SADDLE up with the Herald this week for the chance to enjoy the world’s best equestrian Christmas party.

The London International Horse Show is being staged at Olympia from December 16 to 22 — and the Herald has five family tickets, worth a total of £900, to be won in our latest competition.

Combining international competition with world-class displays, the event regularly attracts more than 400 horses, 300 competitors and 80,000 visitors.

Headlining the show this year will be the riders of The Royal Andalusian School of Equestrian Art who have not visited London for more than 40 years and will be drawing on the traditions of cattle ranching and classical dressage to create a world-class equestrian ballet.

Playing host to three FEI World CupTM competitions in extreme driving, showjumping and dressage guarantees the show will prove a draw to the best national and international riders.

And, on the fun side, the audience will be thrilled by one of Olympia’s most popular displays, The Shetland Pony Grand National, which offers all the excitement of a traditional jump race — but, of course, in miniature form.

This year the show’s finale is entitled It’s a Dickens of a Christmas and includes a visit from Father Christmas himself before he gets too busy preparing for his busiest night of the year.

With over 200 stands, Olympia is also the perfect place to get in some last-minute shopping for Christmas gifts for family and friends. Each of our five family tickets is worth £180 and admits four people of any age — none of them need to be children — to the evening performance on Wednesday, December 18.

Youngsters aged under two who can be seated on their parent’s lap for the entire performance will also not require a ticket.

To be in with a chance of winning one of our family tickets, send your name, address and telephone number (preferably mobile) in an email to: Heraldcompetitions@nqo.com or send your details on a postcard or reverse of a sealed envelope to: London International Horse Show competition, Herald Series, Promotions Department, Newsquest Oxfordshire, Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0EJ, by the closing date of Wednesday, November 27.

If you are not lucky enough to be one of winners, tickets are available from www.olympiahorseshow.com or from the box office on 0871 2305580.

Tickets start from £35 and there is a concession rate for some performances.