times were available on line before the day but I do think that martingales,pelhams/gag type snaffles should not be allowed in the dressage phase!! Great show - we thoroughly enjoyed it! the first two years you had to do it in a snaffle then could change for the jumping but last year they altered it to no change of tack and any bit in the dressage |
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Post by cayo on Sept 22, 2011 7:48:38 GMT
as mentioned to Betsy when we spoke at Barton Please please keep coloured show cobs out of tradional coloured classes they are so totally different how can a show cob be traditional having been trimmed out and they move completley different give a different ride ect would love to see hairy cobs haveing thier own classes after all hairys cannot enter show cob classes .
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guestp
Junior Member
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Post by guestp on Sept 22, 2011 8:01:58 GMT
- the dressage times for the mini eventer need publishing in advance of the show. When the ring opens at 8.15 you need to know your time in advance.Dressage Times were available on line before the day but I do think that martingales,pelhams/gag type snaffles should not be allowed in the dressage phase!! i stand corrected then, but this was not clear on the schedule. So i edit my feedback to say - please make it clear that dressage times are available in advance and must be adhered to. Neither year i have done these classes have competitors been good about sticking to their times. i am not sure if this is rudeness or that, like me they just didn't know you could find out your time/didn't understand you were given a time. I'd like to point out that i did find out my times and i did turn up for dressage on time, but i had no idea times were published in advance. Both last year and this year i had to wait for competitors who had turned up and the wrong time and had been slotted in between people. |
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guestp
Junior Member
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Post by guestp on Sept 22, 2011 8:04:47 GMT
Would you therefore suggest that a change of tack is allowed so that those who require striger bits and maringales to jump can do so? As would happen in "normal" eventing. The only competitions i can compare this to is the final of the BYEH classes where they go straight from dressage to jumping to conformation. Do they have to do it in a snaffle with no martingale? |
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Post by workerfan on Sept 23, 2011 18:34:40 GMT
Yes certainly- dressage tack for dressage and any for the jumping-perhaps as for Workers In that way you are giving the advantage to those ponies that go well on the flat in dressage but that also jump well
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Post by mcw on Sept 23, 2011 22:20:30 GMT
I have one request! Please think about having a grandstand on both sides of the Equifest arena! I'm sure there'd be an even better atmosphere if people had somewhere to sit!   |
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Post by fruity on Oct 16, 2011 13:59:32 GMT
Agree completely with everything mentioned on here, but most especially the extensive comments about more classes and opportunities for home produced and amateurs. This massive group of people heavily support the show and there needs to be due regard for this and opportunity in championships/supremes and evening performances. I did actually raise this with the organisers and got told very firmly that Equifest has never been an amateur show and is open to all, professionals and producers as well as HP and amateurs....  ?? Interestingly I had a lengthy coversation with three producers who had been judging this year and did not have horses at the show. They witnessed a certain producer winning three championships in the evening performance and were furious! - they felt very strongly that equifest is an amatuer show and that they, as professionals, should only be in attendance to give something back by judging etc. They themselves said "we have HOYS/RIHS, we don't need this as well" How nice asnd refreshing to hear! On a final note, I also sadly had the misfortunate to witness some awful behaviour by a competitor in warm up which resulted in the rider seriously thrashing his poor thoroughbred. The response and immediate attendance of the Equifest team when I reported it was EXCELLENT and I would say this competitor was left in no doubt his behaviour was not acceptable. Well done to all in the office for responding so fast and dealing with it. Equifest is a great show - the formula is defintely there, but I would say listen to the grass roots people who underpin the show. Good luck for a bigger (dare I day it!) and better 2012 |
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snowflake
Happy to help....a lot
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Post by snowflake on Oct 16, 2011 16:48:12 GMT
Definitely agree with more top 10's for the ponies. If you had a SHP, you had 2 chances of getting in the evening - either getting 1st or 2nd in a huge final class, or coming an overall champion! It would be lovely if everyone got a chance of getting in their. Fabulous show this year, we'll be attending - I wish Equifest was strictly HP/Amateur - what a show it would be! ;D We compete at RIHS (but for the past few years only HP) & we found a lot of our classes were full of HOYS ponies!! We did not mind, as we were placed fairly, & there were great judges. Bring on 2012 Equifest! ;D |
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Post by ponyfun on Oct 31, 2011 12:10:45 GMT
How about some more veteran classes? The VHS shows iv been to this year have had much bigger classes than other normal classes. Did the veteran class at equifest last year and we were all crammed in the purple ring! How about splitting classes and doing top 10 evening, they maybe older but give a lot of younger ponies a run for their money! X
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Post by lecfec on Oct 31, 2011 12:14:48 GMT
More Nursery Stakes, beginners workers please especially for M&M ponies as the children had to compete against the adults in the open classes.
