Olympia - What did you think??

[fine_and_dandy]

Well I went yesterday and had a fantastic time! First time I have been and I really enjoyed the atmosphere The Mistletoe Stakes were brill, the Household Cavalry just awesome And then there was the puissance!!

Only thing that I think let it down was the shopping. There were some fairly strange things there (considering it is a horse show anyway) and I found the variety for some pretty basic things to be poor in comparison to what I have seen previously at HOYS.

For example, I was looking to get 2 pairs of jodpurs; nothing special, nothing too expensive, just for kicking around in at the yard. Everyone seemed to do breeches and not jods, and when they did do jods, they were silly expensive!

I did manage to get a couple of things I did need; got a lovely bridle for Bailey, a new leadrope (which happens to match the headcollar my mum has bought him!) and some leather treatment for boots.

All in all, had fun!

How did you find it?

ETA - got slightly excited when saw Richard Hammond there too!! He is just a little bit sexy in a really "no he shouldn't be" way!!

 

[joeanne]

War horse.....two words. Bloody amazing!
Shopping was ok.
Jumping was good too. Cossacks were excellent, but war horse really was fanstastic.

 

[fine_and_dandy]

War horse.....two words. Bloody amazing!
Shopping was ok.
Jumping was good too. Cossacks were excellent, but war horse really was fanstastic.

Cossacks were good - the Haffy (think was a Haffy) had me in fits; all the others were running round as fast as possible and he was having a lovely little pootle round and nearly putting his riders in the wall!!!

Had to go before War Horse unfortunately due to weather updates from OH and concerned about trains (had enough trouble getting to Olympia). Was gutted as was looking forward to seeing it, but hoping to see the show itself now instead

 

[tallyho!]

Do NOT go to Olympia for horsey shopping!!! I agree none of the basic bargains were to be had. I bought some random garlic masher thingies because it was the best deal going!!! Oh and other random non-horsey things like a mat, a belt, a few cashmere scarves for the dads.

Oh and how busy was it???? I could have walked off with armfuls of stuff and no-one would have noticed... p.s. I didn't of course.

Everything else I could get for cheaper in Wadswick!

The showjumping was good, cossacks were fantastic, my fave was the grey. My mate liked the mad black one.

War horse was really sad - getting tix to go see now.

One thing bothering me.... the contraptions (hardly bits were they??) used on some of the horses!! What the hell were some of them????

 

[joeanne]

Oh you never went and bought one of those Swedish mats did you?
The food prices were extortionate! £6.50 for a jacket potato!!
Good job I filled up with strawberries and choclolate fountain goo instead

 

[fine_and_dandy]

The food was extortionate - £2.20 for a pepsi!!! And not very good choice either.

It was busy. I will never fathom why some people think it is a good idea to stop right in the middle of a bloody aisle when people are trying to walk. Common sense goes out of the window at places like this sometimes.

I liked the mad black horse and the grey of the Cossacks; the Haffy just stood out though so funny!

We did get a couple of bargains, but as you say there just wasn't that many to be had.

Enjoyed my first time there and would go again

 

[louisesb]

Oh and how busy was it???? I could have walked off with armfuls of stuff and no-one would have noticed... p.s. I didn't of course.

OMG - glad I wasn't the only one thinking that yesterday evening!! LOL! Was in one stand and was left standing there for about 10mins, did cross my mind I could easily walk off (again, like you I obviously didn't!!).

War horse was absolutely amazing. I've being saying I wanted to go and see the show for ages but will definitely be buying tickets now! So life like and I was spell bound watching it, so life like.

Puissance was excellent as always but I was sad I missed the Musical Ride.

Never go for the shopping, always a pain to carry it around and back on the tube. Much better to go to County Shows etc to pick up any bargains.

 

[tallyho!]

Oh you never went and bought one of those Swedish mats did you?
The food prices were extortionate! £6.50 for a jacket potato!!
Good job I filled up with strawberries and choclolate fountain goo instead

Oh but they were really pretty!!!! (and I am a bit of a sucker... )

We took a tesco packed lunch with us

 

[fruity]

I've been a few times now and this year i actually noticed there are def no bargains to be had,their were def more random shops and the food prices are mad! I paid £4.65 for a sandwich but was starving! It was yummy though but hey so it should be! I love the actual show and can't fault that at all. It's part of my xmas ritual and always go with a few friends and i really enjoy it,i do find i get bargains at Badminton so will keep the real shopping till that. I really don't need anything for the horses or me at the moment so didn't need to do any major shopping which was handy.