Horse show set to pull in huge crowds

Some 80,000 people are expected to flock to this year’s Dublin Horse Show festival from today for more than 100 showjumping contests.

A diamond pendant worth thousands of euro was also set to prove a star draw for the best-dressed lady at the five-day festival in the RDS.

And organisers said Ladies' Day (Thursday) could see the biggest crowd with the €10,000 Appleby diamond on offer for the most elegant lady, and runners-up given special timepieces.

“It’s a cracker. It’s a pendant. I saw it myself yesterday and it is fantastic, about the size of your finger, but many will come dressed up in all the attire and flunk it at the last minute,” show organiser David Gray said.

Mr Gray added: “We were the first to start the Ladies' Day contest in Ireland at the RDS and the rest followed. Many copied, and they often copied, and sure isn’t that the best form of flattery?”

Dublin Lord Mayor Michael Conaghan opened the five-day festival today where 1,400 horses will compete for more than €500,000 in prizes.

One of the highlights of the show is the Nations' Cup for the Aga Khan Trophy with riders and horses from eight countries battling for the top award.

Organisers also said the puissance high jump contest and the Grand Prix competition, which offers more than €100,000 in prize money, should pull in the crowds.

The Aga Khan trophy is only awarded to a team that wins three years in a row, and as France has won the Nations' Cup the last two years a win on Friday will see them take home the coveted prize.

It has only been won five times since the contest began in 1926 and became part of the Samsung Super League international showjumping contest last year.

The competition takes place at eight international venues and this year Ireland take on Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Netherlands and the USA, the sixth time the countries have competed.

Since its inception, just under 50% of horses on winning sides were Irish-bred. The quality of Irish thoroughbred stallions and mares, some of the best in the world, will also be on show over the next four days.

Dressage, national jumping contests and showing events are also part of the show, which has been running since it began on the lawns of Leinster House in 1868.