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geb
Junior Member
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Post by geb on Nov 3, 2011 9:24:47 GMT
I have groomed at equifest for 2 years, and I love every minute of it ! I think the show is fantastic and i am really looking forward to bringing my own next year. There must be so much to organise, there will always be something that goes wrong haha |
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Post by bigmama on Nov 3, 2011 9:37:46 GMT
Pure novice (ponies) m&m and plaited workers please ...... there were loads in the workers last year and i do know that Equifest are going to have a third whp ring in 2012 ~ perhaps they could have pure novice classes mixed in with the clear rounds somehow?
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Post by bigmama on Nov 3, 2011 9:39:34 GMT
More Nursery Stakes, beginners workers please especially for M&M ponies as the children had to compete against the adults in the open classes. lecfec .... i remember Toddy as a 3yrs old entire @ Marilyn's and he had some fab circus tricks like standing on up-turned bucket with his front feet and circling round it .... he was sooo funny ... lovely boy .. great to see him doing so well in the show ring  |
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Post by rockafella on Nov 4, 2011 9:57:07 GMT
judges having marksheets is a must!! there is noway any human can remember how 40 odd horses have gone, we experienced wrong leggers coming in the top 6 above real quality animals such a shame when people put so much effort in. We also saw some amazing home produced ponies not even getting looked at. also agree with the tannoy we were in purple stables and couldnt hear a thing! overall i do love equifest but this year it just wasnt as good as the previous 2 years wehave attended  |
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Post by hollyxx on Nov 4, 2011 11:04:01 GMT
Definitely more seats for the evening performance! |
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Post by lecfec on Nov 4, 2011 17:49:37 GMT
More Nursery Stakes, beginners workers please especially for M&M ponies as the children had to compete against the adults in the open classes. lecfec .... i remember Toddy as a 3yrs old entire @ Marilyn's and he had some fab circus tricks like standing on up-turned bucket with his front feet and circling round it .... he was sooo funny ... lovely boy .. great to see him doing so well in the show ring Thanks bigmama He is an absolute star and we have had loads of fun with him. He still does his standing on an upturned bucket trick and will only get down off it when everyone watching claps him. |
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Post by bigmama on Nov 4, 2011 18:00:04 GMT
lecfec .... i remember Toddy as a 3yrs old entire @ Marilyn's and he had some fab circus tricks like standing on up-turned bucket with his front feet and circling round it .... he was sooo funny ... lovely boy .. great to see him doing so well in the show ring Thanks bigmama He is an absolute star and we have had loads of fun with him. He still does his standing on an upturned bucket trick and will only get down off it when everyone watching claps him. that's it! i knew there was something i was missing! it was the clapping bit ... hahahaha ... bless him ... soooo funny ;D |
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Post by bigmama on Nov 4, 2011 18:01:17 GMT
EQUIFEST FINAL for which competitors must have qualified: NOVICE m&m workers
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Post by lecfec on Nov 5, 2011 10:28:35 GMT
Equifest final for M&M Nursery Stakes!!
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lovebird
Full Member
SandbankEarlybird & Freya, Evening Performance HOYS 2013
Posts: 348
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Post by lovebird on Nov 5, 2011 11:26:22 GMT
We had a great show and really enjoyed it, it was our first year we normally go to the NPS, but we will defernatly stay with Equifeast.
A couple of grumbles, horse walkways would help we had a 153cm yealing colt and it was not much fun trying to get around the showground with him, I think alot of people forgot it was Equifeast NOT bikefeast and seemed to forget horses/pony should have the right of way, some pushchairs were not much better .
But a really great show I think some of the other champs could learn alot
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Post by Laura&&MackyDee on Dec 11, 2011 16:30:44 GMT
we should get pre allocated stables, if the weather wasnt to bad maybe the evenin performance could be outdoors like PUK in main ring? plus more seatin, or just more seating in indoor as wall is rather high to see over and so many people stood round edge, maybe dont have the trade stands in the indoor or just leave holland and cooper and put a seating area in place of the others. WH ring 1 was THE best course yet however the ground did get very slippy and after this i was causious to jump down the hills, also the traingin class should stay in this ring because it is such a learning curve it as like a mini XC course and gave younger ponies to experience it and it was great fun, possibly could there be a propper water complex in this ring would be interesting? last thing more food stalls or different to this year have a jacket potato or chinese stand other than that i love this show!! seemed more entries than PUK! |
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Post by mirejaal on Dec 28, 2011 18:41:55 GMT
Collect your prize money!!!!!! We have been puk followers, Nps and BSPS, who all just sent out show prize money if unclaimed........ well EQUIFEST do NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE lost lots of money as we just waited for it to be sent, and it wasnt, very sad children, and mummy who called them to be told we held it open until 2 days ago....sorry!!!!!!!!!!!!! My entries alone cost £750-00, sad to loose £175 in winnings, never mind hey, a learning curve? |
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