Equifest - is it worth it?

[TheChestnutThing]

I've been wanting to do a little working hunter and have been encouraged by the showing people on my yard to take my TB out. I don't think I want to affiliate (expensive for shows that are few and far between), but I have seen a few local shows that do Equifest qualifiers. Has anyone done Equifest and is it worth it, or is it a bit hit and miss and full of people who don't have a clue like I've seen when i've been to help students at the sunshine tour at hickstead?

 

[humblepie]

Haven’t done Equifest as such, but went there as another association was running a show essentially using one of their arenas on the same days as Equi fest was running and I was there. I did a couple of Equifest classes as well. They get huge numbers and they will be seriously nice horses and ponies there. It wasn’t really my sort of thing though and I think it is much more family orientated. I think a lot of people almost make it into their summer holiday and they have lots of stables and arenas in play. My horse did well in his classes so it’s not coming from a point of view that didn’t have a good show, but probably more that I’m a fairly quiet person and it was all just a bit hectic.

I wouldn’t put you off going as I know lots of people who go year after year and they have a wide range of classes so there are lots of things to do. It is a lot of walking, particularly if you’re on your own. I was worn out afterwards.

 

[Squeak]

If you've got an ex-racer you could have a look at the RoR challenge for a working hunter type class. They also have some flat showing series as well.

 

[Barklands]

I would second doing the RoR classes

 

[humblepie]

Yes RoR is only £15 to register I think. Just to add Equifest is open to amateur and professionals with various amateur or Home produced classes whereas the sunshine tour has a lot of restrictions on who is eligible.

 

[spotty_pony2]

Haven’t done Equifest as such, but went there as another association was running a show essentially using one of their arenas on the same days as Equi fest was running and I was there. I did a couple of Equifest classes as well. They get huge numbers and they will be seriously nice horses and ponies there. It wasn’t really my sort of thing though and I think it is much more family orientated. I think a lot of people almost make it into their summer holiday and they have lots of stables and arenas in play. My horse did well in his classes so it’s not coming from a point of view that didn’t have a good show, but probably more that I’m a fairly quiet person and it was all just a bit hectic.

I wouldn’t put you off going as I know lots of people who go year after year and they have a wide range of classes so there are lots of things to do. It is a lot of walking, particularly if you’re on your own. I was worn out afterwards.

I’ve been to Equifest once and I’d say it really depends on the horse - it’s very busy an can be hectic and my horse at the time was quite a sensitive soul and although we do reasonably well he took a lot of working in and settling because of the amount going on.

 

[honetpot]

I haven't been for a long time, I used to steward and the one thing you do get is experienced judges and well built courses, and you can usually enter the similar classes, under different judges. It is busy but it's sort of calm busy, the first time we did R of R it was on a show ground near were sheep, pigs and traction engines. Week days are not as busy, and they used to have dressage classes and clear round, so the effort is not just for one class.

 

[humblepie]

I haven't been for a long time, I used to steward and the one thing you do get is experienced judges and well built courses, and you can usually enter the similar classes, under different judges. It is busy but it's sort of calm busy, the first time we did R of R it was on a show ground near were sheep, pigs and traction engines. Week days are not as busy, and they used to have dressage classes and clear round, so the effort is not just for one class.

I think I found it too busy people wise for me rather than the horse finding it busy.

 

[Albus15]

I'm not sure where the venue will be for 2026, but I don't think it's anywhere near as busy at Arena UK than it was at East of England showground. I go most years to watch and for a spot of shopping, which again was much better at EoE than Arena. I don't know anything about showing, but have done the jumping classes on youngsters in the past for a bit of fun. There are hundreds of classes that I've seen split based on riders/producers, and the competitors range from complete amateurs to regular HOYS contenders.