I’ve got first-hand experience of competing at London International and these are my top tips for first-timers
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...
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…
Tips for traveling to London International
Unlike most other shows, just getting to London International does take a bit of negotiating. By now, you’ll have received your pack with all of your instructions. Having shown at the old Olympia site, I took this step a little for granted the first time I showed at the Excel.
I really recommend reading the pack carefully, even if only to book your arrival slot. Don’t worry if you haven’t already booked your slot – I was really last-minute on this, and it wasn’t a big problem. It just meant that we were arriving later than we’d hoped and that we had to negotiate the final (and most unknown) part of the journey in the dark.
Make sure to carefully read all of the information on London’s ULEZ charges as the last thing you want is a hefty fine marring a super experience.
Before the day, put your horse’s passport and your paperwork in your vehicle and triple check it’s there before departure.
Also remember to check what your ticket allows you to do. The New Horizons Plastics Arena exhibitor bands won’t get you into the International Arena’s seating, so if you want to watch some showjumping or other highlights on the schedule – I can never resist the mini-major relay myself – be organised with getting your London International tickets.
Even though I had travelled there many times as a passenger, the first time I drove to Olympia, the prospect of driving in London with my precious cargo on board terrified me. But it was absolutely fine and now that it’s outside the city centre, it’s really pretty simple.
Tips for arriving, unloading and stabling
Once you get to the Excel, you’ll be directed to wind up and up and up until you reach an unloading area. Listen carefully to the instructions here, too, as it can be slippery as you unload, and slipping is avoidable if you take heed.
Once unloaded, you won’t be allowed to access your stable until you’ve been vet-checked, so that’s your priority at this point. Take your passport and your paperwork with you so that it makes this process as swift as possible. If you feel confident – which you should be if your vaccinations are correct – and have a second pair of hands with you, send them to the stable manager’s office to get sorted while you stay with your horse, or visa versa.
Bedding is provided, so you don’t need to worry about lugging bales of shavings. Last time I showed there, the bed wasn’t quite as deep as I’d have liked as my mare digs a hole for herself in no time, and so paid for extra, which was delivered in a jiffy – so don’t stress if that happens to you, too.
What to pack for competing at London
I have only showed in the International Arena. The stabling for this side is blissfully warm and the temperature is controlled – I think we can thank the FEI stabling for this – so you won’t need lots of heavy rugs for when you’re in there. My mare wore a Lycra body suit and a Thermatex waffle-weave rug and was warm enough.
That said, we did once break down when the weather was atrocious, and once got caught out by a snow-storm and had to unload the pony on the side of the road and walk the last stretch home. At that point, we thanked our lucky stars we had extra rugs to keep them warm so it’s worth packing a separate, emergency bag that can stay on the lorry just in case.
As well as being unnecessary, you won’t have space for extras as it’s inconvenient to go back and forth to your lorry. We have always taken a tack locker on wheels packed to the rafters, and chained it – with a padlock – to the stable. In it we have tack, a spare numnah for working in, a spare Lycra suit and fleece, clean bandages, our essentials-only grooming and wash kit, a shallow feed bucket and pre-prepared feeds in freezer-bags. That’s it.
Carry your water bucket, your extra haynets, a skipping-out bucket and fork. Tie the spare nets outside with your padlocked tack-locker.
I like to take a suitcase with two separate sides that is, crucially, on wheels. In one side I put my showing gear and in the other, the rest of my “stuff” including my pjs, clothes and wash bag. This means I only need worry about wheeling one case to-and-from the hotel and it doesn’t take up masses of room in and around my stable. For ease, this is the one show of the season where I wear my “best” helmet and boots to work in.
Finally, pack Christmas decorations and a Christmas jumper. The magic of London International lies in the timing. Throw yourself into the spirit and enjoy the frivolity of festive attire and decorating your stable, and team Christmas jumpers are really helpful for lifting your mood if things don’t go to plan and for spotting your team if nothing else!
