Spectrum 2006

[Pasogirlz]

First of all ....are you planning to go no matter where it is held?

If you are not planning to go w/it being held in Miami...would you have been more willing to go if it was in Kissimmee again?

I need your input. Thanks.

[Cindy]

I would never take a horse to the Kissimee facility. I would, however attend myself with no horses. Having the show in Miami, I will most likely do neither. It is too far for my family to go down for the weekend.

[PASOFAN]

I so want to go this yr, but life just wont let me get to it this yr.. I am gonna shot for next..

I dont care where as long as the Ford Farm is in the intererary!! ;-)

[Pasogirlz]

Let's talk about the Kissimme facilty and what needs to be fixed to make it more attractive acceptable place to hold it versus Miami.

*I guess this will be our next heated debate you all were looking forward too. :lol:

[Candice Burger]

No attending either because of organization and management. Location matters not to me. If the Miami show was better managed, I'd be there with bells on.

Miami would've been comfy for it but the only thing it has been lacking since day one was the room for spectators!

Kissimee is nice facility is nice but the vendors and exhibits are so un accesible. we had tables there this year but it was a hassle just to get a cup of water! we had to walk ALL the way around the arena just for a litttle snack. It would be better if the entrance where the people go in by and the horses be seperated.

One advice with the Silver Spurs Arena is the setup and moving around the vendors and offices along with switching the entrance of the horses!

[Pasogirlz]

I think the problem w/the entrance near the stables was that it is too low and dangerous for someone to ride the horse in the area. :roll: Bad designing for horses.

Well it looked pretty big for a paso- it looked a lot higher than 15 feet

it was pretty risky taking the horses thru that street to get to the other side of the arena... lots of people in the way and could be dangerous. When my boy Cinetico went to compete in the early morning people were arriving and a car almost hit us!

Hopefully with new BOD they can learn from the past mistakes.

Candice - What where the things that got you dissapointed? Spill the beans and help Lori help us! The more ideas and thoughts shared on here can be a positive for the show staff ( seeing the show from the spectators eye / show persons eye)

[Pasogirlz]

Nito- It was big enough for them to go under...so long as there was no rearing or bucking...then it was a little to close for comfort and I think they decided to be safer than sorry. At least this is what I was told.

[Cindy]

The Kissimee facility cannot be fixed to be sufficient for horses. It is not a horse facility. It was built for things like rodeos. Not for horse shows. And from a spectators standpoint, too many stairs. Also not built for horse show spectators. It is built for the spectators to come in, sit down, watch the performance for a couple of hours and then leave. It is not designed for people to be there all day and going back and forth to car, barn, etc. The management is also not spectator friendly. One has no idea where one is allowed to park and then they start towing cars. Not a great idea to have the horses having to come and go to the arena where the cars are driving. But that goes back to the facility not being built for horse shows. It is a horse show. Find a horse show facility that is built for horses.

I agree with Cindy - There was no designated parking spaces and before night fell they were towing cars with out any notice - They announced several times but didnt say WHERE we had to park.

So so far on the list -
- Entrance
- Parking
- Stairs
- Organization

???

Lori do you know of any other Facilities where they might be able to host this show? Do they have something other than Tropical Park and Silver Spurs in mind?

[Pasogirlz]

The person on the BOD that asked me to post this only gave these two locations for this year. :-?

[Barbwire]

Lori, you might want to post this on the general forum because more people would see it there. I rarely come here because I don't show or breed. One thing I do like to do is go to horse shows and spend lots of money on food, drink & shopping.

I'm supposing they want people to spend money at this thing, right?

[LynnG]

I've been twice as a spectator.... once in Tampa (I think it was the Spectrum ...way too hot in the building where the horses were showing, well outside too...but I did get to see Cancionero perform, main reason for going. But the heat and humidity were way too much for me...stalls did not look great or that safe for the horses to me.

