I agree that we're very lucky to have facilities such as Bodiam, Davids, The Mendip etc but with the rising fuel costs sadly the locations of these shows will limit people (myself included). It used to be good when we used Arena UK, Towerlands etc and the shows were more spread out across the country. For me (Shropshire/N.Wales border) everywhere is a trek for me so i just appreciate the great facilities we have when i finally arrive!!!

Hi everyone
Such a shame the breed show has been moved, although i know that SQH has great facilities.
We were going to the Hand and have booked accommodation near clevedon, i guess now that's useless!!
We're not going to be able to go to cambridge and i have two horses in the futurity scheme.....what a waste.
Wouldn't it have been better to have kept it at the Hand this year and moved it for next year?? At least it could be planned for better.
I know this is becoming a westcountry vs. everyone else, but we ALWAYS have to travel.The breed show last year was well attended from all over wasn't it?

Post edited by: flashjac, at: 2008/07/02 19:14

its a long way for 80% of people no matter where you go.

I used to either hire fully kitted out horse boxes or stay in hotels.

I now sleep in the trailer and drive more economically, I suppose it depends on how much you really want to show.

I'm really pleased it's moved (and not because it's nearer, the Hand is only one hour from home!) I am not a great rider and I don't have the best horse by any means - but shows to me are recreation; and I truly get to enjoy that recreation when I can really RIDE my horse; ditto when I know my horse can SHOW himself to the best of (our!) ability, as he can at SQH, TMS and no doubt Bodiam too, if I ever got good enough and had enough time off work and earned enough ever to be able to go there! I was really looking forward, however novice I may be, to last year's show at The Hand but I had a miserable weekend on my horse because he just couldn't get going, on the warm-up surface, particularly. I'm not interested in going to venues which don't cater for the horses. It was that experience that made me realise that, if I want to show, I've got to get up and travel for the privilege. And as CCB says, it's great once you're there (rain permitting!!) Although I'm mightily looking forward to the WES shows at Hartpury/Moreton Morrell, and the Mendip shows to at least show the bank manager that I'm not completely off my trolley yet!!

I do appreciate, however, that if you own a youngster and can only do, say, two in-hand classes, showing across big distances is a huge investment?

Hi

It is a shame they have moved the Breed Show to SQH. I know the facilities are great and they have thought what the western riders want but there are three shows in September, The East Coast Circuit Championship, The BR Championship and The Breed Show all at SQH. We are desperate in the West Country for an indoor arena with a good all round surface, to cater for the pleasure horses and the reining horses.
For now, we can just dream!

Post edited by: Sally House, at: 2008/07/02 21:50

It's not just the West Country people who always have to travel -try living on Anglesey!

The AQHA circuit simply is not possible from here for an amateur travelling horse alone - I would realistically have to take 2 days each way to get to Bodiam, for instance; and a 2 day show, arrive back more knackered than I started and have used up a week of annual leave.

It simply isn't feasible for me, which is why we're competing English this year and having to forget the western, hopefully temporarily.