Renewed Irish focus at RDS
Securing a place in the line up at the RDS in August has always been the aim of breeders and owners as they start out on the annual circuit of championship qualifiers at shows countrywide at this time each year.
That’s not surprising because the show, ever since it began on the lawns of Leinster House in 1868 to foster the equestrian industry, has grown beyond all the expectations of the RDS.
Last year, the five day event, with Fáilte Ireland as the title sponsor, attracted over 1,400 horses and ponies for 127 competitions and classes.
Almost €600,000 in prize money and 52 cups and trophies were presented.
But this year there is a greater incentive than ever to qualify because of a major restructuring of the showing classes.
It is indeed heartening that the RDS listened to the people at the cutting edge of what is an important industry economically and socially in rural Ireland.
Breeders and owners had become somewhat disillusioned in recent years because they felt they were no longer a key focus of the event. But now that perception has changed and they are certainly centre stage.
One of their main concerns was that the showing classes were not attracting the top potential young show jumpers, event and dressage horses being produced in the country. However, it was announced at last year’s show that a major review of the showing and national jumping classes was being undertaken.
The move came amidst a lot of debate about the state of the Irish sport horse industry and the status of home bred stock, which is renowned world wide.
Key aims of the Ballsbridge event are to showcase the best of Irish horses, act as a market place, set standards, reward improvements in breeding and performance, and host top level international jumping.
A number of new, enhanced events were introduced at last year’s show to encourage breeders to produce and show quality Irish bred animals, and there was a positive response from exhibitors.
RDS chief executive Michael Duffy put it well at the time when he said the show was established to foster and promote the Irish horse industry.
“That’s the job of the horse show. There is an entertainment event around it as well. But fundamentally the reason it was started was to foster and promote the industry.”
Following the completion of the review, a five year development strategy for the show has now been drawn up. It includes a number of new measures.
The RDS, often accused of being slow to embrace change, deserves praise for moving speedily to introduce these new initiatives.
These will focus on the advancement and promotion of the industry and are a welcome support to the policies of the Irish Horse Board in terms of breeding and production.
Elements of the new strategy to be introduced at this year’s show (August 9-13) include new classes, greatly enhanced prize money and a restructured schedule that will create a sense of occasion towards the finish of what is set to be a very exciting week.
Efforts are also being made to boost trade in horses after a survey of equestrian exhibitors indicated that the way for the market to sustain itself going forward is through the production of traditionally bred horses with distinct Irish characteristics.
The steps taken by the RDS to develop the potential of a niche market for the traditional Irish Sport Horse include the production of a video catalogue.
It will be produced from one of each of the young horse qualifiers and will feature a sample of the stock that qualifies for Dublin.
The video catalogue will be sent to a list of prospective buyers to increase sales activity and expand the market base at the show.
