Horse & Hound’s showing editor explains what to expect if you’re competing in London for the first time in this exclusive article for H&H subscribers...
Bethan Simons and Abergavenny Boneddiges at London International. If you’ve not competed at London before, then a show in “The Big Smoke” in the middle of winter can seem a lot to get your head around – and so you might be looking for some tips for competing at London International Horse Show . Especially if, like me, you’re part of a home-produced family team battling the weather and general Christmas prep to get there! But trust me, you are in for a treat.
Firstly, congratulations on qualifying for London . We first qualified as a family in 2010 and we’ve been extremely lucky as amateur sisters to have shared the ring, each with a ride, in the prestigious native final held on the show’s last day. Our uncle bred the first-ever Welsh cob to win the final, so it’s even more special to us as a family. So with a week to go, here are my tips for competing at London International for the first time…
Ballynacoy Prince and Bethan Simons finish Best of Breed and fourth overall in 2017. Credit: Peter Nixon
Tips for traveling to London International
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"}
And enjoy! This show is such fun — to a certain extent I have FOMO at the prospect of being sidelined even by my own doing! As I said before HOYS, the worst that can happen is you fall off or you have to leave the arena. In the highly unlikely event this happens, breathe and smile – you won’t be the first and you absolutely won’t be the last.
So, try to enjoy every minute of it in the arena, and throw yourself into the festive mood – decorate the stable, wear matching Christmas jumpers and buy lots of photos – after all, it’s Christmas.
Good luck!
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