‘STARLIGHT EXPRESS’ GOES TO OLYMPIA.

On behalf of the riders who eventually managed to get to and compete at Olympia I thought you might all like to hear about our experiences.

The week before Olympia we were all raring to go when due to the refusal on the part of one of the riders to comply with the team’s decision as to the turnout we were in the unenviable position of having to make a last minute substitution. It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened as our wonderful ‘girl Friday’ Kate Randall and the trusty Domino stepped into the breach. Kate had been training with us learning every rider’s position, which was no mean feat. Domino had also been used from time to time so we knew where he was happy to work in the team.

In view of this we obviously needed not give Kate and Dom every opportunity and so decided to practice each day. The first three days were rained off!! Then two days before Olympia my lorry broke down and owing to the fact I had three quadrille horses staying with me I was more then a little worried. Tony was out of action at this time due to a back injury so his lorry also was not on the road!! However a friend stepped in and leant me his lorry albeit a fairly small one.

Gerry at Kings stepped in to help us and very kindly offered to remove ALL her jumps from the indoor arena so that we could manage to fit in one practice as by then we were getting a little desperate.

Pippa (Poppa) came to me in the morning with her trailer to collect Zac and then go to Sarah’s (Greaseball) to collect Ben, whilst Sarah (Rusty) and I took gizmo and Domino directly to Kings in the borrowed lorry to meet Kate who was in her car.

Sarah and Kate had just began to practice one or two movements together whilst we were waiting for the arrival of the other two when I received a frantic mobile call from Pip to say both Zac and Ben had come down in the trailer and they needed help.

Kate and I dashed off in her car whilst Sarah stayed at Kings with Dom and Giz. Kate and I found two very upset riders and two cut, shocked horses huddled together on the roadside. Sarah had been trodden on whilst getting the horses out resulting in an enormous foot, which looked broken. Kate and I returned to Kings to collect the lorry and Sarah, who by this time had put Giz and Dom into Gerry’s stables.

We three returned to our injured teammates but the next worry was that Ben is 17.1hh and the lorry was cob/pony height. However he was brilliant and climbed in after Zac lowering his head. Sarah could not manage the lorry due to her foot so stayed with Pip to return in the car with the trailer. Unbeknown to us in the lorry Pip’s battery had gone flat and she could not move. Bless her she ran to the nearby garage, got help and the car started and joined us at Kings.

The horses thankfully only had superficial cuts but Pip’s trailer had been slightly remodelled. Sarah’s foot was not broken but badly bruised. The practice therefore never happened – at this point we began to wonder whether someone ‘up there’ was telling us not to go!!!

Gerry at Kings was marvellous she allowed us to use four stables for the horses (it was still pouring with rain), hot chocolate for the shaken riders and loads of ice for Sarah’s foot. We cannot ever thank her enough.

The night before our departure to Olympia there was a forecast for heavy snow!!!! We could not believe it.

Thankfully Friday 17^th December dawned cold, overcast and miserable. We had arranged to meet the horse transporter and our minibus at The Royal Oak in Broadwas – this was so that the transporter which took NINE horses could get in and turn around and also we needed somewhere secure to leave our vehicles whilst in London.

We all arrived at the same time in a high state of excitement, to find the most luxurious and huge horsebox we have ever seen. We loaded all the horse feed and equipment etc., onto the transporter and all our own bags, costumes, tack, alcohol etc., etc., onto the minibus – luckily it was a sixteen seater for twelve of us – we were packed to the gunnels!!

The transporter and we left Broadwas in convoy. Once on the motorway we overtook our horses that were travelling in great style, looking out of the windows with smug expressions on their faces!! We waved to them but they were far too superior to acknowledge us!! We drove through quite a bit of snow but the roads were generally good.

It was very cold on our arrival at Olympia but we were excited and full of anticipation. We only had nine security passes so my husband, son and Rebecca, who had made our costumes, stayed on the minibus to take all our luggage, tack, costumes etc., to the hotel we were booked into. The rest of us obtained our security bracelets, found our stables and awaited the arrival of the horses.

Very soon they arrived in state in their luxurious mode of transport. Each horse had to be vetted alongside their passports. By this time their eyes were akin to saucers – they loaded in rural Worcestershire and unloaded in the middle of London – too much for any self-respecting horse! They all grew and decided the appropriate way to behave was to jog around with tails on end and pretend to be ‘professional equines’!!

We took them to their allocated stables, which were not very big or very secure. Once we had them settled in with hay, water and bedding I felt the riders needed to go and watch in the main arena to get the feel of the atmosphere, see the crowds and generally relax – they nearly passed out at the sight of the huge doors, tunnel and beyond, the horrifying sight of the huge cavernous arena!!

We sat watching show jumping for about three quarters of an hour then went into the collecting area to imagine riding through the tunnel and out into the main arena. We identified various places in the arena that would help with the performance, as there were no letters only a few Christmas trees. They were all very excited and delighted to be part of the electric atmosphere behind the scenes at Olympia, mixing with top riders and superb horses.

