DAY ONE:THE 137TH Dublin Horse Show got off to a confident start yesterday at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS) grounds in Ballsbridge where the attendance was higher than in recent years for the opening day.
The event was formally opened by the Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Edie Wynne, who was standing in for the Lord Mayor Gerry Breen, who was out of the country on holiday.
Mrs Wynne arrived with her brother Malachy Duignam, her daughter Caroline and grandson Brian (4) in the Lord Mayor’s coach which only gets two outings a year, the opening day of the RDS and St Patrick’s Day.
Mrs Wynne said she was “immensely honoured” to have been given the opportunity to open the show which plays such a crucial role in celebrating our affinity as a people with the horse and showcases Dublin as a great city to visit.
“The RDS has a crucial role in developing the horse industry and I am asking all the Dubliners to come and support this wonderful event,” she said.
The theme of the development of the horse-jumping sector was taken up later in the day by the RDS chief executive, Michael Duffy, who said in the last few years, the society had made 25 changes in the horse breeding classes to this end.
“We want to get the Irish jumper back at the top of world listings again by boosting the genetics and getting the best mares and stallions breeding here, and that is being reflected in the classes for breeding here,” Duffy said.
He said this was the primary purpose of the horse show and he was delighted there had been a 3 per cent increase in the number of horse entries at this year’s five-day event.
He said the society had spent €8 million on developing and upgrading the grounds and could now claim to have the best main showjumping ring in the world, which is no small achievement.
“Of course there is more to the show than that, with entertainment and trade stands and food. This year we have 303 stands and a waiting list of people wanting space in the event,” he said.
He said the recession was not impacting on the show and bookings for tickets were on a par with last year.
Corporate sites were sold out for the occasion.
Mr Duffy said the RDS had adjusted its position in the market to meet current requirements and was not under any great pressure from rivals like the new conference centre and the Aviva Stadium.
“We are primarily an exhibition centre because we have the space and that is our strength. Like everyone else, we are staging fewer concerts but we are well placed in the market, as I see it,” he said.
He said the society itself is running strongly with 4,000 members and, with 279 years of tradition behind it, it was a survivor.
On the grounds itself, there was talk of a number of horse buyers from Italy being on site looking for good quality, young Irish horses.
This news created much excitement among the horse showing fraternity.
The market for young horses has been flat for a number of years because of the recession and over production of poorly bred animals.
Fortunately for Ireland, that has happened elsewhere as well.
Now because of Ireland’s focus on attempting to ensure the breeding of top-quality show jumpers again, the international equestrian family is starting to look at Ireland again as a potential nursery for good animals.
This week’s horse show will provide a showcase for these animals and the work being done here.