THERE WILL be €800,000 in prize money on offer at the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show which runs this year from August 6th-10th at the RDS grounds.
Details of the event were unveiled yesterday by Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism Martin Cullen at the Dublin showgrounds.
The event will feature more than 1,400 horses and ponies from across the country and from abroad.
There will be 12 international jumping competitions with a total prize fund of nearly €800,000, making it one of the biggest equestrian events in the world.
The international jumping competitions include the Speed Derby on Thursday, the Samsung Super League for the Aga Khan Trophy on Friday, the Land Rover Puissance on Saturday and the Longines International Grand Prix on Sunday.
Mr Cullen said with the world's best riders and horses competing for international honours in the coveted Samsung Super League, we could anticipate high quality equestrian action over the five days.
RDS chief executive Michael Duffy said this would be the 135th Dublin Horse Show, which was founded to foster and promote Irish equestrianism.
"This year sees the RDS continue its mission to support the Irish sport horse breeder and producer through ensuring the best Irish-bred horses are showcased at the show," he said.
"New events such as The Future Competition Horse Class, a working hunter class for Connemara ponies and a Young Rider Derby have been added to the programme whilst The Breeders' Championship, which has become an RDS flagship class, was reviewed in an effort to redirect and focus the class towards the production of performance animals.
"The Show will maintain its high quality international and national show jumping combined with a wide breadth of entertainment, from the style and glamour of Evian Ladies' Day to the excitement of the Kids' Zone. The Show is an experience for the whole family," said Mr Duffy.
Mr Duffy said it would cost €3.5 million to stage the event this year and he expected it would break even. Over the past three years more than €7.5 million had been invested in upgrading the grounds.
Fáilte Ireland chief executive Shaun Quinn said this would be the fourth year his organisation sponsored the event.
"Ireland is renowned as a premier equestrian holiday destination whether for trail riding, trekking or cross country," he said.
Meanwhile, a 23-year-old fashion model was taken to St Vincent's Hospital after she fell from a horse during a photo shoot at yesterday's launch of the horse show.
Pippa O'Connor, who had been hired by the RDS for the event, was treated for shock and released yesterday evening.