“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.”

So goes the famous quote by the eighteenth-century author Samuel Johnson, and it’s just as true today as when Johnson said it.

The English city that’s on so many people’s bucket lists is a vibrant blend of tradition, pageantry, hipness, and culture. Among its traditions is a deep-rooted equestrian culture–thereby making tickets to the equestrian events at the upcoming 2012 London Olympic Games one of the hottest items on the Olympic roster.

I love London (if you couldn’t tell). I love horses. I’m a longtime rider and horse owner who’s ridden and competed in all three of the Olympic equestrian disciplines: jumping, eventing, and dressage (albeit not quite at those lofty levels). And I love the Olympics