They stood in silence, their heads bowed, clasping flickering candles — all lost in their own thoughts but all unified in solidarity with the people of France.

It has all the ingredients of a classic ghost movie.

The weather wasn’t quite stable but it took more than the threat of biblical-style floods to deter Ireland’s equestrian community who braved tumultuous downpours to attend the opening day of the 139th Dublin Horse Show at the RDS in Ballsbridge.