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On Saturday 3rd November, at the Royal Overseas League in London, equestrian travel experts In The Saddle played hosts to the UK’s only exhibition dedicated solely to horse riding holidays, the Riding Holiday Show. Having run the show in previous years, the 2012 show proved to be the busiest event yet with people coming from all over the world to discuss their shared love of horseback adventures.

The weather was beautiful in London, which certainly helped put visitors in the right frame of mind to be inspired. With holiday representatives from across the globe demonstrating passion and dedication to their destinations, visitors were treated to local delicacies, native tipples and a small taste of what to expect on their trips.

From the moment the doors opened at 11am, until the close of play at 6pm, the two floors at the Royal Overseas League were buzzing with multi-cultural conversations, from Mongolians and Tibetans to Americans and Europeans.

In addition to the holiday representatives, the show caused much excitement with the arrival of 6-times-Olympian Mary King and the British Dressage Chef D’Equipe, Major Richard Waygood MBE. Both told inspiring tales of horseback travel, competing at the highest level and realising Olympic dreams.

In The Saddle’s Director, Olwen Law, was overjoyed with the response to the 2012 Riding Holiday Show. “Over the years the event has grown,” she says. “In fact it started off as a simple cocktail party and has now turned into a quite significant event!”

“The aim of the show is to give past, current and potential clients the chance to speak directly to the guides and really learn about the places they wish to see,” she goes on to say. “Many of our regular customers thoroughly enjoy meeting up with guides they have spent time with on past holidays, as well as bumping into guests they have met on their travels, and planning their next exploration. Meanwhile for those who have never been on a riding holiday before it gives them the chance to ask questions in a relaxed environment to help them with the sometimes daunting decision of where to go first!”

“There is no other show like the Riding Holiday Show,” Olwen admits. “Once again the team behind the scenes did us proud. It takes a lot of organisation and it is testament to our staff and helpers that the show ran so smoothly. Guides, clients and our presenters all remarked on the turnout at the show and we were so pleased to see so many new faces keen to embark on the magic of an equestrian travel and adventure.”

If you missed out on the Riding Holiday Show, but would still like to learn more about the trips available from our equestrian travel experts, visit: www.inthesaddle.com