Review: Plenty of entertainment at the London Olympia horse show (Includes interview and first-hand account)

The London International Horse Show takes place at Olympia each December. Olympia is an exhibition center, event space and conference center in West Kensington; it opened in 1886.

Olympia is one of London’s oldest live venues. The Grand Hall, is said to be the largest building in the United Kingdom covered by one span of iron and glass.

Tim Sandle

Crowds wander in and out of the main arena at the London International Horse Show.

Tim Sandle

The show features FEI World Cup competitions in Dressage, Show Jumping and Driving. Olympia London International Horse Show is one of the UK’s biggest equestrian competitions. Many of the top Show-Jumping riders in the world compete annually. The first event was held in 1907.

The logo for the International Horse Show at Olympia.

Tim Sandle

The day began, oddly, without a horse event. The opening session for the afternoon attended by Digital Journal was The Kennel Club Dog Agility display. The speedy canines raced round a set of obstacles in a frantic race to the finish.

One of Olympia’s most loved parts of the Show is the Kennel Club Dog Agility competitions.

Tim Sandle

One of the highlights was Jean-François Pignon. Pignon is a marvelous horse whisperer, who creates some enthralling almost ballet-like movements with his Liberty Horses.

Jean-François Pignon, the master horse whisperer, in action.

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Then came the Queen’s own soldiers, with The Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry. The crowd was enthralled by daredevil maneuvers and high speed cross overs.

The Household Cavalry is made up of the two most senior regiments of the British Army, the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons).

Tim Sandle

In-between events there is plenty of entertainment, such as this dancing troop.

A dancing snowman and a range of agile athletes entertain the crowd at Olympia.

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Setting up for the next event at the International Horse Show.

Tim Sandle

This was followed by The Shetland Pony Grand National. This had all the fun of a traditional horse race, except with children riding ponies.

The Shetland Pony Grand National holds all the excitement of the horse race on a mini scale!

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The next part was some serious competition, with The Christmas Masters, featuring professional show jumpers. This was a winner-takes-all event, with the poles raised each round until only one rider was left. The winner was Ben Maher, who produced a superb display of power jumping on new ride Boomerang to scoop €15,000.

Ben Maher jumps to victory at Olympia.British Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher hit top form to land the £10,500 winner-takes-all Christmas Masters at Olympia’s London International Horse Show.

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Maher, a member of the Great Britain team crowned London 2012 Olympic champions, guided new ride Boomerang to victory in impressive fashion.

At the end came the Christmas Finale. This began with a Camelot themed show, with knights jousting.

Knights jousting at the Olympia horse show.

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And ended with the appearance of Santa.

Santa appears at the the International Horse Sow, Olympia.

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The show also has an extensive shopping village with over 250 stands.

People shopping at the International Horse Show at Olympia.

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A horse advertising the fashion chain H&M at the London International Horse Show.

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Plus several food areas, and a champagne bar.

The champagne bar at the International Horse Show, people enjoying an interval drink.

Tim Sandle

The horse show ran between December 15, 2015 to December 21, 2015. If you missed it this year, it is worth catching next year.

A ticket for the The London International Horse Show.

Tim Sandle