I went the first year to Kissimee...I just didn't find it a friendly atmosphere in the show building, a whole lot of walking to get anywhere, and too many restrictions on where you could not sit to watch unless you paid for a box. I was there as part of the PFHA marketing committee meeting, and seeing the show secondary ... so for that aspect from someone coming from outside of the area ... it was not user-friendly or I felt welcoming.... so for the aspect of trying to attract tourists or outside people ... that area needs improvement. I did enjoy seeing the competition between Heredero and Arco Iris as 3 year olds compete, and then that was from barely standing room only watching from the out gate.

Tampa now has an arena that is air conditioned as well as the hot one with just fans. The stalls were pretty nice compared to a lot of shows, although not the temporary stalls next to the arena for the sale/auction horses. They also have restrooms with showers in all the barns, which is nice for the exhibitors. It is easy to get to on the Interstate and you can stay on the beaches if you don't have early classes since they aren't that far away and they are not too expensive in the off season. There is also the Indian Reservation Casino next door and Busch Gardens with it's great roller coasters.

We would show in Tampa (and did), but I do not like Kissimee and Miami has terrible facilities. Not even security for your tack stall and temp stalls for most of the horses. And the traffic is TERRIBLE getting to the show on the interstate during rush hour. I think the hotels and restaurants are less expensive in Tampa than Miami or Orlando. The parking is really better in Tampa than either of the other choices, too.

Marelyn

[motorgypsy]

Miami is too far. Sounds like Kissimmee is the pits. We really enjoyed the shows we went to in Tampa. EAsy access, lots of great vendors, lots of great food and lots of great horses. Very friendly atmosphere.

[DSDECKERT]

Lori - I would go if it was in Kissimmee, but here is my laundry list of complaints for their facility:

1. Horse stalls are too hot - had a friend's fino stallion colic because it was 115 degrees in his stall.
2. Parking stinks
3. Too many stairs
4. No handicapped seating/not handicap accessible (having been there on crutches, I know this from personal experience!)
5. Crowded/limited vendor space

With all that said, it's still too far for me to do Miami, depending on the dates. So I would probably have a better chance of attending in Kissimmee, but would never put my horses in those barns.

I vote we bring it back to Tampa in the A/C arena...but our barns aren't a whole lot better. At least it's not as hot in Tampa as Kissimmee.

[Candice Burger]

Well, if management could get their act together, what Cindy said about Kissimmee. It's not very horse show friendly. Designed for a few hours of entertainment for a day, but not for a 4-5 day, full day, horse show and certainly not for the volume of horses, traffic or spectators.

The Tampa show was more horse friendly, but the time of year wasn't the best since AC wasn't available. Still I enjoyed the show more inspite of the heat problems simply because show management was better.

In the meantime, I'm thinking that the distance for me between Miami and Asheville, NC, the Asheville show sounds much more inviting. I've heard consistently good things about the NC show compared to the Spectrum show for the past few years. I've got to make my time and money count when I go to shows.

If I'm going to Miami to see a particular horse, I prefer to travel to the farm instead. Gives me more direct contact with the horse for evaluation and with the horse owner.

[PattiB]

Been to Kissimee the last two years, the first to show the second to watch. Pretty much agree with everyone, Kissimee is not made for horse shows and never will be. Personally would not take a horse there again.

What about Jacksonville? Haven't been there but hear it is nice.

Jacksonville has a nice A/C arena, but the stalls were not good. The RV area wasn't finished, but not very good either. There are few hotels and fewer restaurants in close proximity to the arena. It's a little farther from Ocala than Tampa, but remember, it's a Florida Region show which mainly draws from the Miami and Ocala farms, so needs to basically be convenient for both areas. Yes, I know it sounds biased against out of state competitors, but the Florida members are competing for their own circuit's high point (money) awards. I don't think Ocala has the facilities to handle Spectrum since our facilities are old, have few amenities (like restrooms in the barn) and poor vendor areas and NO A/C or decent fans in the arena.

Marelyn

[mgmpasos]

Every facility has its positives and negatives. With this being said, our decision was based on "geographic location."

Currently, my family has decided NOT to attend Spectrum in Miami this year due to location (too far from the farm).

