RHS 2013

[minstrel]

Okay so I am thinking way ahead, but I like to have things all planned out

I have decided fingers crossed to enter Ted in the ridden Clydesdale class at RHS next week, as I think he may now be ready. I wanted to ask though what do most people do at the show, how many nights do you stable for? What are the stables like? Are there larger ones? Are they on the grass? Erm any info please

Thanks!!

[gill]

If you only need to be at the show for one day then you have the option of either not stabling and coming there and back in the same day, or stabling overnight the night before the show (the stables are available from 6pm til 6pm the following day and were £65 for this period this year, I assume will be something similar).

Stables in the Light Horse Float car park (which I assume you will be in as for a Ridden Clydesdale you will just enter for that class and won't have to stable for the duration) are not on grass but the car park surface near the Thistle Ring. The surface is usually fine although this year stables were a big soggy due to the awful weather but I was told that ad lib bedding was provided and that most people were fine.

I don't think they come in different sizes though, so it depends how comfortable he would be in something that's likely to be a little on the small side for him, although they're not bad for head room and the big showjumpers are allocated the same sizes and I assume cope OK.

[minstrel]

Aug 29, 2012 11:21:38 GMT gill said:

If you only need to be at the show for one day then you have the option of either not stabling and coming there and back in the same day, or stabling overnight the night before the show (the stables are available from 6pm til 6pm the following day and were £65 for this period this year, I assume will be something similar).

Stables in the Light Horse Float car park (which I assume you will be in as for a Ridden Clydesdale you will just enter for that class and won't have to stable for the duration) are not on grass but the car park surface near the Thistle Ring. The surface is usually fine although this year stables were a big soggy due to the awful weather but I was told that ad lib bedding was provided and that most people were fine.

I don't think they come in different sizes though, so it depends how comfortable he would be in something that's likely to be a little on the small side for him, although they're not bad for head room and the big showjumpers are allocated the same sizes and I assume cope OK.

Thanks for your reply, I am in Aberdeen so if the classes were for example at 10am I would prefer to stable or I would have to be away at about 4 in the morning as some people say towing it can take 5 hours to get there. Don't know how correct this is though?!

He would be okay enough in a small one for a night. Stabling costs are not too bad, I actually thought they might be more.

As another thought where do most people stay, we only have a trailer on OH refuses to camp wimp!!!

[gill]

There is a Quality Inn right on the showground but rooms can be hard to come by and I think there may even be a ballot for them. However, there is a hotel in Ratho Station which isn't too far away and a Novotel at the end of the City Bypass which is also quite near.

[eleanor]

Wow! Your on the ball!

[minstrel]

Aug 29, 2012 12:40:47 GMT gill said:

There is a Quality Inn right on the showground but rooms can be hard to come by and I think there may even be a ballot for them. However, there is a hotel in Ratho Station which isn't too far away and a Novotel at the end of the City Bypass which is also quite near.

Thanks for that! But OH better realise at £300 per night I would rather camp, and that he is paying because he is a priss!! (Not happy about leaving Ted there on his own without being nearby, first time away from home!)

[puddledub]

Aug 29, 2012 13:20:20 GMT minstrel said:

Thanks for that! But OH better realise at £300 per night I would rather camp, and that he is paying because he is a priss!! (Not happy about leaving Ted there on his own without being nearby, first time away from home!)

Camping as such is not permitted in the lorry park, but you can 'camp' in your trailer ... maybe not very glamorous but willdo the job and by the time you have him settled in his stable, had a wee ride around the evening before and then get up to get him ready for your class you wouldnt be in bed for long, plus there is the partying possibilities You will get a Light Horse Float pass with your entry/stabling so will cost you zero extra whereas all other options will cost one way or another.

I slept in my trailer a week or so ago and it was surprisingly comfy ;D

Great you ar planning to do the Highland next year though, it is great to have some motivation going through the long, cold and miserable winter

[minstrel]

OH just cannot work out how we would sleep in the trailer, I told him easy, blow up beds, sleeping bags SORTED!! He is still dubious! Is it not meant to be the women who are more resistant to camping etc?!

[Bedrockshetlands]

If you did in-hand too, you could stable him from the Wednesday-Sunday in the heavy horse section (stabling cheaper up that end), and you get a week pass for your lorry/trailer for sleeping in. Maybe not the most glamorous way of sleeping for a week but at least you have toilet,shower and hot meal facilitys within the show ground.

[tulip]

We sleep in the trailer most years,and there are quite a few people who do, tho this year we had cattle down so treated ourselves and stayed in the hotel(OH was paying and it was great ;D

[minstrel]

To those who sleep in a trailer, how do you do it? I know that sounds really silly but what do you use, any recommendations, I MIGHT have convinced OH....

[backwards]

Tell him to suck it up!! I have a prissy OH and for Blair he told told to suck it up or I was going by myself. Won that one

[tulip]

Airbeds also take a camping stove for making coffee etc, and a lantern type light that works from batteries. Have an Ifor Williams trailer so shut the back doors and its wind and waterproof

[dunwoody]

Airbeds like tulip says....but it helps if you have a (relatively) recent trailer that you can open and shut (and lock) the jockey door from the inside ;-)
Can't do that with older versions.
The travelodge at ratho is only at the end of the carpark though. Good rates to be had if you book sooner rather than later!

[Qui Gon Jinn]

I've also used sun louger type beds in the trailer when we've been away Saves having to blow up your bed before you go and easier to pack away!