Despite the recent loss of his ride of a lifetime, the sensational Totilas, Edward Gal is still set to thrill spectators at Olympia, the London International Horse Show, 14 to 20 December 2010.

Sister to Totilas

Gal and Totilas won the Olympia Qualifier in front of a full house last year to rapturous applause. This year, he will bring one of his two future stars to Olympia; the 11-year-old Gribaldi mare and half sister to Totilas Sisther de Jeu (who features in our video of last year's Edward Gal Olympia Masterclass) or Interfloor Next One, who he rode in his demonstration at The Royal Festival of the Horse. With Gal, this stallion by the leading sire Jazz, was an easy winner of the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle in Oslo in October.

Competitive field

British riders will be out in force for the only qualifier on home soil; Olympic rider Richard Davison (Hiscox Artemis) and new H&C blogger Stephanie Croxford (Mr President) are set to compete.

2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games silver medallists Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris head a competitive international field in the nominations for this year’s Reema Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Qualifier.

The four WEG team gold medallists from the Netherlands; Edward Gal, Adelinde Cornelissen, Hans Peter Minderhoud and Imke Schellekens-Bartels are among the entries. 

Laura B to host masterclass

In addition to the World Cup action Laura Bechtolsheimer will be performing a Dressage Display on the Wednesday evening, where she will be presenting one of her upcoming star horses and showing how she works with them in training. This is a first for Laura at Olympia and she is really looking forward to it.

“I love Olympia and the great Christmas buzz it has and I’m delighted to be attending. It will be strange doing a demonstration in the arena, just hours ahead of the Freestyle, but I hope it will help me to keep my cool!” She said.

When to go

Round one of the Dressage Qualifier will be held on Tuesday 14 December, the opening day of the Show. The top 15 combinations will then qualify for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup™ Dressage Grand Prix Freestyle to Music held on Wednesday 15 December.