Change afoot: Royal Dublin Society staff will carry out a major review of the Dublin Horse Show within the next two months, chief executive Mr Shane Cleary said at the conclusion of the event yesterday.
While it would aim primarily to review the show's importance in promoting the industry, Mr Cleary said it would examine all aspects of the €2 million event which lost money every year.
"We are attempting to find out if the show suits the current trends in the sport/horse industry and if some of the showing classes are as relevant as they used to be," he said. "In some of the showing classes the numbers taking part are falling or have remained static for the last five or 10 years.
"As in all things there is perpetual change and the same is true of the sport/horse industry and we are having the review very quickly to implement any changes that are deemed needed before this time next year."
Mr Cleary said all aspects of the show would come under scrutiny and if changes were necessary they would be made.
He rejected criticisms from some horse owners that bringing, showing and keeping an animal at the grounds for horse show week was becoming too expensive and was keeping smaller breeders out of the rings. He said it cost an owner only €150 to bring a pony and stable it at the show for a week and that cost included entry fees to the various competitions.
He said the public had continued to support the show and the figures available this year showed that the annual attendance of 100,000 would be reached.
Working with the new sponsor, Samsung, had been smooth and that sponsorship would remain in place for the next two years. Fáilte Éireann had also indicated a willingness to continue to be involved as a sponsor.