Once we had bedded the horses down for the night the minibus came to collect us and we went to the hotel where we had a meal and drinks with family and friends.

D-Day dawned with the riders getting up at 5.15am to have their make-up put on whilst still at the hotel. I should at this point add that Sarah (Rusty) the previous evening had fainted on the stairs going to bed – I thought it was the drink!! BUT it turned out she had a temperature and tummy upset and had been up half the night anyway. The other five of us were taken back to Olympia to feed, muck out and begin getting the horses ready. Tails had to be plaited, feet painted etc., etc.

An exercise period had been arranged when the riders could enter the main arena so Mark, our minibus driver, returned to the hotel to collect the made up riders (I think he thought we were all a little mad!!). We had discussed the previous evening how they would use this time in the arena. They lined up and proceeded down the tunnel and out into an arena of mayhem with show jumpers all over the place. However they were really good and stayed together as a ‘quadrille’ no doubt to the annoyance of some!!! It was a marvellous feeling seeing them all confidently riding around, chatting and looking totally relaxed.

After the warm-up the ground crew resumed responsibility for the horses whilst Rebecca took the riders for breakfast.

The stables were a hive of activity. All the quadrille horses were stabled together. We were opposite the eventual winners, Moat View, who were so well organised with four people per horse – we have yet to discover how they obtained that many passes!

As the “new girls” on the block one of the other teams warned us to work ahead of time as the times would probably be brought forward – panic set in – did we have time and how would we get a message to Rebecca and the riders – panic, panic…….. It was then a frantic rush to get horses absolutely perfect in their tack, turnout, tails etc., and find the riders, as they needed to get their costumes on.

A steward came round the stables and announced we all had five minutes to be in the collecting ring for the costume inspection. Talk about nerves, they were by now flying. We were all fingers and thumbs, buckles would not do up, zips stuck, costumes slipped and one pair of boots were on the wrong way round!!!! Poor Rebecca had to go to each horse individually to sort the train rugs out. She was very patient as the nerves had now erupted and everyone was behaving in a rather hyped manner!!! I am pleased to say though that we were not the last to arrive in the line up for the inspection.

The four teams lined up two on each side opposite each other. Three judges then examined every single horse and rider from top to toe. They were very, very, thorough and questioned the riders as to the shoeing, clipping etc. The stitching was looked at, feet were inspected (both horse and human), curb chains had to be on the same link etc., etc., etc. After the inspection there was little time before the first team were to perform so they all stayed in the collecting ring and once the judges had left we were able to go to the team and make any necessary adjustments needed.

By now the riders nerves had subsided and they began to ride around in a very professional manner chatting happily – the show jumpers were terrified of all those weird looking equines with fancy dress on!!!!

At last our team was announced – it was an amazing moment to hear the announcement of ‘STARLIGHT EXPRESS’, and then watch the team, I had worked with for so long, smiling, happy, relaxed and about to ride down the tunnel. One final ‘you are the greatest’ and they set off whilst we ran down the side of the tunnel to the restricted area we could watch from.

It was such an emotional and proud moment after all the ups and downs that we were actually there and the team was about to perform.

They did exactly as discussed when entering the arena and the horses stuck to each other like glue. It was at this moment that all our supporters, families and friends let out the most enormous cheer and roar that left us in no doubt that we had loads of fabulous support so thank you all who made the journey. The music started and a huge lump rose in my throat. The performance went really well and they pulled off the dressing movements we had worked on. As each dodgy moment passed I thought “good one more done” until ………….. Gizmo saw himself in the overhead television screen – he just stopped dead!! The other three continued as we had always practised if something went amiss with one horse. He caught them up but then did an action replay – we are not sure whether he was admiring himself or was terrified of that spotty monster above his head!!!

Sarah was totally devastated when she came out but at the end of the day it did not affect our marks unduly as it was not a disobedience or naughtiness he was just being a horse. Each team had a hiccup of one kind or another. The winners came out crying because one rider had gone the wrong way.

On returning to the arena for the final placings we could not believe that we were third – we were over the moon. The two teams ahead of us deserved to be. They were both very professional and polished and it showed. We were very happy for them.

For us to be third at Olympia in only our second year and despite all the problems we had survived the week before was more than satisfying. We have learnt so much from the other teams in many different ways we are intent on doing it all again – we must be mad!!!

We intend to hold an un-mounted meeting at Kings towards the end of January beginning of February (date will be announced), inviting any members of the local riding clubs who maybe interested in riding, helping, lending horses etc., for the next one. This is because many people have expressed an interest in helping. I will explain exactly what is involved in the way of commitment, team players, ground crew etc., because for a quadrille to work EVERYONE has to work as a TEAM.

Our accounts, which are almost finalised, will be sent to each riding club so that you can all see how we have used any money raised.

Finally a huge thank you to you all for the good luck cards, phone calls and numerous messages of good luck you sent, we all appreciated them very much – see you all at Kings.

Sue (Harcombe) Chef D’Equipe.