Boyd Exell. Photo Trevor Meeks
and ponies which has became a popular
part of the Olympia programme since
its inception in 2011. The event involves
either two or four wheeled carriages
which are pulled by a single horse,
tandem or four-in-hand team and is a
high speed, action packed event which
became a favourite of HRH Prince Philip
who formally took up the sport in 1971
when he officially retired from the Polo
field.
Olympia is now in its 108th year,
providing a spectacular equestrian
events and entertainment to the world of
horsemanship within an action packed,
festive atmosphere. Annual audiences
exceed 85,000 people. The 2014 show,
which ran over the course of 7 actionpacked days, involved around 400
horses and ponies, with approximately
276 stables housing the animals during
the week long extravaganza with 32
tonnes of stable bedding keeping the
competitors’ horses warm and dry
throughout.
Bringing the event bang up to
date, the 2015 equestrian spectacular
will comprise displays including the
Musical Ride of the Household Cavalry
– exciting manoeuvres and high speed
cross overs guaranteed to have you
on the edge of your seat, the Shetland
Pony Grand National – a fun filled
event where spectators will cheer on
the ponies and their pint sized riders,
world famous horse rider, Jean-Francois
Image: Charlotte Dujardin
November 2015 • Issue 26 • Everything Horse Magazine
Pignon demonstrating his magical bond
with his Liberty horses with the show
culminating in a fantastical Christmas
finale. For canine lovers, the Kennel
Club Dog Agility stakes, first introduced
to Olympia in 1987, will provide
excitement and entertainment as the
dogs speed around an obstacle course,
racing to see who will finish first.
Alltech will once again sponsor
the popular event of Puissance, a
competitive sport which pushes horse
and rider to their limits, necessitating a
highly skilled rider and an exceptional
horse. Audiences watch with baited
breath as the horse and rider approach
the jump, breaking into thunderous
applause when the pair go clear. This is
certainly not a sport for the faint hearted
and has been a highlight at Olympia
for many years. In 1978 Nick Skelton,
then aged 21, riding Lastic, cleared an
amazing jump of 2.32m (7’ 7”) consisting
of a single sloping fence of brush and a
number of rails, a format which has now
been replaced be the modern day red
brick wall, built using hollow wooden
bricks to prevent injury. This record still
stands at Olympia, but the world record
for this sport is held by Germany’s
Franke Sloothaak who, in Belgium in
June 1991, on his horse Optiebeurs Golo,
cleared 2.40 metres (7’8”).
In addition to the equine and canine
events and displays, Olympia has a vast
shopping area comprising over 250
shops selling all things equestrian as well
as (amongst others) jewellery, fashion,
gifts and fine art – ideal for those last
minute Christmas presents. They even
have a ‘drop off ’ area where shopping
can be left (for a small donation) whilst
you watch the competitions and displays.
For more information visit
www.olympiahorseshow.com
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