Olympia International Horse Show is the last show of the year and they bring the Christmas spirit alive with their fabulous program and arena decorations for all events run in the arena.

Even the dressage arena was given the glittering christmas lights to get everyone in the spirit - but no lights were necessary when the word was official that the darlings of dressage were going to be in London for Olympia!

Last year the Dressage World Cup was won by a relatively unknown 29 year old Dutch woman and her Jazz gelding, Parzival - they wowed the crowd and would never again be "Adelinde who?"

Steadily, with power, beauty and elegance Adelinde Cornelissen and her big strong gelding Parzival made their way to the top - the European Championships in August 2009 saw this combination taking home Team Gold medals and Individual Gold medals and broken records.

Edward Gal and Totilas have taken Dressage to new heights - people who previously found Dressage boring have suddenly discovered it as one of the most spectacular and spine chilling sports to watch.

The black stallion and the man with the ever present smile came into the arena second after the mid way break and the crowd gave them a standing ovation as they rode in to the arena - and then the hush came over the huge arena as this combination rode a test which was better again than in August - the walk was big and steady, the changes greatly improved and a test which was even more breath taking than previously!

Words cannot express the magnificence of Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas so click here for the moving pictures

Pictured above left and right and left - Edward Gal and Moorlands Totilas in action.

Pictured below - Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival
Pictured left - Adelinde is well pleased with her tall and powerful partner Parzival, the 12 year old Jazz gelding.
One could be forgiven for thinking there were only two horses in this World Cup Grand Prix but in fact there were 13 combinations - and in any other time, anyone of them could have won todays class - but in honesty Parzival and Totilas are 10% above any other horse on the circuit currently!

Pictured left - Third place went to Carl Hester and Leibling, the 12 year old gelding by Lorentin and they rode a test which showed the horse has improved incredibly since the Europeans in August - the horse was settled and correct with a superb ride by Carl Hester.

Pictured left - Britain's youngster, 24 year old Laura Bechtolsheimer was delighted with her test on her second horse, Andretti H, a 14 year old gelding by Aarking.

Laura was delighted with her 4th place in today's Grand Prix.
Michigan born Catherine Haddad is now based in Vechta, Germany and made the trip for the first time to Olympia to take 5th place in the Grand Prix.
Pictured left: Competing for the USA, Catherine Haddad and Cadillac.

For the full results with score sheets showing indevidual marks for movements click here

The next Done Deal.ie coverage will cover the Freestyle which wil linclude moving pictures so keep dropping in to see daily updates.

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