Tips for Hickstead?

[BargainLil]

I'm taking dd and dgd to Hickstead this Saturday for the very first time. I'm driving there and am not from the area so wondered if anyone who has been before has any wise tips as to where to park, eat, head for, what time to arrive & leave etc. My dd has a 'list' of things she would like to buy so wondered if there were facilities to store your purchases or is it easy to walk back to the car and dump there before going back to watch the comps! Is it easier to take a picnic - or are there plenty of food stands without horrendous queues!!?? Lots of questions, but i need to plan the day as dgd is only 6 and may get weary of her 12 year old cousins immense appetite for all things equestrian!

Car parking is not quite on the shopping doorstep- depending on when you arrive you may well be parked a long way away from the main part. The main arena is fantastic for show jumping and showing championships but there are several rings behind the shopping area so watch other classes (including us!)
Lots of food outlets but as expected they are not that cheap, a picnic is a good bet providing the weather is kind! No facilities to store purchases per se but might be worth a word with the storeholder. Hope you all have a great time, an expensive passion but worth every penny x

Don't forget there is top class dressage at Hickstead as well, going on at the same time. Have a look here: www.dressageathickstead.com/events/event/hickstead-international/ for details. Its a bit away from the rest of the event, so really easy to miss. It's a fab event that's sooo much better than Olympia. There's so much going on. I'm going on Friday and really looking forward to it. :)

BTW, anyone who is a BHS member, there is a voucher for free entry in your June magazine.

I'd also suggest getting there early to bypass the queues, and don't forget your camera, especially if you're a closet photographer. DH is not especially horsey, but had a wonderful day there taking photographs of all sorts.

There's also a free ticket for Fri/Sat in July Sussex Living magazine.

issuu.com/sussexliving/docs/sl_july14?e=7699703/8416608

Thankyou!! Ok, so will aim to get there early to try and get front end of the parking so it's not too far to walk back for dropping goodies off and
Having a picnic break. We got groupon tickets but just for general entry but I'm sure there will be stacks going on. Really interested in the dressage class as my dd is doing really well in our country for her age and class so would be good to see an international level of dressage too.
She is going to be in horsey heaven - my cc is going to take a battering!!
Wish me luck!!

If we buy anything bulky we leave it with the stall holder and pick it up before we leave, unless we have son with us who is blue badge holder so we can park ringside. We usually take a picnic because we are cheapskate and would rather spend our money on horsey goodies than overpriced grub. Do take Sun hats etcetera (stupid kindle keeps changing words, won't let me do acronyms or abbreviations!) As place is a Sun trap and it is easy to burn especially if you sit in uncovered stand or at front of covered one. If u stay until the end you will have to wait quite a while in the queue to get out of the car park. If your six y o does get bored there is a mini funfair with teacup ride and other stuff and usually those big balls that you get in and they float on a pool of water.
Have a good time, we go every year and always enjoy it.

I normally aim to get there for 10am and leave 4-5. Loads to see - main ring is great but make sure you go see dressage ring too :)

Sorry I didn't see this thread earlier! We were there at 7am on Wednesday (left at 4.30am!) and managed to park on front row of normal car park although there is forward parking for annual Hickstead members. We'd bought the Member's family pack which was good value even though we only wanted one child's ticket.

We were slightly annoyed that you couldn't buy a catalogue until 8.15am which meant we watched the first showing classes without one (grrr). The shops don't really get going until around 9am but we left at 5pm and they were still doing good trade although the week is so much quieter than the weekend as not many people go just to watch in the week. Fantastic show jumping at the weekend..

DD had a spare ride in the 12hh hunter class on the River Lawn - such a tricky place for children to ride! We then stayed down as she was riding at New Forest on Thursday and we're going back to Hickstead for Sunday as she's riding in the 12.2 Show Ponies. She's in at 8am so we're leaving Suffolk at 4!!

Loads to buy there but mostly horsey stuff (although I did get a panama). Looking to buy a Neue Schule bit there tomorrow. We saw the one we wanted but just needed to measure pony for exact size.

Let us know how you got on!

Just an update - Proud parent moment! DD rode her 12.2 yesterday and came 5th of 30! Amazing result as we were chuffed just to qualify and getting any rosette (first 8) would have been a magic result. They called them in reverse order so couldn't believe it that, after the 6th pony was called, we then got read out - above ponies like last year's Hoys winner!

Gorgeous weather and all my minor quibbles with Hickstead faded away!!

Hope you all had a great time..

Well done! Great result getting any rosette at RI!

Absolutely fantastic Butkin! The 128cm class is hot, hot, hot!