Would like to know the "do's" and "don't do's"......

[MyBarakah]

Hi!

Since this is my first time going to Nationals... And I like to be well prepared...

I'd like to know the "do's" and "don't do's" of being at Nationals!?..........

And would also like to know the things that should and shouldn't be taken to Nationals......

Also.... How is it to stay over in the RV park at Nationals?

Also....... I heard that some trailers were stollen at Nationals last year?

I know Tulsa is one of the biggest areas for theft...... Should I be concerned?

Also.... Since I have a good solid 7 hr drive down there...... For those of you that are hauling a distance. Do you guys wrap your mini's legs for protection for the long haul?

Is it required to buy shavings for the stalls there or can you bring your own?

And where I will most likely be going by myself...... Is being at Nationals (when first getting there) easy to understand where to go and get signed in and all that stuff?

:

 

[JMS Miniatures]

Prepare for alot of walking

: . The arena is a big place, its best if you have like a scooter, golf cart, or something to get you somewhere besides walking. I will be taking my bike this year, my knees just can't handle walking so far every day.

Pretty much the whole Expo Center is concrete. So either fill your horses stalls with lots of shavings or get some mats. They will get sore if they stand on that concrete for so long.

Keep your tack area LOCKED! Thefts were so bad last year it wasn't even funny.

You can buy shavings from them or take some for yourself. I don't care for their shavings so I take my own. You pretty much have to get 2 to 3 bags of shavings to competely cover the stall floors with their shavings from what I heard.

To get signed in you go to the office where all the vendors are, where the nice A.C. is lol, get there measurment cards and they usually measure them near the restrooms at Barn B I believe the entrance near the arena. Than you take the cards back and you get your packet.

You will have alot of fun! Hope this helps some.

 

[sfmini]

The RV park is very, very nice, and a long, long walk. I ditto the golf cart, bike, or scooter. We have Yamaha motor scooters that we only take to Nationals and Worlds. This year we are gonna live it up and get a suite at the Hawthorne instead of camping.

There are only a couple of showers, sometimes it is easiest to get one in the middle of the day.

Bring chairs to use at your stalls, extras are nice in case you have visitors.

Fans for the horses, and one for you as well, a cooler stocked with water and whatever else you want to drink.

MONEY! Gotta shop!

Most of all DO HAVE FUN!

 

[EAD Minis]

Oh have fun guys!!

:

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

You know one thing Annette told us here on the fourm (HHp Minis) the first year I went was to bring many different shoes and change them often during the day. I forget the reasoning behind it but there was a very logical one and it really made a difference.

There is LOTS of walking on concrete since the whole place is concrete and whenever my legs got sore I switched shoes and was good to go again.

 

[Davie]

There were several trailers stolen last year, but there was lots of construction going on and more people around then normal. I would suggest that you bring a lock for your trailer. Most places that install trailer hitches have hitch locks for either gooseneck or bulldog hitches.

Most of the trailer were located and returned about a month later but by then most of the trailers had been replaced by insurance claims. I had a friend there who's flat bed trailer was stolen and that is the reason I know most of the trailers were located.

 

[bfogg]

Also please make sure to bring a fan for your horse!!!!! The heat was incredible and I was SHOCKED to see so many poor miserable horses who had no fans and were on the outside row so the sun was beating in on them and no fans and some with empty water buckets! I did a slow burn every time I went by and saw them so miserable, I almost went and got water for them but then reality is if they came back and caught me in their stalls, someone they didn't even know, well I didn't, but I felt darn guilty. Probably they just did not realize they would need them and felt just as bad as I did, but bet they have them this year!!!!!!

So put the fan and extension cords bring 3 or 4 for other things you might bring or need, and put them in the trailer first!!!!!

:

:

 

[Lisa-Ruff N Tuff Minis]

Bonnie is right it gets so hot and for those not used to the humidity it is a killer, there are plugs in every stall at least there were in our barn.

Also one more thing is to remember ( my feelings got a bit hurt the first time) That these are LONG days and longer nites some people going on 10 days of 3-4 hour sleep so ..when meeting someone for the first time if you dont get the reception you had hoped for at that moment.. just remember that of course first they could be very busy getting ready and next they could be so very tired they arent even thinking straight. I loved to visit everyone in the barns but found for the best talks.. the air conditioned arena seemed to bring everyone back to life for a bit anyway

:

 

[strass]

This may sound odd this time of year, but you might want to bring a jacket. You posted on the back porch that your job keeps you very used to the heat. This is one of the few shows that have a good AC in the arena area. They try to make things tolerable for those on the arena floor and sometimes that makes it a bit chilly if you’re sitting in the stands watching. I love it, but my wife cries about it being too cold.

I’ve got bad knees (and a weak ankle this year) so I’m another scooter supporter.

An ice chest to keep drinks in is also a must.

It seems that, no matter how much you plan, there will be a need to buy something at the show. The vendors seem to do a pretty good job of keeping most items you might need available. Like the others said, bring some $ or at least the “ol’ Plastiqueâ€.

As far as the trip goes, make sure that you have numbers programmed in your cell phone ahead of time for people you can call in case of trouble. Most wreckers won’t even touch a loaded horse trailer so it’s always nice to have people with a good truck you can call in a pinch.

 

[Sandee]

Hi!

Since this is my first time going to Nationals... And I like to be well prepared...

