Olympia - The London International Horse Show 

Olympia or the London International Horse Show is a 101-year old legend, in fact the first international equestrian event in the equestrian nation, England. The stakes are high also in terms of money. There is huge price money in the show, divided foremost among the top athletes in jumping and dressage, the both disciplines that London features on World Cup level. 

Top result from London: Mikael and Isaac 5th in World Cup, 2nd in 1m50 Accumulator with Vanity!

Mikael is participating with Isaac du Jonquet, Skybreaker and Vanity.

Our horses began the London show in the cozy Olympia hall on Thursday. Noora told the atmosphere is special, every single day the hall is sold out and the feeling is really every great. The public cheer every competitor evenly and between the classes there is a nonstop of high quality Christmas-spirited entertainment.
Isaac jumped Thursday on 1m50 level as an opening class and practice. Mikael and Isaac did a good job, jumping a consistent and relaxed clean round. Isaac seemed spirited and happy despite jumping the world cup in Geneva only 4 days ago!

Vanity jumped 1m40 against the clock. Mikael took it though slow and easy, as the mare had returned to the shows only some weeks earlier. Vanity did a great job and jumped really well, being energetic, yet round and relaxed in the jumps.

Skybreaker opened directly in the first bigger class of the show, the first where there was also World ranking points on stake. Sky did a splendid job on the small arena, where the fences and tasks just piles upon each other. An unfortunate mistake on the hind-rail of the oxer number 5 kept horse and rider outside the jump-off. Both Noora and Mikael were still happy with the soon 16-year old “Opa”. The tested gelding is still eager to jump and jumps really well with a round back.

On Friday the plan is to keep a day off with Isaac and Vanity, as the show continues all the way to Monday. Sky on the other hand jumps in the big main class of the day.

Update

Isaac du Jonquet did a fabulous job on very tough World Cup course. A big and technical course and a very narrow time allowed seemed to cause great challenges for the riders in London. Isaac and Mikael did a clean round with only 1 fault for exceeding the time allowed.

Noora and Mikael were very happy with the results although a jump-off decision would probably have felt even better..

And there was more to come, as Mikael and Vanity jumped a fabulous clean round in the next class, the 1m50 accumulator with Joker, that was including the 1m67 high Joker fence!

Skybreaker's result on Sunday eve was written as 12 faults. The soon 16-year old gelding was clearly a bit weary from the previous days, when he jumped so superbly in big classes.  On Sunday the jumps did look so elastic and round, with a few careless mistakes as a result.

Pictures from London:

1. Mikael in London

London website:

Olympia Horse Show

Results and Start list:

London LIVE

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