Competitors

About Equifest

The show will run from Thursday 1st August to Sunday 4th August 2024 at Arena UK, Allington, Lincolnshire, NG32 2EF.

Competitors may camp onsite in designated areas.  There is no charge for tents or lived in horseboxes, but a small additional fee is payable for cars not towing trailers, caravans or mobile homes on the showground.  Free car parking is available in the public car parks.

Competitors can become annual Equifest members and receive discounted entry fees, members area stabling and early access to the showground.

Limited electrical hook ups can be booked via Entry Master on payment of the appropriate fee.

Any changes to the timetable or schedule will be published on this website – www.equifest.org.uk. Please check this carefully BEFORE setting off for the Show.

No class will start before the stated time. 

Competitor Information

Click the links below to download each document. 

Equifest Office Opening Hours

10am – 4pm Monday – Friday. 
Telephone: 01487 780000 / 01487 208578

If there is no reply to the phone, please email: info@equifest.org.uk OR betsy@equifest.org.uk and we will get back to you as soon as possible.  We may not always be able to answer the phone due to the very small staff numbers we have working on Equifest.

Change of Class and Additional Entries

We will take change of classes at the Equifest Show Office for an amendment fee of £5.00.  Additional entries can be made on line via Entry Master – www.equifest.entrymaster.online as long as they are made no later than 4pm on the day preceding the class or at the Show Office by 4pm.

Show Opening Hours

Wednesday 31st July 2024

10am – 10pm
Competitors
2pm – 6pm
Trade Stands

Thursday 1st – Sunday 4th August 2024

6am
Gates Open
8am
Trade Stands/Exhibitors open & Show Start.
10pm
Trade Stands/Exhibitors close & Show Close.

Show Photographers 2023

Equipics
Grass Rings
Working Hunter, Grass Rings and Show Jumping

Jordan Brooking Photography
Indoor Arenas and Outdoor Surface Rings

Equifest Merchandise

For our loyal Equifest competitors and supporters who didn’t purchase a memento to remind them of Equifest 2023, you can still get a selection of personalised hoodies, T-shirts, baseball caps, drawstring bags. tote bags, water bottles, saddle cloths and fleece rugs from the JS Teamwear website.

https://www.jsteamwear.co.uk/shop/equifest/

Vehicle Passes

Competitors and their supporters can purchase additional car or caravan passes on arrival at the showground from the show office.

Only exhibitors who have pre-booked stables will be admitted to the Stabling areasPlease note: All stable areas and vehicle passes are colour coded – follow the signs to the correct area.  Cars not towing a horse trailer and caravans will only be permitted onto the showground if they have a valid vehicle pass.  No vehicle will be allowed to drive around the showground between the hours 8.00am – 6pm.

Day Box Parking

Competitors who have not booked stables will be parked in the day box parking area and should use Gate A.

Day visitors do not require vehicle passes as they will be directed to park in the Day Box car park.

Emergencies - Fire, Medical, Security and Lost Children

The emergency phone number is: 07572 600719. This will be posted around the stabling areas and on buildings around the site.  Please use this number for emergency use only.  State the nature and exact location of the emergency and remain there until assistance arrives.

Catering, Bars and Shop

Public catering will be provided by Arena UK’s restaurant and café together with a chocolate fountain and caterers selling doughnuts, ice cream pizzas, noodles, fish & chips, vegan food, hamburgers etc. 

On site licensed public bars will be open. Please note that it is an offence for individuals under the age of 18 to knowingly consume alcohol on licensed premises. No alcohol may be purchased by or for under-aged individuals from any of the licensed bars on site. 

An on site shop selling daily consumables and newspapers is located at the far end of Indoor Arena 1.

Exercising of Horses and Ponies

Competitors can use any of the collecting rings or grass areas to exercise their horses and ponies. 

Showing rings and indoor arenas may not be used at any time except for timetabled classes.

Smoking Policy

Smoking is not permitted in any of the stable areas, indoor arenas or public buildings including toilet and shower blocks.

Barbeques

Ground and coal based BBQs are NOT allowed on the showground under any circumstance.  Gas BBQs are permitted but they must be waist height and preferably stood on a fire retardant base.  Fitted catering equipment in the horsebox is acceptable.  It is the responsibility of all exhibitors to bring with them a properly serviced fire extinguisher suitable for gas and electrical fires.