I'd like to know the "do's" and "don't do's" of being at Nationals!?..........

And would also like to know the things that should and shouldn't be taken to Nationals......

Also.... How is it to stay over in the RV park at Nationals?

Also....... I heard that some trailers were stollen at Nationals last year?

I know Tulsa is one of the biggest areas for theft...... Should I be concerned?

Also.... Since I have a good solid 7 hr drive down there...... For those of you that are hauling a distance. Do you guys wrap your mini's legs for protection for the long haul?

Is it required to buy shavings for the stalls there or can you bring your own?

And where I will most likely be going by myself...... Is being at Nationals (when first getting there) easy to understand where to go and get signed in and all that stuff?

:

I got talked out of going to Nationals because of the gas prices and basically no support from family or anyone. But I've been to Tulsa for Pinto World. The RV park is very modern (hope they got the expanded part done by now). You can even get hook ups for internet if they've actually finished everything but it is a long way to most of the barns. They have tried to beef up the security but it's always a good idea to keep everything locked up.

We didn't wrap our guys legs and we went a year ago from Wisconsin. It's a personal call. My guys have never had it done and wouldn't have understood the restrictions of wraps plus we cut the trip in half by staying (and stalling) overnight in Missouri. That would have meant unwrapping and rewrapping. They were fine even my gelding who was 17 at the time. That said it also depends on how they ride in your trailer. I have a mini trailer and they are really confined in the stalls. Not much room to move around but then it keeps them from being thrown around in trailer too.

I'm sure if you look on the internet at say Mapquest you can get good directions. If I'm remembering right it's 10-12 blocks down a 4 lane street from the interstate to the fairgrounds. I'm sure they will be well organized and you won't any problems getting signed in. Pinto was done very well and they're not known for "organization".

Good luck and I really envy you.

 

[HGFarm]

There have been trailers stolen from Nationals every year I have gone. I heard last year or the year before they caught some people involved, so hopefully that might slow that down.

DO go and have FUN!

DO go and meet as many people as you can!

DO make SURE you watch the liberty classes and catch the Flamingos, LOL

Yes, it can be a hike around that place, so if you have a bike, scooter, golf cart, whatever, definitely take it!

Wish I was going this year- have a WONDERFUL time!!!

 

[Fred]

I know this will sound crazy but keep winter blankets or liners in the trailer. It may be hot in Tulsa but it can cool down fast on the way home! Also gatorade for the horses, fans and cold crunchy carrots makes them happy. Lots of long days and longer nights so make sure you keep an eye on your showing schedule and adapt your feeding schedule for the comfort of your horses. Linda B

 

[MyBarakah]

Hi and THANKS SO MUCH for all the input!! What great help! I always keep fans in my trailer for at the shows... and people think I'm nutss but my stallion gets a large horse size hay bag for his stall filled with grass hay to keep him content... I do NOT like them to go with out munching on something seems... and it's worked with keeping one from ever collicing!

I also keep extra extension cords, plugins a horse saftey(first aid) kit and also a people first aid kit along with other horse excesories. I will have to put in the winter horsey blankets for the "just in case!".... I always pack (for myself) like I'm packing for a month ( a friend told me!!)....... I always like to come WELL prepared! So I have clothes/coats for about any occasion!!

And I will deffinately be bringing a BIKE! My knees are also shot!

Oh...... WAs going to ask....... ?????????

If I would happen to break down on the way down there (depending how close I was to OK)...... I have NOOO clue who I could call to come get me?

Do any of you know who I could use at a "rescue" to come pick up me & my horse?

Also..??? Will I need to worry about my truck/trailer and horse while I'm unpacking everything???

Has a horse ever been stolen there? Do you padlock your horses in thier stalls????

 

[HGFarm]

I personally have not heard of any horses being stolen and for safety reasons, NEVER lock my stalls.

We took portable fans to hang in the stalls- it was REALLY hot and humid and that also helps keep the flies away. (We hang them up where the horses cant reach them)

Take folding chairs for your barn aisle..... we had a huge cooler on wheels for soft drinks, sandwich stuff, etc... but locked this up at the end of the day. Some folks even brought their bbq's and grilled steaks. (we seriously thought about mugging them and the smell was making us crazy- YUM)

We never had a lick of trouble while loading or unloading anything either. Dont worry about that. We did pull around as close to our stalls as we could to be able to walk/carry stuff a lot less distance.

 

[Shelley]

We went to Nationals for the first time last year, it was our fourth horse show, ever. We did fine! By the end of the week we felt like old pros.

: It really helped build our confidence level.

We were not on concrete (we were in the boonies in the old barn that I hear has been since torn down) but this year maybe it would be a good idea to bring some mats. I hadn't thought about that.

Do take a light jacket...while it started out extremely hot, later in the week the evenings did get cool and I can remember sitting outside our locked tack stall shivering (had no idea where my hubby had disappeared to). 'Course again, we were in the barn where the wind (and dust) whistled through.

We met some very nice people and most were very helpful. If you're not sure where something is, just ask somebody and they will probably be happy to help you out. After awhile, you will find you are answering questions for other "new arrivals"!

I also agree with the "bring lots of shopping money" advise.

:

It's about a 20 hour trip for us. We spent one night along the way and horses did just fine.

Looking forward to this year!

Shelley

http://www.trulyyoursfarm.com