Tips for working in and getting ready
You should have a working-in timetable in your pack – take a photo of it on your phone so that you always have it to hand.
As I said in my tips for competing at HOYS, we have taken ponies who don’t like to be surrounded by lots and lots of others so we’ve deliberately used only the latter half of our slots when it’s less busy.
At the end of each slot, it’s much, much quieter and a good opportunity to let your pony have a last look around if they need it, and a practice gallop without endangering others.
If you can’t avoid getting your horse or pony a bit sweaty, there is a wash bay available, but be mindful of timings. If you only have a short space of time until you are needed in the arena, you may be better off giving them a hot-cloth so their coat has time to dry.
To plug or not to plug?
The atmosphere during the morning judging of the M&Ms in the International Arena is fairly quiet, so when we’ve shown ponies who are experienced and not especially noise sensitive there, we haven’t bothered plugging ears until the afternoon’s prize-giving, when the atmosphere is truly electric. The prize-giving is an utterly brilliant experience and such fun if your pony is well behaved, but it’s very noisy with an enthusiastic crowd so we always plug for this and have never regretted it.
Personally, if ever we were to qualify for classes in the New Horizons Plastics Arena, I would plug there, as there is a lot to take in around the arena and noise is then one less thing to worry about. Obviously you know your pony best, but if in doubt, at least take some with you. You’re better off having to use more leg than sitting on a time bomb.
To prepare, you can use a radio in your stable, or when you’re working your horse – even out hacking.
If you’re jumping and are unsure whether to use them, we were once warned by a pro that she had found some horses can feel disconcerted by plugs when jumping, almost as if it unbalances them. I can’t tell you if it’s true or not, but it felt like good advice and something we are always mindful of now. If you’re in a similar quandary, take heed and practice with them in before you decide.
Will I need a rug down at the arena?
In short, no. The whole site is indoors and after weeks of preparation in the cold under multiple layers, it feels blissfully warm! The only times you’ll feel a wintery chill is going back and forth to your hotel.
What to wear
A friend of mine new to showing qualified for one of the BSHA Rising Stars cob classes last year, and intended to wear her normal showing gear, only to discover that navy championship attire was correct. A quick Facebook appeal and we soon had her togged up looking super. The moral of this story is, check what you should be wearing, and if you’ve overlooked this detail until now but don’t have the necessary in your kit bag – don’t worry, just borrow. Pros and fellow amateurs are usually only too happy to help. Incidentally, for more information on the etiquette of dressing for a championship, Katie Jerram-Hunnable explains some of the finer showing etiquette rules.
There is no set rule for the championships of the BSPS performance classes. In the past, some competitors have changed into evening attire – a navy jacket and a stock – but others haven’t changed. We have never packed one for HOYS from superstition, and have always had someone lend one (as have countless others) so if you make it to a championship and want to change, ask around and borrow. If in the event you can’t find one, worry not, plenty have come forward in their tweeds and not been penalised for it. You won’t be penalised either.
My “grandma” tip
However nervous you may feel, it’s important to eat as you need to be on top form.
There are lots of great options for eating inside the Excel, and there is a free tea and coffee station in the stabling area. But I would pop something in your suitcase that you can stomach for breakfast and a quick snack. If you’re in the arena early for your class, you may not have much time to go hunting for food.
My top tip: don’t be scared to ask
If you find that you are in a quandary, don’t stew on it, just ask for help. I promise you will find someone who knows the answer and is willing to help, from officials and stewards to your fellow competitors. London is such a fun experience that you don’t want to let the fear of asking for help mar it for you.
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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Bethan joined Horse & Hound as showing editor in January 2025, after spending two years as Editor for Showing World. Having adored ponies since childhood, she started showing as a teenager and has enjoyed wins at major shows up and down the country, including Royal Highland, New Forest, and the Royal Welsh, as well as HOYS, RIHS and London. She is particularly passionate about Welsh breeds and is also a Welsh language commentator.