ellie_e
Well-Known Member
So, I'm heading to Wales & West in 2 weeks for my first stay away show, advice? Do's/ Dont's, what to pack, stable advice, etc! Any help and advice greatly received!
Stay Away shows! Advice
- Thread starter ellie_e
- Start date
Tory27
Well-Known Member
I'm going to presmue your're staying at Broomies! You'll have a great time!
If your on electric hook up you'll be asked to park right down the front in the first field, beware though as it does get very cramped. If your not on electric hook up and are camping then you'll be be in the top end of the main field or in the adjoining. Take all you need to live with. Camping gear, blankets (it gets cold down there) gas stove, kettle, food, snacks, beer/wine!!! All the basic camping stuff. If your camping you'll have much more fun and they're not at strict on parking / how much space you use.
There is Broomies pavillion that serves food but can be quite pricey and not much grub for your money. Also be wary of the catering vans ridiculously overpriced and not the cleanest....!! Just down the road (literally) in Caldicot is a co-op, fish and chip shop, chinese and KFC type place. We've always catered for ourselves without buying food on or off site, but the choice is there should you wish.
As a rider take TWO or more of everthing! two jods, two shirts, 2 jackets, and two/three waterproof coats, wellies and casuals. If it rains there it pours!!! and there is no way of getting anything dry. They have showers on site which are really good - try and use the single showers on the right next to the gate, the ones in the toilets are not as good.
For horse - you'll be allocated your stable, you might want to take a bag of shavings with you, (they sell shavings and haylage on site). some stables by this time of year are bedded up to the max, so you might not need them but best to take a bag just in case. Tek your own Hay, haynets, hard feed, water buckets, tackbox, extra bucks for washign down, if you've room a wheelbarrow - not only for mucking out but for carrying tack, equipment down to your stable in the morning. If you've not got a wheelbarrow a big muck bucket for stable droppings does the job. Torch!! make sure you take a torch, no lights in the stables at night, only a spotlight lighting up the main walkway. Stables are ok, nothing spectacular but do the job.
The secretarys office is right at the far end of the main arena, normally opens around 7.30 - 8am on a show day may be earlier. Bit of treck from the lorry park, so to are the warm ups, depending on what end you are jumping allow a good 10 -15 minutes if you forget something to go back to get it...
You can ride you horse in any of the warm up arenas at any time and round the tracks but only in walk, dont gallop across his outside fields!! big trouble! and no riding in the main arena.
Dont think I've missed naything but if you think of somethig shout and I may have the answer.
Have a fab time and good luck!!
If your on electric hook up you'll be asked to park right down the front in the first field, beware though as it does get very cramped. If your not on electric hook up and are camping then you'll be be in the top end of the main field or in the adjoining. Take all you need to live with. Camping gear, blankets (it gets cold down there) gas stove, kettle, food, snacks, beer/wine!!! All the basic camping stuff. If your camping you'll have much more fun and they're not at strict on parking / how much space you use.
There is Broomies pavillion that serves food but can be quite pricey and not much grub for your money. Also be wary of the catering vans ridiculously overpriced and not the cleanest....!! Just down the road (literally) in Caldicot is a co-op, fish and chip shop, chinese and KFC type place. We've always catered for ourselves without buying food on or off site, but the choice is there should you wish.
As a rider take TWO or more of everthing! two jods, two shirts, 2 jackets, and two/three waterproof coats, wellies and casuals. If it rains there it pours!!! and there is no way of getting anything dry. They have showers on site which are really good - try and use the single showers on the right next to the gate, the ones in the toilets are not as good.
For horse - you'll be allocated your stable, you might want to take a bag of shavings with you, (they sell shavings and haylage on site). some stables by this time of year are bedded up to the max, so you might not need them but best to take a bag just in case. Tek your own Hay, haynets, hard feed, water buckets, tackbox, extra bucks for washign down, if you've room a wheelbarrow - not only for mucking out but for carrying tack, equipment down to your stable in the morning. If you've not got a wheelbarrow a big muck bucket for stable droppings does the job. Torch!! make sure you take a torch, no lights in the stables at night, only a spotlight lighting up the main walkway. Stables are ok, nothing spectacular but do the job.
