Tag Archives: Olympia Horse Show

*Featured/Spotlights

Olympia Horse Show Announces 2014 Line Up

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The organisers of the world’s biggest equestrian Christmas party, Olympia, The London International Horse Show, have announced a dazzling new line up of displays for this year’s show, which takes place on 16-22 December 2014.

The headline acts include the unique Ukrainian Cossack Stunt Riders and the magnificent Mounted Branch of the Metropolitan Police – both of whom haven’t performed at Olympia for four years. In addition, all the old favourites which make London’s premier horse show magical, such as The Shetland Pony Grand National, The Kennel Club Dog Agility and The Olympia Finale, will be back once again to delight the 90,000 visitors expected to attend this year’s show.

Taking centre stage at Olympia 2014 will be the Mounted Branch of the Metropolitan Police* who will be bringing their fabulous Activity Ride back after a four year break. The Metropolitan Police had to temporarily stop performing their famous display to carry out their role in the London 2012 operations. The Mounted Branch have been able to regroup this year to bring back its ride which demonstrates the high level of skill and agility required from both horse and officer. Key moments include jumping through fire, crossovers and crashing through a solid paper wall.

The world famous Ukrainian Cossack Stunt Team from Kiev will be making a rare visit to the UK to demonstrate their legendary riding skills, originating from battlefield tactics used over 300 years ago. The 11 man strong team of Cossack riders, who have not performed in the UK for over two years, are sure to thrill the Olympia crowds with their daredevil stunts, including standing on a horse whilst galloping at full speed, hanging from a stirrup with just one leg and riding two horses at the same time.

Show Director Simon Brooks-Ward said: “Olympia, The London International Horse Show is the ultimate celebration of equestrianism. Every year, we endeavour to bring the very best horse men and women from around the world to London for this truly special occasion.

“Both the Ukrainian Cossacks and the Metropolitan Mounted Police have been real crowd pleasers in the past and are the perfect complement to Olympia’s world class competitions in Dressage, Show Jumping and Carriage Driving. It is very exciting to have such a phenomenal line up at Olympia once again.”

Living up to its reputation as one of Europe’s premier indoor equestrian events, Olympia 2014 will once again host three FEI World Cups™ in Carriage Driving, Dressage and Show Jumping. The Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage leg takes place on 16 and 17 December, the FEI World Cup™ Driving leg presented by Dodson & Horrell on 19 and 20 December and the Longines FEI World Cup™ Jumping leg presented by H&M on 21 December. The climax of the seven day equine extravaganza will finish with the Olympia Grand Prix on Monday 22 December.

Tickets start at £24.50 each with discounts for groups, children and concessions applying for certain performances. For more information and to purchase tickets online, visit the website at www.olympiahorseshow.com or telephone the box office on 0871 230 5580.

Visit the www.olympiahorseshow.com for a full programme of events.

*subject to contract

For more information, please contact Hannah Grissell hannah@revolutionsports.co.uk or +44 (0)207 592 1207.

Olympia, The London International Horse Show
The first international horse show took place in the Olympia halls in 1907. Olympia, The London International Horse Show, the event we see today, was started by Raymond Brooks-Ward in 1971. This year’s show takes place on 16-22 December 2014 in the Olympia Exhibition Hall, located in West Kensington London. The show will play host to a packed timetable of all things equestrian and is expected to welcome over 90,000 visitors. It is regarded as one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious equine competitions. The show mixes top class equestrian action, including FEI World Cup™ Jumping, Dressage and Driving with family entertainment, such as the Osborne Refrigerators Shetland Pony Grand National which raises money for Great Ormond Street Hospital and The Kennel Club Dog Agility. The show’s official charity for 2014 is The Injured Jockeys Fund.

*Featured/Spotlights, Driving, FEI

Extreme Driving FEI World Cup Set to Thrill Spectators at Olympia, the London International Horse Show

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23 October 2013 – For the second year running Olympia will play host to the exhilarating Extreme Driving FEI World Cup on Thursday 19 December and Friday 20 December, the first being a warm-up to give the running order of the deciding second.

Since it was trialled two years ago, the competition has exceeded expectations, drawing in crowds and leaving audiences amazed at the skill of the world’s top four-in-hand drivers, who manoeuvre their horses at speed around a complex course of obstacles in a seemingly impossible small space.

So popular has the competition proved that this year an extra competition of Extreme Driving will take place on Wednesday 18 December in the evening session. This will take the form of a speed event giving competitors a chance to acclimatise their horses to the indoor environment and start honing their skills.

This year’s competition will see six of the world’s best drivers, including reigning World Cup Champion, Koos de Ronde from the Netherlands. He will be joined by fellow Dutchmen IJsbrand Charlton, four times World Champion, and Theo Timmerman, a regular in the Dutch team at World Championships.

Competing with a wildcard entry is current Outdoor Champion, Australia’s Boyd Exell, with his usual knife edge skills he brings to all competitions. Based in the UK, Boyd is four times the holder of the World Cup Driving Championships, and was narrowly beaten by de Ronde last season. His technical skill and lightning-fast rein-handling continue to draw unparalleled admiration from the crowds.

