The Scoop on Festival Stabling

Where will your horse stay at Festival? Here’s a guide to stabling and what to expect for Championships and mounted education participants at the USPC Festival 2021 Presented by SSG Riding Gloves, Sponsored by State Line Tack.

Move-In and Move-Out
Championships competitors can move in between noon, Monday, July 19 and 10 a.m., Tuesday July 20. Championship’s competitions who have not arranged for layover stabling must strip their stalls and be moved out by 7 a.m. on Saturday, July 24. Education participants can move in between 8 a.m. and noon on Saturday, July, 24. Education participants must strip their stalls and be moved out by 8 a.m. on Tuesday, July 27.

With over a thousand mounts and participants moving in and out, please remember to be courteous to others by unloading and loading as quickly as possible.

Stall Assignments
Get to know your neighbors and fellow Festival competitors—some of the best bonding happens in the barn. On Monday, July 19, Championships competitors will receive an email with their team’s block of stalls. Upon arrival, teams can decide their mount, tack, and feed stall configuration within the block of assigned stalls. Education stall assignments will be emailed to participants the week of July 19. All stabling assignments will be posted on the Stabling page of the Pony Club website.

For members participating in both Championships and Education, USPC will do our best to keep mounts in the same stall for both portions. However, some members may be required to move their mounts between Championships and Education.

Stall Deposits
Pony Club events are well known for leaving venues cleaner than they found them. Following that mantra, all mounted Festival participants are required to send a $50 stall deposit check to the USPC National Office as part of their entry. Make sure your stall deposit check isn’t cashed by stripping your stall upon move-out.

The Facilities
The permanent stabling at the Kentucky Horse Park features shed-row style 10’ x 10’ box stalls with solid wooden walls. Stall fronts are wood on the bottom with metal bar uppers for airflow and visibility. Stall floors are asphalt, so plan to provide ample bedding for your mount. Stall mats are also permitted. A limited number of turnout paddocks are also available for rent.

The Well-Equipped Stall
You should plan ahead to provide your own hay, feed and bedding— these are not included with the entry fee. It’s best if you can bring the feed and bedding that your horse is accustomed to from home, but there are several nearby places to purchase supplies. See the list of local amenities for tack and feed stores in the area. The Kentucky Horse Park allows both shavings and straw bedding.

Kentucky is notoriously hot and humid in July, but outlets for stall fans are available to keep your mount cool and comfy. Be sure to follow the Kentucky Horse Park’s competitor guidelines for use of electrical outlets and fan hanging procedures.

Each barn aisle has multiple water spigots, but you will need to bring your own hose. The wash racks in the stabling area have also been recently updated with individual cross-ties and mats.

Stall cards are also required with information for each mount, plus owner contact information.These stall cards should be left on the stalls upon move-out to help ensure the return of your stall deposit.

For tips to set up your stall, refer to the USPC Horse Management Handbook (chapters 8, 9 and 10).

Stall Manners
Muck happens, so mind your stall cleaning manners and follow the guidelines on where to dump it. All stalls must be stripped upon move-out, including if you must move your mount between Championships and Education.

Layover Stabling Information
Pony Club members come from far and wide for Festival. If your horse’s travel schedule requires an early arrival or late departure, there are a variety of layover stabling facilities nearby that can be booked to accommodate your needs. Due to large shows prior to and following USPC Festival 2021, there are no arrivals on the park prior to noon on July 19 and no layovers after 8 a.m. on July 27. Check here on the Festival stabling page for a list of nearby locations in the Bluegrass for offsite layover options. All requests for early arrival and layover stabling should be made directly to the stabling location.

To book your stabling during Festival, use the online form available June 15 – July 8 on the USPC website stabling page.

Wishing everyone safe travels, and we look forward to seeing you at Festival!