Dublin Horse Show: equestrian sports stars return to birthplace of show jumping this week

Indeed, Dublin has been called the ‘birthplace’ of modern show jumping, and 2017 marks the show’s 144th year of existence. This CSIO5* competition is one of the places where traditional horsemanship skills like jumping over walls and natural obstacles were gradually codified into a competitive format. In the past, the sport’s world governing body even agreed to allow Dublin to keep its own ‘indigenous’ Irish obstacles in the show. And still today, many of the fences at the RDS arena, which also hosts professional rugby and concerts, represent Irish legends, history and iconic buildings.

Speaking of history, it is said that until around 1920, the sport of show jumping was mainly judged on style and form rather than faults and penalties. But the elite horses and riders coming to Dublin this week — including World No.2 McLain Ward who is returning to Europe after the CHIO Aachen, and who has previously won the Grand Prix in Ireland on Antares F— will be going all out on the grass ground with its 1.60m obstacles, with time and clear rounds on their minds.

Among the headlining events at this year’s show are the FEI Nations Cup qualifier for Europe Division 1 and Sunday’s Longines International Grand Prix of Ireland. The Nations Cup event is the final Division 1 qualifier for the 2017 FEI Nations Cup Final, the CSIO5* Barcelona from September 28 – October 01, and Ireland will be one of the teams looking to secure its place in the decisive competition at the Catalan city’s Royal Polo Club venue. In Ireland, Wexford’s Bertram Allen, as well as Shane Breen, Daniel Coyle, Denis Lynch, Cian O’Connor, Shane Sweetnam, and Billy Twomey are among the world-class riders representing the home country, which is known as the ‘land of the horse’.

On Sunday, the Grand Prix will be the centre of attention, as Ward, Switzerland’s Steve Guerdat, France’s Kevin Staut, Japan’s Karen Polle, Canada’s Tiffany Foster, Italy’s Emanuele Bianchi, Spain’s Eduardo Alvarez Aznar, and Brazil’s Yuri Mansur are among those hoping to get on the prestigious podium. For Great Britain, William Funnell, Jessica Mendoza, Harriet Nuttall, Louise Saywell, Robert Smith, and Tim Wilks are also set to ride in Dublin.

Finally, among the many activities scheduled in Ireland this week will be a show jumping master class by legendary riders Nick Skelton and Eddie Macken.