Electric Hook Ups

Hook ups are only available in the Blue, Members and Sponsors stabling areas.  All Hook ups in the Blue stabling areas will be provided by generators.  Hook ups in the Members and Sponsors areas will either be either permanent hook ups on hard standing or will be provided by generators on grass. The generators are near silent and will operate continuously throughout the show.

Please report to the Stable Manager with your confirmation letter showing the number of hook ups that you have booked.  You will then be issued with a Hook Up pass which must be displayed in your vehicle and you will be directed to your hook up.

Generators

Privately owned generators are permitted in the stabling / parking areas but in consideration of other exhibitors, please ensure that they are turned off by 11.00pm.

Dogs

For reasons of safety and to prevent nuisance, dogs can only be permitted on the Showground whilst on a lead.  Exhibitors MUST clean up after their dogs.  Any person found to disregard this rule will be fined.  Lost dogs will be compounded and will not be released until a payment of £20 is made.  All payments will be donated to an animal charity of our choice.  Dogs must be kept under control at all times whilst on the showground.

Bikes and Scooters

In the interest of safety NO BIKES OR SCOOTERS (except mobility scooters) are permitted on the showground at any time.

Mobility Impaired Visitors

A local company – Prime Comfort – are suppliers of mobility scooters to events at Arena UK.  If you need to book a mobility scooter please contact 01476 560044. Please note – only the person who has hired the scooter may drive the scooter around the showground.  Privately owned scooters are permitted – but they may only be driven by the person who owns the scooter.  No person under 18 years may drive a scooter at any time.  All scooters must be covered by third party insurance. 

Please note – we are not able to charge scooters at the show office so anybody hiring a scooter must make their own arrangements.

Equifest Membership

Annual membership applications can be purchased via Entry Master.  Please click here.

Championship Qualifiers

In order to enter Equifest Championship classes, (classes 700 – 778 on the timetable) competitors need to compete in a qualifying class at an affiliated show. The two highest placed competitors not already qualified will be eligible to compete. Please ensure that you download a qualification card prior to attending an affiliated show and get the card signed by a show official on completion of the qualifying class.  NEW for 2024 – for the Show Pony, Show Hunter Pony and Working Hunter Pony classes we have taken away the age restrictions and will now allow “Any suitable sized rider”.  Please note that we are operating under the 20% rider / pony weight ratio – which will be monitored at Equifest.

Online Entries

Competitors can enter classes online via Entry Master.
Opening dates for Entries for Equifest 2024 to be confirmed. 
Please click here for link to entry database.
Please note – that this is a new database – so you will need to set up your accounts first. 
 1. Please set up your account, and add details of all Owners, Riders, Horses / Ponies before doing your entries.  
2. The click on “Enter Events”.  This will take you in the entry database.  You can search for classes either by the name of the class or the class number.  (i.e. if you type in “novice” all novice classes will show up).  
PLEASE NOTE: You can put all of the classes for one horse / pony on the same line.  
3. If you have multiple horses / ponies to enter, then please click “add entry” and then select the name of the new horse / pony and add entries.  
4. If you want to trigger the members discount, please ensure that you choose membership and pay for this before doing your entries.

Date of closing for Online entries to be confirmed. Championship entries will remain open until after the last affiliated show.

Hard Hats

It is the sole responsibility of riders to ensure that they wear correctly fitting and fastened head gear at all times when mounted.  All hats must comply with current BSI standards.  Equifest accepts no responsibility for any injury arising from a failure to comply with this regulation. 

Riders aged 18 years old and over may wear Top Hats / Bowlers for the Evening Performance.  This includes any associated pre-judging of classes going into the Evening Performance providing a disclaimer form has been completed in advance of the class.  Disclaimer forms are available from the Show Office from 7am – 5pm daily.

Water

Please note – there are no taps for filling up horsebox water tanks on site so please ensure that your tanks are filled up before arriving at the showground. 

There will be drinking water provided for horses in all stabling areas. 

There are no horse wash areas at Arena UK, so please bring buckets and sponges with you.

Stable Booking

Stables can be booked online via Entry Master. Competitors must book at least one class per horse in order to book stables. Stables are £160 for the duration of the show or £52.50 for one night (5pm on the night until 4pm the following day).

You must bring with you the confirmation of your stable booking that was sent with your competitor numbers and the completed stable voucher (enclosed with the exhibitor’s information) and present this to the Stable Manager. Please give the name that the stables have been booked in.

