London's landmark moments

What makes London so special for dressage fans? Oscar Williams delves into its unique history, speaking to experts about their most treasured memories and the show's remarkable evolution in the sport

- Oscar Williams

DRESSAGE was first held at the London International (LIHS) in 1991 where British pair Jennie Loriston-Clarke and Annie MacDonald Hall saw off a direct challenge from Monica Theodorescu and Sven Rothenberger to win the pas de deux.

Several tinsel-imbued displays and masterclasses were held in Olympia's Grand Hall over the next decade but the first World Cup leg wasn't held there until 2004. Spain's Beatriz Ferrer-Salat won that inaugural competition on Beauvalais with 79.58% with Carl Hester on Escapado a close second with their Here Comes the Sun and Fame routine.

H&H's Editor-in-Chief Lucy Higginson wrote at the time: "Dressage has now definitely arrived in Britain. In a near-full arena, Olympia's first World Cup dressage qualifier produced a terrific atmosphere. When home favourites Carl Hester and Escapado produced a personal best the cheer might almost have been for a clear round from John Whitaker."

It was a landmark moment for British dressage and now - 20 years later - LIHS has become the biggest show in dressage's domestic calendar and an annual pre-Christmas pilgrimage.

PART of the reason it's become so special is the unparalleled performances audiences have witnessed. Three of the most recent world records have all been set in London with the cauldron-like atmosphere bringing out the absolute best in the world's top horses.

But while the likes of Totilas and Valegro have indelibly etched their names into the history of the show for a lot of people, London is about more than just the records - it's those hard-to-define, distinctive moments that only this stage can produce: the unexpected magic, the shared emotion, and the unique atmosphere that lingers long after the final salute.