Fillies, foals and fun as capital gets back in the saddle
But that’s the case for the rest of this week as the Fáilte Ireland Horse Show takes place at the RDS in Ballsbridge.
More than 1,350 horse and pony entries have been received for the five-day show, which starts today.
That means a constant demand for supplies from the RDS fodder stores which will be kept busy attending to the needs of the four-legged visitors.
The bales of hay and straw as well as wood shavings and peat moss are used to ensure the horses and ponies participating in the show are made to feel at home despite being in the heart of the nation’s capital.
Special supplementary foods including crushed oats, bran and carrots are also made available for horses with discerning palates while fresh-cut grass will be brought in daily for lactating mares with foals. Horse exhibitors were yesterday washing and grooming their charges in preparation for the show, while international grooms were exercising their equine stars ahead of today’s opening. Other parts of the 42-two acre site also hummed with activity as the final touches were put to the layout with competitors and exhibitors continuing to move into the sprawling complex.
The show is costing €2.5 million to stage, has €600,000 in prize money and is expected to attract 100,000 visitors.
It will be officially opened at noon today by Dublin Lord Mayor Catherine Byrne, who will travel from the Mansion House to the RDS in the horse drawn mayoral coach.
Highlight of the international jumping will be the Samsung Super League Nations Cup for the Aga Khan Trophy on Friday.
Belgium, France, Germany, Britain, Ireland, Switzerland, the Netherlands and the United States will field strong teams. Ireland currently holds the famous trophy.
In all, there will be 10 international jumping classes and 36 national jumping competitions for horses and ponies, plus an array of other activities including harness racing at speeds of up to 65kph.
Show director Gerry McAuliffe said everything is ready for the 132nd show.
“We are looking forward to five busy days and have great hopes of Ireland doing well in the Nations Cup on Friday,” he said.
Visitors will also find a wide range of consumer goods, fashion wear, millinery, equestrian clothing, tack, wines and confectionery on a record 311 trade stands.
Exhibitors from Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Canada and the United States will be displaying their wares.
Glamour will dominate the grounds tomorrow, when the ladies show off their dress sense and individuality, but instead of a red rosette the winner of this celebrated fashion competition will leave with a glittering €10,000 Appleby Diamond.
Louis Copeland will present a prize for the best dressed man, proving that equality is alive and kicking at the show.
A cash prize will also be awarded for the most creative hat, an event which always attracts some head-turning creations.
