the BARASTOC Horse of the Year

So we are starting this report before the show the begins, but even this ..the days before, is somewhat an event worth mentioning due to the fact we have been sitting in the corner since EI August, okay the EFA threw a few appetizers the showies way by holding a couple of events, but many owners were keen to just hold of till for the event of the year aka Barastoc [if your going to be locked down Barastoc is worth it] and so it was shaping up as been the ‘show’.

With three quarters of Vic’s show industry heading in for Barastoc .. record entries were no surprise at all, but seeing the magnitude of a gathering of horses this size is another thing. Staged at W’Park you could say Barastoc looks set to out grow these facilities, Barastoc would now be up there with any Royal with selection of events that just the one horse can do over the 4 days. What a shame we don’t have something like the Sydney Royal grounds for this event ..could you imagine staging it at that super place with its impeccable facilities.

Those that grabbed the opportunity to be free of EI restrictions and to make Barastoc their first outing since EI, started arriving from the Monday onwards, Tuesday was quickly shaping up with a steady influx of floats and trucks leaving Wednesday as the day the grounds would be busier than Bourke St [a good day to sit and just watch it happen without been part of it – I think was a good call on my behalf] there was much more a general feeling of socializing been high on the agenda this time around and just as well as we were in for the busiest 4 days of showing we had seen for a while.

Cruising around the grounds we captured some of the spirit and interesting camp sites designs, whilst we can breath a huge sigh of relief that EI is far from our borders, we must all feel for our NSW and Qld’ fellow showies and trades people, all still very much affected by its backlash and more so the way we have all been treated by the authorities with some wonderful displays of double standards, so I hope those that can not show in other states can enjoy this coverage and hopefully soon they too can be back to doing what they love…..

For me the suggestion from ring master Fiona ....wonder mum, event organiser = superwoman, when I rang her Tuesday to see if there was anything I could do to help Alan Bruno [yes we should all thank our lucky stars for people like Alan] the work he does I do not think any of us fully appreciate and Reg Cleland who is the person that gets the grounds fit for this event, Fi suggested no…I was to get plenty of nanny naps, rest and sleep cause once the show kicked off! Somehow I get this feeling the next 4 days is not going to see too much sleep or resting…. Right about now I am wondering why I entered my beloved ferals with the notion of doing them as well as the reporting. Perhaps Barastoc should look at some super fuel feed for us mer-humans to keep performance up! I get this feeling Im about to need some rocket fuel to keep up with this one.

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