Olympia displays

[AWinter]

I have some time off so have been streaming the Olympia performances.
The displays aren’t really doing it for me this year I’ve found them a bit dull. I think I find watching drill rides a bit repetitive (each to their own but I just watch it and think well I can do that ??‍?) and found the devil’s horsemen display a bit disappointing.
What are everyone’s favourite displays from over the years?

I used to love watching Lorenzo when he would jump teams of 6/8 horses at a time, I found it so impressive.

 

[rara007]

Have you tried drill riding… ? Comically much harder than it looks when our RC tried it with our mush mash of all sorts…!
The devils horsemen do know how to put on a show but maybe that doesn’t translate across the cameras.
As long as they’re not too long I’m not fussy! Not too much liberty- zzz

 

[Supertrooper]

I’ve always loved The household cavalry and mounted police

 

[AWinter]

Have you tried drill riding… ? Comically much harder than it looks when our RC tried it with our mush mash of all sorts…!
The devils horsemen do know how to put on a show but maybe that doesn’t translate across the cameras.
As long as they’re not too long I’m not fussy! Not too much liberty- zzz

haha fair point, I suppose it’s just not very interesting to watch for me, and for non-horsey people I’ve taken they lose interest

 

[ester]

As long as its not Santi Serra I'm fine with it. Arguably more interesting if there's a horse misbehaving.

For me the DH was a bit bitty/not very cohesive and because we were sat near the entrance end along the side, they'd sort of finished the tricks before they got to us/they next one had already gone then I missed that one too.

I do think the arena space limits the bigger gorups, I don't think it's a big enough arena for the kings troop for instance to really show what they can do.

 

[asmp]

The trouble is that they are pretty much all the same, although we did like the french one yesterday at the show. What really disappoints us these days is the finale. It was pretty pathetic this year. I remember years ago seeing a Victorian one where they had stagecoaches and people in period costume on horseback. It was all very atmospheric. A few dancing elves and Santa in a sleigh nowadays doesn’t seem much effort.

 

[ester]

The finale hasn't really happened for the last few years, the last one at actual olympia the hilton was sponsoring and it was dire/even worse than the previous year so I think essentially not doing it is probably better than trying and it being terrible.

 

[humblepie]

If it is the French team that were at Windsor they were excellent. I don’t generally like the liberty displays. Was lucky enough to be in the finale back in the 80s with John Parker on the Norwich Union Mail coach. Was amazing. Won it in a competition in the Daily Mail when they used to support show jumping

 

[Nicnac]

I thought La Garde Republicaine was good. I don't think it makes good telly though. The figures were so intricate and the rider's adjustments of their horse's speed was extremely clever. How on earth do they remember it?

I think they should film it from above to really get to see the shapes.

 

[asmp]

I thought La Garde Republicaine was good. I don't think it makes good telly though. The figures were so intricate and the rider's adjustments of their horse's speed was extremely clever. How on earth do they remember it?

I think they should film it from above to really get to see the shapes.

It did look very complicated - watching it live made your eyes go funny ?

 

[PinkRoses]

The devils horsemen I found a bit disappointing. I feel like there could have been more tricks.

I really enjoyed la garde republican. I thought they were a lot better than the household cavalry, the riding is better too. Plus I’m really starting to get bored of household cavalry now, it’s been on the last couple of times at Olympia/HOYS.

I would love to see the met police back though. Their display is always exciting.

 

[Bobthecob15]

We saw the French guys yesterday...not a patch on our household cavalry..to me the jumping they do and the variety of movements were so much better. The French guys just went round and around...found it quite dull to be honest. Do we know why the household cavalry weren't there this year? Met police sound amazing!

We didn't see the devils horsemen or Santa's finale...we did the evening so saw some incredible dressage but missed the displays we saw the year before. I hope they bring back the cavalry next year we missed them. Will definitely stick to afternoon performances next time we also missed the Shetland grand national!

 

[ester]

I've never seen the household cavalry to a 10m figure of 8 with a flying change ?.

They were there last year, the wouldn't have the same big display group 2 years running. They shift between cavalry, kings troop, met police etc- prob too soon for it to be HC next year I'm afraid!

We hadn't actually realise they didn't do all the displays on Kur night, not that we'd checked just rather assumed (and had already seen them all anyway).

 

[Bernster]

I enjoyed both of those. The French guard was bonkers, so many horses ! The DH were entertaining too and incredibly skilled, but I get what you say, they could maybe have made more of a story of it rather than just galloping up and down doing tricks. The finale was paper thin, not much to it at all.

 

[teapot]

The chap doing the commentary has just said the French display are all qualified to one of the Galop levels to be part of it, and are riding three a day. Such a good display!

You cannot even begin to compare the HCav to them!

 

[BBP]

The chap doing the commentary has just said the French display are all qualified to one of the Galop levels to be part of it, and are riding three a day. Such a good display!

You cannot even begin to compare the HCav to them!

I was just thinking that you can really see the difference in their riders and our Household Cavalry (who often join as non riders). I really enjoyed watching them.

 

[Surbie]

I really enjoyed the French Guard. It was so complex and so effortless. Loved how much pride they have in what they are doing.

DH needed some storytelling - it was impressive but very bitty.

 

[Snowfilly]

The French Guard were incredible and I don’t know how they remember it all!

The Devils Horsemen perform a lot at county shows and I’ve seen them at Royal Cornwall where they’ve got three times the space and a longer slot and they’re a lot better there than they were today. It’s not an ideal set up for them.

 

[BBP]

I really enjoyed the French Guard. It was so complex and so effortless. Loved how much pride they have in what they are doing.

DH needed some storytelling - it was impressive but very bitty.

Having done a small amount of trick riding in my younger years I also found it a bit ‘messy’ from some of them, legs not straight, toes not pointed, all the really fundamental stuff I used to get shouted at for on a daily basis ? I do think the short arena looked to be a problem as it doesn’t give a lot of time to get into and out of your trick. That being said, I think we can get so used to watching trick riding that we start to lose the admiration of the sheer courage and strength it takes to do everything they were doing, something beyond mere mortals. So I still enjoyed it because I know just how hard it is to do any of it.

 

[southerncomfort]

The D H display wasn't as slick as other stunt teams.

I loved the part in the middle with the thumping rock music and the riders performing tricks, but then it all just fizzled out.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Pity about the Devils Horsemen; I saw them at our local Honiton Show/WOEHS a few years back and they were excellent - fast & furious flying around the arena. Also had managed to get a sneak preview of their rehearsal in another part of the showground earlier in the day which was even more special!

Perhaps they don't translate well to an indoor arena where possibly there is less room?