Also competing will be two newcomers – Daniel Schneiders and Michael Brauchle, both from Germany. Schneiders was a member of the gold medal winning team at the Pony World Championships in 2011 and started driving a horse four-in-hand in competition only last year. Brauchle, at 23 the youngest competitor, is from a family steeped in competitive carriage driving and has represented his country four times in World and European Championships. Renowned as a marathon driver – he won the marathon twice at the always hotly contested Aachen Show – he will undoubtedly be a keen contender.

The final place will be a member of the Great Britain team, which is expected to be announced in November.

By the date of the London International Horse Show, the 2013/14 World Cup Driving season will be over half way through with six competitions – in Hannover, Verona, Stuttgart, Stockholm, Budapest and Geneva – having taken place. It is a measure of the popularity of the Olympia venue that drivers from Continental Europe are keen to make the journey across the Channel in the week before Christmas.

Olympia Horse Show takes place on Monday 16th December to Sunday 22nd December 2013. Olympia is one of Europe’s most important indoor equestrian events, hosting three FEI World Cups in driving, dressage and jumping.  The Reem Acra FEI World Cup dressage leg takes place on 16th and 17th December, the FEI World Cup driving leg on 19th and 20th December, and the Longines FEI World Cup Jumping leg presented by H&M on 21st December.

For more information and tickets, please visit www.olympiahorseshow.com.

Watch last year’s winner of the Extreme Driving FEI World Cup Boyd Exell HERE.

For further information please contact:
Tim Welland
Tel: +44(0)207 592 1207
Email: tim@revolutionsports.co.uk

Community/Charity

Animal Health Trust Confirmed as Olympia Horse Show’s 2013 ‘Charity of the Year’

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Charlotte Dujardin on Valegro, winners of the Grand Prix Freestyle at Olympia in 2012. Photo: Kit Houghton.

19 September 2013 – Veterinary charity, the Animal Health Trust (AHT), has been announced as the Olympia Horse Show’s 2013 charity of the year.

Throughout the week of 16 December 2013, The Olympia Exhibition Halls, located in Hammersmith, West London, play host to a packed timetable of all things equestrian. The event includes top class international competition for show jumping, dressage and driving, boasting a total of over 80,000 visitors.

Each year the show supports a charity, which is relevant to the UK’s equestrian community. Previous charities selected by the show include the Ebony Horse Club, The Horse Trust and World Horse Welfare. However, this year organisers felt that they wanted to support the AHT and the exceptional work that it carries out.

The AHT works behind the scenes constantly monitoring equine disease around the world, identifying threats to the British equine population and putting in place robust plans to head off infectious disease wherever possible. In addition to its disease surveillance work, the AHT undertakes extensive on-going research into minimising the risk of injury to sports horses.

Ben Maher on Aristo Z, winners of the Earls Court Christmas Cracker at Olympia in 2012. Photo: Kit Houghton
Ben Maher on Aristo Z, winners of the Earls Court Christmas Cracker at Olympia in 2012. Photo: Kit Houghton

Jo Peck, Marketing Director for the Olympia Horse Show, said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Animal Health Trust this year.  The Show Committee selected the AHT from a number of charities as they felt that its work deserved recognition amongst the equestrian community. The afternoon performance on Wednesday 18 December 2013 will be dedicated to the Animal Health Trust, and 50p from every seat sold will go to the AHT.”

One of the AHT’s key roles will be to host the Shopping Drop Off Point. With an entire hall dedicated to shopping at the event, visitors are invited to ‘check in’ purchased items at the Bag Drop to avoid taking them into the performance area. The Drop Off will be manned by AHT representatives, allowing visitors to find out how research undertaken by the AHT has directly affected sports horses, as well as how its work also benefits dogs and cats.

Dr Mark Vaudin, Incoming Chief Executive at the Animal Health Trust, is thrilled about the selection, and said: “The AHT does so much to improve equine health, from performance and injury related clinical treatment to research into disease. It’s wonderful for the AHT to be recognised for these contributions, and to have the opportunity to share the importance of our work with so many horse enthusiasts.”

Book tickets now for the equestrian world’s best Christmas party at www.olympiahorseshow.com or by telephoning the box office on 0871 230 5580. Tickets are priced between £20 and £59 with various discounts available for groups, seniors and children.

The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art - Riendas Largas (long-reining). Photo: Fundación Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre
The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art – Riendas Largas (long-reining). Photo: Fundación Real Escuela Andaluza del Arte Ecuestre

To view the Olympia, The London International Horse Show, 2013 competition programme, please click HERE.

The Animal Health Trust is an independent charity, employing over 200 scientists, vets and support workers. It aims to improve the health and welfare of horses, dogs and cats through research. It also provides specialist referral services and continuous education to vets. Visit our website at www.aht.org.uk.

Revolution Sports + Entertainment
T: +44(0)207 592 1207
E: tim@revolutionsports.co.uk