The Dublin Horse Show is a huge national and international favourite among the showjumping fraternity, and is as much a part of summer as Wimbledon. Indeed the Dublin Horseshow can take the credit for popularising showjumping in Ireland, always attracting major interest even from the non-showjumping public. Normally held in August, it has been brought forward this year due to the Olympics. This year’s show will run for five days, from Wednesday 20th to Sunday 24th July 2016 inclusive.
Here’s some interesting facts…
1. The Dublin Horse Show began in the 1860’s on the lawns of Leinster house. In 1881 it moved to Ballsbridge and has remained there every year since. In the early days the shows featured ‘leaping’ demonstrations and the “Stone Wall” competition – a far cry from the technicalities of modern day showjumping courses and indeed the Puissance Wall!
2. Ladies’ Day is Thursday, a legacy from times past when the Ladies’ Hunter Classes were judged on a Thursday! Indeed no lady was allowed compete in any jumping competition until the introduction of a novelty class in 1919. This changed in 1920, with the organisers allowing women to freely compete. In 1954 further advances in international rules allowed women to compete in international competitions.
3. In 1895, due to an entry of over eight hundred, the jumping competitors were run off in pairs! Seemingly this caused difficulties for the judges at the time. We wonder why?!!!
4. The Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show is the largest equestrian event, and one of the largest sporting events, held in Ireland.
5. The Dublin Horse Show continues to celebrate the Irish-bred horse on an international stage, with the aim of setting standards in equine breeding and performance, and endeavoring to create a market place for Irish bred horses.
6. Every year the Dublin Horse Show is host to the world renowned Aga Khan Nations Cup which was first presented in 1926, and the legendary Puissance.
We hope you get the opportunity to attend and enjoy one of the best days out this summer!!! Best of Luck to Ireland for the 2016 Nations Cup, and very best wishes to Greg Broderick for the Rio Olympics.
