The London International Horse Show Unveils New Extreme Driving Competition

Celebrating nearly 40 years of world class equestrian sport, Olympia, The London International Horse Show is introducing a brand new Extreme Driving competition to its coveted event format for 2011.

The new indoor carriage driving competition will include performances with the world’s best four in-hand drivers battling it out for the title.

Renowned for immense speed and precision, the driving competition will feature marathon-style obstacles and pairs of cones, which drivers navigate against the clock.

To mark the London Olympia debut, three of the world’s best will take part including Boyd Exell, Ijsbrand Chardon and Koos de Ronde. Flying the flag for Great Britain Pippa Bassett, will also take part with her team of Lipizzaners - an entry that is sure to get the support of the home crowd.

Simon Brooks Ward, Managing Director of H Power and Event Director said: "We are enormously excited by the introduction of driving to the Olympia programme for 2011.

"The event is magnificent to watch and is performed by the world’s best carriage drivers, which will have spectators literally on the edge of their seats."

This year’s seven-day equestrian extravaganza kicks off with the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Qualifier on the evenings of Tuesday 13 December (Grand Prix) and Wednesday 14 December (Freestyle to Music). 

With Britain, and particularly Carl Hester and Laura Bechtolsheimer, winning recent top dressage competitions, this will provide a good indication of Britain’s ability to go for gold in 2012.

Jumping classes start on Thursday 15 December and highlights include the Alltech Christmas Puissance (Friday 16 December’s evening), The Rolex FEI World Cup Qualifier presented by H&M (Sunday 18 December’s afternoon) and The Olympia Grand Prix on the evening of Monday 19 December. 

Olympia favourites, The Kennel Club Dog Agility, The Shetland Pony Grand National and the Christmas Finale will feature in all jumping performances from Thursday 15th to Monday 19th December. 

The line-up of displays includes the return of the magnificent Lorenzo, The Flying Frenchman and the Lusitano Quadrille from Portugal.  This is the first time that this high school display has been seen at Olympia.

Billed as ‘the world’s best equestrian Christmas party’,  there will also be an Olympia Christmas Finale supported by The Hilton, London, Olympia complete with Father Christmas on a sleigh, carol singers and lots of fluffy white snow.

Visitors can also stock up on Christmas gifts and equestrian goodies courtesy of the Shopping Village. The retail experience will be open from Wednesday 14th at 1pm and then every day from 10am till close with 200 shops and stalls selling items ranging from food, gifts, homeware, clothing, art, jewellery and much more.

The annual event attracts over 80,000 horse-loving enthusiasts from around the UK with a broad range of attendees.

Tickets for Olympia, The London International Horse Show, are priced between £21 and £55 with various discounts available for groups, seniors and children. Tickets include entrance to the Shopping Village but these can also be purchased separately without a show ticket for only £10.

For tickets to the event go to www.olympiahorseshow.com