If it was in Kissimmee it would have been a different story. Miami is too far south for us. Just our thoughts. Maybe the location will be moved back to Kissimmee next year... Only time will tell.

Anyways, another factor in our decision is that we have a timeshare at Disney. So we could have made a family vacation around it and see our horses in the show arena. Plus our lodging would have already been paid for.

Just my thoughts.

Matt

[SandyMM]

In the meantime, I'm thinking that the distance for me between Miami and Asheville, NC, the Asheville show sounds much more inviting.
I've been to the Asheville show for the past 3-4 years and it is a terrific show... BIG classes in most cases and the management really goes out of its way to put on an event worthy of the 5 days it takes now...

[PasoPerson]

I believe the Miami BOD needs to check out the Jax facility. When we went there for the Florida Equestrian Celebration last November ... everything was running like a well-oiled machine. We were able to enter, be directed to our barn, park to unload, and then go to the trailer parking (RV camping also) area with no problem.

I found the stalls to be fine; we were in the first barn. Once I parked my trailer I was cursing myself for not just camping there. Sewer/water/electric at each parking location would have made it a breeze. Undercover wash racks were wonderful to use. Entrance to indoor, a/c facility from the barns was very near and very huge ... I think a semi could have driven in!

The only drawback, so far, is that there is only one hotel within five miles. The others range from 8 to 12 miles at the closest. (But if I camp ... not a problem!)

It's definitely worth checking out. JMHO

[PasoPerson38]

Oh no we have done this before :roll: :lol:

Kissimme was horrific! For horses, it was to hot outside, horses were dehydrating or they would be to fatigued to have energy to show. and it was almost impossible to find an outlet to plug in fans for them...and inside was so cold that horses were also getting sick.
Kissimme was horrible to the exibitors too. We payed and were promised air conditioned stalls. WHne we arrived we were out in no man's land, under the 95 degree humid weather. We never receved our refund or an adaquate reason on WHY we did not get our desiered and PROMISED stalls. They stated that they had less stalls then thought. But when you walked through them you would stumble apon rows of empty stalls..maybe the managment just did not see them :roll: .

Now Miami...oh Miami....it is almost to small to even hold a youth show. It has what 250 permanent stalls and about 1 acre to put exibitors, spectators, cars, trailers, RVs, portable stalls and 400 plus horses that are expected to show in Spectrum...??!!
It is an outrage! The traffic is terrible already.
But you know those new cement slabs that they added to put those great aluminum bleachers on is really impressive :roll:
Although I have horses at a barn closer to Miami them Kissimmi I WILL NOT SHOW THEM IN SPECTRUM BECAUSE OF WHAT A BAD DESICITION IT WAS TO MOVE IT FROM TAMPA!
Tampa was the best place and it will never be as good unless it is moved a 3rd time back to the Florida state fair grounds!!!!!!!!!
AND until it moves I am going to sit back, relax, and watch the used to be famed show "spectrum" crumble into nothing more then a schooling show.

[PasoPerson38]

What do you guys think.....
TAKE IT BACK TO TAMPA!! WAHOO!!!!

[artist]

I will go to Miami anyway but I much prefer it to be held in TAMPA! or Kissimmee altough I couldn't compete when I took my horse to Kissimmee becuase it was so dusty in the barn area and he developed a cough from it. The vet advised me not to show him. A bunch of $$$ wasted!!! Hotel, stall fee etc. Oh yes and all the money spent on training in preparation for the show. The minute we left the show he was just fine. FIGURES! ALSO, having a white horse in Kissimmee stinks too! Mine would lay down & roll in the stall and that orange clay was hard to get out. He was impossible to keep clean. As for Miami, I feel bad for the people driving from other states and for the horses not used to the heat. I am hitting the beach while I am down there though. haha

[motorgypsy]

TampaTampaTAMPATAMPATAMPA!!!

[PasoVideos]

SPECTRUM 2006 will be held in Orlando's SILVER SPURS ARENA

[paintedhorizon]

So I take it Spectrum is a Florida thing?