The secretarys office is right at the far end of the main arena, normally opens around 7.30 - 8am on a show day may be earlier. Bit of treck from the lorry park, so to are the warm ups, depending on what end you are jumping allow a good 10 -15 minutes if you forget something to go back to get it...
You can ride you horse in any of the warm up arenas at any time and round the tracks but only in walk, dont gallop across his outside fields!! big trouble! and no riding in the main arena.
Dont think I've missed naything but if you think of somethig shout and I may have the answer.
Have a fab time and good luck!!
ellie_e
Well-Known Member
Thanks so much! Yes have hook up in the lorry! I've already been to collect some hay and will pick up a bag of shavings. Thanks for the advice about the showers. I'm only doing one class Friday morning so wondered if I could hack her in the afternoon around the place. Also, planning on arriving Thursday evening, any idea what times you allowed to arrive?
Tory27
Well-Known Member
They normally unlock the gates from 12.30 so anytime from then is ok to arrive - might be a good idea to get in early so you can get a good parking spot with the lorry, if you go right to the front you can more or less park on the track - make getting about much easie especially if its wet.
You will be fine to hack or wonder about Friday afternoon, ive often done this myself. If you fancy a walk go right to the far end nearest the furthest arena (near the grass jumping rings) on the left is a railway bridge, walk over that and keep following the track it leads you to an open space, nothing to do there just turn a round and head back but its a nice little stroll. On your way back if you turn right before you walk back over the bridge you can walk along the grass track next to the big field back to the stables.
You will be fine to hack or wonder about Friday afternoon, ive often done this myself. If you fancy a walk go right to the far end nearest the furthest arena (near the grass jumping rings) on the left is a railway bridge, walk over that and keep following the track it leads you to an open space, nothing to do there just turn a round and head back but its a nice little stroll. On your way back if you turn right before you walk back over the bridge you can walk along the grass track next to the big field back to the stables.
Crackerz
Well-Known Member
I think Tory has it covered for that venue!! I was there at the weekend 
It's mostly well organised, the track from the stables up between all the rings is muddy when it's wet though, so make sure your family/friends have good footwear too. The collecting ring for the main arena does get a little manic, so just make sure you don't get stuck in a corner
Enjoy!
It's mostly well organised, the track from the stables up between all the rings is muddy when it's wet though, so make sure your family/friends have good footwear too. The collecting ring for the main arena does get a little manic, so just make sure you don't get stuck in a corner
Enjoy!
ljohnsonsj
Well-Known Member
It's a great venue, I am always torn between that and Arena! But have chosen Arena again this year. I went to the August show at broomies a few years ago and had a good laugh and got a bit drunk in the pavilion! All the staff are very helpful! Have fun!
unicornystar
Well-Known Member
just back from this weekend and all I would say on hook up is get there as early as you can and ignore reserved places (rant rant!!!) if there are cones bloomin move them!! it's not on. There is usually someone hanging around with luck with a clipboard, you can park on hardstanding at front or behind that on the grass for hook up!!
lauracwd2
Well-Known Member
I've just come back from my second time staying overnight at a show and the biggest thing I've found is that everything takes me so much longer than it does at home. I think because all my kit is in the car so trying to remember to pick up what you need on trips back and forward to the stable got me in a muddle. So I'd say try and have everything organised and ready and allow extra time to get stuff done.
muddy_grey
Well-Known Member
It is a great venue. I don't think the pavilion is too overpriced and the portions are pretty big. Take a lightweight turnout just in case your stable has a slight drip if it rains. There is no overhang on the stables so depending on the direction of the rain the front can get a bit wet.
Crackerz
Well-Known Member
I had a big bowl of cheesey chips last weekend from there, it was fairly priced and yummy