FLORIDA STATE FAIR AUTHORITY
2011 BOB THOMAS EQUESTRIAN CENTER HURRICANE POLICY

The Florida State Fair Authority (FSFA) will accept horses as a service to the equine industry. Once an area has been declared by the National Weather Service to be under a hurricane watch or warning those wishing to evacuate to the Florida State Fairgrounds must call the horse show grounds office at 813-627-4217. Reservations will be taken by phone on a first come first served basis and held with a credit card. Once a phone reservation is made evacuees will be asked to fill out a stall reservation form.  Completed signed forms must be faxed to 813-740-3502 or emailed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it to complete the reservation. Do not fax this form without calling the office first.

COST
The FSFA will charge its prevailing rate or $39.00 per stall for the first two days and $17.50 per day, per stall for each additional day. A day consists of 12:00 A.M. and ends at 11:59 P.M. or any part thereof. If it is determined that the FSFA will accept horses, the first day’s stall fee will automatically be charged for the number of stalls reserved.  If it is determined that the FSFA will not take horses no charges will be made. 

CANCELLATIONS
Cancellation of reservations must be made 24 hours prior to the arrival date stated on the stall reservation form. If the FSFA does accept evacuees and the cancellation of a reservation is not received, the credit card will be charged for the first night’s fee and the reservation will be cancelled. 

PROCEDURE UPON ENTERING THE FAIRGROUNDS
All evacuees must enter through the Orient Road gate and check in with security at the guard shack.  There the responsible party will sign a release form for the horses in their care and custody.  In the event the responsible party is not with the horses the release must be faxed or emailed to the horse show grounds office. No one will be allowed on the premises without a signed release. All horses must have a current (within the last 12 months) negative Coggins test.

Stalls assignments will be at the Orient Road gate guard shack.  Stalls will be assigned by the Director of Equestrian Events.  Stall assignments must be adhered to or the owners or responsible party will be billed double the fees for the stalls and made to move their animals to their assigned location. There will be no tack or feed stalls. Only one animal per stall unless approved by the Equestrian Director.

Shavings can be purchased at the FSFA prevailing rate and charged to the responsible person’s credit card on file. Campground fees, if applicable, will be charged to the credit card on file.

Owners or the responsible party are responsible for the care and custody of their own animals. It is also their responsibility to provide hay and feed as the FSFA will not guarantee the availability of these supplies.  It is also important that owners prepare for the loss of power and/or water and have reserves available. Owners will also be responsible for any veterinary services that may be required during their stay at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

Riding or Driving of horses will not be allowed. Horses may be hand walked in the covered or Lykes Arena or lunged in the outside rings only. 

Manure must be placed in designated areas.

AVAILABILITY OF STALLS
The Florida State Fairgrounds has 471 permanent stalls.  They will be assigned on a first come first served basis. We encourage potential evacuees to make reservations early as the facility is generally full within 24 hours of a warning being declared. As stated above stall reservations can be cancelled 24 hours prior to arrival date.

Please Note:  The Florida State Fairgrounds may close during the critical phase of a hurricane at the discretion of the FSFA Executive Director and no staff will be on the grounds at this time.  The FSFA also reserves the right to evacuate or vacate the grounds with 12 hours notice. No belligerent or disruptive behavior will be tolerated.  Anyone displaying this sort of action will be made to leave the premises.

Phone messages, emails, or faxes alone, are NOT VALID reservations!

Once your area has been declared to be under a “watch” or ”warning” status, you must call 813-740-3500  or  813-477-3136 to receive further instructions. 

Please review the Hurricane Policy carefully. Fill out and return the required Acknowledgement of Risk and Stall Reservation forms.

CLICK HERE > Hurricane Policy 

CLICK HERE > Hurricane Statement of Risk Form

CLICK HERE > Stall Reservation Form