Glitz and glamour all round at Dublin Horse Show launch

THE stylish dash of uniformed Army officers on horseback, the elegant glamour of Miss Ireland Blathnaid McKenna and a background of rare and glorious sunshine made a cocktail to whet the appetite of any romantic.

It was all provided yesterday in the groomed grounds of the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) in Ballsbridge, where details of this year’s Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show — August 8-12 — were announced by Arts, Sports and Tourism Minister Séamus Brennan.

More than 1,000 horses and ponies will compete at the spectacle, which will cost €3.3 million to stage and will have €750,000 in prize money.