[Pasogirlz]

So I take it Spectrum is a Florida thing?

yes, it's put on by the Fla region.

The one near you will be the Asheville, NC show just after Spectrum.

[SandyMM]

Details???

[motorgypsy]

So please tell us about this Orlando Facility????? We did love Tampa but none of the others. What is this one like?? Pros and cons please!

[PasoVideos]

Gypsy-The Facility is nice. Its the Kissimee one :-?

Pros
A/C arena and some barns
Lots of room for spectators
Closer to the people up in the north.
Vendor space yet to be discovered


Cons
You have to go up and down a lot of stairs BUT there is a elevator which anyone can use.
Parking - wasn't really planned well last year.
Some stalls were tooo hot. Mostly under the regular tents the PFHA rents. they don't really have a way for circulating air so go figure.


Lori, do you got some pics of the arena to share? Im in class now and dont have access to my photobucket at the moment.

[Pasogirlz]

Let me see what I can find from last year.

[SandyMM]

Vendor space yet to be discovered
I would be interested in a vendor space, but have heard it is extraordinarily expensive.... more than Nationals....?

[PasoVideos]

Sandy I have no clue. You should give them a ring to see. I doubt it'll be more expensive than Nationals.

[Pasogirlz]

http://www.2hottotrot.com/data/500/la_fortuna_booth.jpgThe Las Fortuna Booth

Some arena shots
http://www.2hottotrot.com/data/500/medium/Spectrum_2005_024.jpg

http://www.2hottotrot.com/data/500/medium/Spectrum_2005_023.jpg

http://www.2hottotrot.com/data/500/medium/Spectrum_2005_019.jpg

Vendor space was at the top of the stairs
http://www.2hottotrot.com/data/500/medium/Spectrum_2005_018.jpg

[paintedhorizon]

Cool!So I take it Spectrum is a Florida thing?

yes, it's put on by the Fla region.

The one near you will be the Asheville, NC show just after Spectrum.

[PasoVideos]

For more information regarding Spectrum 2006 please visit the following topic !


http://www.americanpasofinos.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=49584#49584

[artist]

Found This on Miami:
Go to this link http://www.co.miami-dade.fl.us/parks/Parks/equestrian.asp scroll down to the bottom of the article… there is a video about the Equestrian center.

Anyone going to the Grand Prix?

I sure am! this upcoming grand prix will be free.

[Paula]

Tampa DOES NOT have an air conditioned arena! The indoor arena is cooled by fans and they recently built a covered arena.

[Tina Calhoun]

Facilities do have their problems but with appropriate contingency plans they can improve the experience. The problem is they do not have the expertise to put on a show of this size without professional assistance.

First, misting systems can be easily installed in tents for little money. The misting systems will lower the temperature by misting the horses on a timer. It works at Hunter Jumper shows and can at ours if someone considers all options.

Second, adequate power and water for all stalls. A very important necessity. By addressing all challenges with contingency plans, this is not difficult to do.

Third, parking was a nightmare because no one was communicating. Not good.

Fourth, Tampa made the decision for our Florida Region by asking them not to come back after show goers trashed the facility. Golf carts in ponds, bathrooms damaged, etc. Again not good. Since then I have had conversations with their new management and we are again welcome.

What a large show requires is proper show management just like Asheville. With show management understanding the needs of the horses, exhibitors, spectators, vendors, it can greatly improve.

Until then, I will not bring my horses to a show that is not horse safe. That is a shame because Spectrum was one of my favorite shows.

Tina Calhoun

[Bonnie M]

Tina, do you know if the fair grounds in Tampa have any plans on an air-conditioned arena?

I went to the volvo world cup years ago and it was held in an in door arena there, thought it was air-conditioned, but I saw someone post before that it is fan cooled? Didn't seem bad.

[Tina Calhoun]

Per their website:

The 9,000 square foot indoor pavilion can accommodate exhibitor banquet and festival seating overlooking the show rings, all in a climate-controlled environment.