Day stables must be vacated by 4.30pm on the day following the booking.  Please ensure that you leave the stable clean and fit for the next occupant.

The perimeter gates will be closed at 10pm each evening so anybody who arrives after this time MUST phone the Stable Manager on 07572 600922 and make prior arrangements.

Please do NOT phone the Stable Manager before the show starts. 

A £20 clean box charge will be made for all stables. Please bring cash which will be refunded providing the stable is left clean.

For those booking stables at Equifest, Arena UK only permits shavings or wood based bedding materials to be used.

Fodder Shop

Arena UK’s fodder shop is located by the stable manager’s office on entry to the showground.

No pre-orders can be taken except for large hay bales or large Haylage. Order your fodder requirements on arrival. Cash or card only.

2023 Prices:

Shavings            £10
Small Hay          £  8
Small Haylage  £10

  • Hay supplied is this year’s cut.
  • Small Hay is a standard bale.
  • Large Hay bales are rectangular.
  • Bale of Shavings is 20kg Eventus Bedding Grade B.
  • Large bale of Haylage is likely to weigh approx 100Kg.
Pre-Order:

Email: office@arenauk.com

Large Hay         £60
Large Haylage  £70

Equine Welfare

Under the Animal Welfare Act (2006), the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 and Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, (hereafter referred to as The Welfare Acts) every horse owner or those responsible for a horse have a duty of care to ensure the animal’s well-being. Thus, causing suffering and ill treatment are no longer the only grounds for prosecution under animal welfare law. It is now an offence to fail to take adequate steps to ensure a horse’s welfare, even if the animal is not yet at the point of suffering. In particular, please note the following regulations:

WELFARE ACTS – Under the Welfare Acts the parents / guardians of children under 16 years old are responsible for the welfare of their children’s horses/ponies.

HEALTH & HYGIENE – The spread of equine disease is a perpetual risk when attending shows. Horse owners should act responsibly and not attend a show if there is a disease outbreak at their yard, even if the horse / pony taken to the show does not appear ill. This is because some diseases have an incubation period of 14 days. For more information and guidance, please refer to the information available on the BHS website and British Equestrian website.

VISIBLE BLOOD – On rare occasions a horse / pony may injure itself traveling, being worked in or competing, or blood may be noticed from the mouth or nostrils or other parts of the animal’s body. In these circumstances the competitor should not compete or cease competing and get their horse / pony checked as soon as possible. The animal should be treated and where necessary the person responsible for the horse / pony should seek veterinary advice and attention to ensure the animal can travel home or continue to compete in further classes on the day.

EQUINE OBESITY – must be avoided and all horses / ponies exhibited should be fit for purpose for the event or class they are competing in. Having a horse / pony which is obese is extremely detrimental to its welfare and animals carrying too much fat are at a significantly increased risk of developing serious health and welfare issues

SENSORY WHISKERS – are the hard hairs located on the horse’s muzzle and around the eyes, also known as ‘whiskers’ that are used for sensation. It is recommended that horses should not have whiskers trimmed or removed (other than for veterinary purposes or with a vet’s certificate). Brood Mares, foals and youngstock should present with no evidence of whiskers or sensory hairs having been removed.

UNATTENDED HORSES – No horse should be left unattended unless they are in a stable, horsebox/trailer and known to behave sensibly when ordinarily left in such a situation.

TYING UP OF HORSES – For safety reasons horses or ponies should not be left unattended tied to a horsebox/trailer at any time.

WORKING IN OF HORSES / PONIES – The amount of work the horse undertakes should be in accordance with its age, experience, and fitness.

SUITABLY MOUNTED – Any animal ridden anywhere on the showground, rings or lorry parks (day or night) must be only ridden by a rider whose size and weight does not compromise the animal’s welfare.  We are operating under the 20% rider weight guideline where the rider in full riding attire with tack must be less than 20% of the animal’s bodyweight.  This is based on a relatively fit, healthy animal as an overweight animal is also a welfare concern.  Welfare Officers, appointed by Equifest, will be monitoring the Equine areas and have the power to ask riders deemed too large to dismount.

Results

Results and Working Hunter Mark Sheets will posted here.
Wednesday 2nd August 2023
Thursday 3rd August 2023
Friday 4th August 2023
Saturday 5th August 2023
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