AS THE 138th Dublin Horse Show got off the ground, the Royal Dublin Society is examining the possibility of reviving its Spring Show – almost 20 years after it ceased.
Michael Duffy, chief executive of the 4,000-strong society, said it was interested in reinstating a “signature” agricultural event like the Spring Show.
It would be unlikely to be a revival of the old show but an event of agricultural significance which would be in keeping with the aim of the society, which was founded to foster educational, economic and cultural life in the country.
He said the society had been doing this for 280 years and continued to do so.
Mr Duffy said the RDS staged 500 events each year, generating €620 million for the economy and attracting 1.5 million visitors through its gates annually.
“We stage what is now accepted as one of the top two horse shows in the world and we have to keep looking all the time at the commercial opportunities to fund the society and its aims,” he said.
The society was on a sound financial base, returning profits of more than €1 million for the last two years and he hoped this year would be the same. The recession was biting in all areas but advanced ticket sales this year were up 6 per cent on last year.
The link back to the society’s role in agricultural education was brought up by Dublin Lord Mayor Andrew Montague, when he arrived by horse-drawn carriage to formally open the event.
He did not know until yesterday, he said, that the Royal Dublin Society had founded the veterinary college – which used to be located nearby – where he had qualified as a vet.
Three weeks after he qualified, he found himself on duty as a vet at the Dublin Horse Show.
“That was back in 1991 and fortunately it was a quiet day and no horses were hurt or needed attention which was very lucky for me because I was very, very nervous.”
Thousands of Dubliners were already on the grounds before the formal opening at noon as city people, in particular, came out in their droves to support the colourful event.
There was a large turnout of families who were entertained by the high-quality jumping and showing of the 1,500 animals which are competing in the various showing and jumping competitions over the five days of the show.
The rain held off as they cheered the spectacular riding skills of the Ukrainian Cossacks and there was special interest in the new classes introduced by the society’s equestrian committee.
These included the Connemara breeders champions, a new class for small event horses, the intermediate working hunter pony competition and a performance for the Irish draught breed, the bedrock of Irish jumping horses.
The opening day of the show is normally one of the quietest but yesterday the grounds were more crowded than usual with an estimated 15,000 people attending the event.
The show runs until Sunday, with the highlight being the Nations Cup competition for the Aga Khan trophy tomorrow, normally the busiest day of the show.