Countdown to early horse show
Next week, in a change from the traditional August dates to accommodate Olympic riders, this year’s Dublin Horse Show is the same great mix of equestrian competition, family entertainment and summer social activity.
Taking place July 20-24, the 2016 Show will welcome world-renowned equine behaviourist, Pat Parelli, who will introduce his natural horsemanship skills (and Californian cowboy flair) to visitors to the Show. Team Ireland will be back to defend their Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup title that they won so convincingly last year, and this year will have a 2016 Olympian in their ranks in the form of Tipperary’s Greg Broderick. An influential force in the American equestrian community for over a half-century, event rider, trainer, coach, author and Irish horse enthusiast, Denny Emerson will present two masterclasses at this year’s Show, as well as judging the Young Event Horse Classes.
As well as a range of wandering circus-like entertainment on the grounds, there’s the equestrian entertainment, which is provided this year by Joel Chacon and Santí Serra. It’s the first time Santí will perform in Ireland and he is in hot demand around the world for his athletic and gymnastic display that involves his brilliantly trained stallions and sheep dogs. French equestrian performer Joel Chacon returns having been warmly appreciated last year for his comedic routines that often disguise the superb horsemanship that lies underneath.
As ever, some of the best show jumpers in the world will grace the RDS Main Arena for the nine international competitions that are held across the week, seven of which are world ranking, culminating in the Longines International Grand Prix on Sunday, but not before the crowd pleasing Land Rover Puissance on Saturday and the excitement of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup on Friday.
A competition of a different nature takes place on Thursday with the Dundrum Town Centre providing the much coveted prize of a €10,000 shopping voucher for the best dressed lady at the Dublin Horse Show. There are many other category prizes, including one for the suited and booted men in attendance.
As well as all the show jumping action there is plenty of other competition taking place. This year two new classes are being introduced: a championship for Traditionally Bred Young Horses has been added, as has an additional side saddle competition for Cobs, Connemaras, Small Hunters and Riding Horses, catering for ponies and horses that fall into the height category of 148cms to 158cms.
The Public Judging competition allows visitors to see if their equine judgement matches that of the judges inside the ring. There are 13 classes over the week eligible for public judging, with a €1,000 prize on offer. The ever popular ‘Racehorse to Riding horse’ is one of those classes and offers spectators to see some majestic chasers, such as Imperial Commander, Forpadydeplasterer, Zaidpour, Arvika Ligeonniere, and Mossbank. Visitors to the Show will be joined on the day by racing great, Sir AP McCoy, one of two judges of this class.
There’s also the chance to relive some of the years gone by when visitors take in the exhibition in the RDS Library. Aga Khan, 90 years of the Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show takes an in-depth look at the history of the Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup at Dublin. It examines the competition from its earliest beginnings in the turbulent years of the 1920s, through the 1930s and ‘40s when Ireland established itself a major show jumping nation, up to the ‘70s and ‘80s when Ireland dominated, until the present day.