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The tack room

Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Olympia horse show and Covid

24 replies

PrettyPollyOliver · 16/12/2021 09:42

Are any of you going? Really not sure whether we should or not with the situation as it is. I'm very surprised they haven't cancelled it to be honest. But I really want to go!

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Ariela · 16/12/2021 10:23

Given it's not at Olympia but at Excel, which is much much larger, and that horsey people are outdoorsy healthy types, I can't see the risk is massive if you're double jabbed, boosted, wear a mask etc vs going to the (busy) pub at the end of the road. But you can watch it on TV

XelaM · 16/12/2021 10:50

We're going tomorrow. Really looking forward to it

FanFckingTastic · 16/12/2021 11:43

We are due to be going on Saturday, friends are there now (lucky things!). It seems pretty organised from a COVID point of view, you have to show your vacs passport or a negative lateral flow and wear a mask unless exempt as I understand it. We'll be doing the usual hand sanitising etc also. We can't wait!

Original poster
PrettyPollyOliver · 16/12/2021 12:09

@Xelam that's when we are meant to be too. I really want to but would kick myself if got ill over christmas, or worse - brought it back and infected the kids. Would love to hear from anyone who goes tonight how safe it feels. I can imagine it's ok in the spaced out parts but what about when seated to watch the performances? Packed in next to people.

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RHOShitVille · 16/12/2021 12:17

We are going today and I am nervous (moreso for DD than me).

We will wear masks the whole time though (other than short break to eat), and DD has been told we are doing one lot of shopping, not the endless back and forth we usually do...

Happy to report back tmrw though.

Original poster
PrettyPollyOliver · 16/12/2021 12:22

@RHOShitVille that would be really helpful please. Im just cutting my losses if don't go so can make a last min decision tomorrow. If it sounds like it was totally packed, particularly in the seating, I think we'll stay away even though I'd be gutted.

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Ariela · 16/12/2021 13:18

I can only imagine it is similarly spaced out as it was for the Olympics. It's a bigger venue, and they've opened up the collecting ring for viewing, which can only serve to spread people out even more. I never found the seating at Olympia a squash, it was always the shopping that was a heave -ho particularly between afternoon and evening - but at Excel there's a lot more space.

AtillatheHun · 16/12/2021 13:26

I’ve got an obscene amount of money sitting in tickets for Sunday and am similarly conflicted. It’s the multiple forms of public transport to get there which bothers me most. I think we’re going but will be cautious about the shopping and food areas which are most likely to be crowded

littlelandlord7 · 16/12/2021 13:32

Yes, we are heading up on Sunday evening. Very excited Smile
We are driving

Pleasedontdothat · 16/12/2021 19:41

We’re going on Monday and I can’t wait. I’ve had my booster, have no risk factors, dd lives in the middle of the countryside and only really mixes with the people she works with (outdoors), everyone’s either got to be vaccinated or have a negative lateral flow test and it’s in an enormous venue. To be honest I don’t think people wearing masks makes one jot of difference unless they were all properly fitted medical grade ones but if it makes some people feel better then I will (reluctantly) wear one. Unless you’re vulnerable in some way, are unvaccinated or are worried about passing on infection to vulnerable family members then I can’t see why you’d be more worried about going to Excel than anything else, but I realise people have different attitudes to risk…

Original poster
PrettyPollyOliver · 16/12/2021 20:17

I think it's the risk of coming home and infecting my elderly mother over christmas, or getting ill myself and being useless for the kids over christmas day that worries me. Saw online today it's v busy in the shopping.

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Original poster
PrettyPollyOliver · 16/12/2021 22:04

Watching on tv, lots of people don't seem to be wearing masks in the seating :s

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RHOShitVille · 17/12/2021 07:37

OK, I would say definitely go. We went and had an amazing time.

They're checking covid passes to even enter the building
The shopping and general site is much more spaced out than olympia, more food and seating options too.
Most people wore masks - some stewards were vigilant to the point of being extreme (telling people to put a mask on when they were having a sip of water). It did tail off a little by the end of the eve in but by then the crowds had thinned out.
There was no tight crowds at any point (leaving olympia used to be awful) - at the end of the evening you could exit pretty distanced from others.

General tips
It is warm inside, particularly the shopping.
We all felt the shopping to be more gifts, less horsey. We bought some clothes but decided local tack shop better for general stuff.
Allow extra time for shopping and to visit the warm up ring. We had 🍾 bar tickets and used them for 15 minutes - I could've spent ages in there watching them warm up.

Original poster
PrettyPollyOliver · 17/12/2021 08:29

@RHOShitVille that's interesting, we watched the puissance on tv and it looked really tightly packed in the seating, with loads of people with masks off, inc all the staff running around with no masks so we have been definitely feeling it's a bad idea. Interesting to hear that wasn't your experience.

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Pleasedontdothat · 17/12/2021 12:14

@RHOShitVille did you happen to see any good deals on riding hats? Dd needs a new fixed peak one and I was hoping to pick one up from the shopping bit

itwasntaparty · 17/12/2021 12:17

Got a coach of 70 going up from the stables tomorrow. 😷 I'm not depriving my daughters of the best night of the year, if we get it we get it. All had it I august so I hope they have some form of antibodies and I'm tripled vaccinated.

AtillatheHun · 17/12/2021 12:53

Those who have driven / will be driving - the excel venue car park isn’t taking bookings - does that mean it’s full of horseboxes / being used as stables and there isn’t actually any? Or did you wing it and find parking? Thanks!

Southnorthants · 17/12/2021 13:01

We were meant to be there today but I tested positive last night Sad - a friend is there though and says it’s pretty empty

Original poster
PrettyPollyOliver · 17/12/2021 13:07

I think the daytimes are much emptier than the eves

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Original poster
PrettyPollyOliver · 17/12/2021 13:18

We aren't going now :( Really gutted, but it just looked like so many people in the seating on tv had their masks off and not enough spacing between them.

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Pleasedontdothat · 17/12/2021 14:29

@AtillatheHun

Those who have driven / will be driving - the excel venue car park isn’t taking bookings - does that mean it’s full of horseboxes / being used as stables and there isn’t actually any? Or did you wing it and find parking? Thanks!
A friend drove there yesterday and said parking was really easy
AtillatheHun · 17/12/2021 14:49

Thank you! I’ve decided we will go, but will drive to avoid 3 different forms of public transport.

Wideawakeandconfused · 17/12/2021 14:51

We’re going on Monday and can’t wait. We’ll wear masks and DC are coming.

XelaM · 17/12/2021 18:43

We went during the day (arrived just before 10am and stayed until 6pm). It was really empty in the morning but got a bit busy towards the evening. The seating was incredibly spaced out. We sat in Block 2 and it was almost empty with great view

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