Dublin Horse Show Information
Accommodation
If you are looking for accommodation, click here to find hotels near the RDS.
Age Limit
All exhibitors leading, riding or showing equines in competition must be 16 years of age or over on 1 January 2024, unless otherwise stated in class detail. No person under 16 years of age on 1 January 2024 will be allowed to show, ride or lead ponies or horses in parade with the exception of riders in the Connemara Performance Hunter, Small Hunters, Riding Horses, Ridden Conemara Ponies and Coloured Horses.
Arrivals/Departures Area
Access for all equines is through the Shrewsbury Road Gate.
Arrivals Time
There are allocated arrivals times for each class. Horses and ponies which do not arrive at the allocated times will not be admitted to the Show. The Arrival Times will be allocated once all entries have been received and will be available on this website.
Car Parking
There is no car parking on site at the RDS during the Dublin Horse Show.
- For details on public car parking and accessibility please click here.
- For details on exhibitor parking please click here or contact the Equestrian Department.
Catalogue
The RDS will endeavour to have the Catalogue as complete as possible and in accordance with the particulars given on the entry form. It cannot however, hold itself responsible for any additions, omissions or mistakes which may occur for any reason whatsoever in the Catalogue.
Class Cancellation
If fewer than 6 entries are received in any class, the class may be cancelled or amalgamated with other classes.
Departures
All horses which have completed their adjudication and are not required for parades may be removed between 8.00am and 8.00pm by the Arrivals/Departure Area upon surrendering their head number or travelling label.
Dogs
Dogs, with the exception of Guide Dogs, will not be permitted on any part of the Showgrounds including the Arrivals area.
Drug and/or DNA Testing
Will be carried out at the Show.
Dress Code
Neat dress is required in the judging rings at all times. Jacket, collar and tie must be worn by all exhibitors in the judging rings. Riders must be in correct attire and protective headgear must be worn when horses are being ridden. Further guidelines on the dress code can be found here.
Entry Closing Dates
Entries will open on Tuesday 4 June 2024, at 9am. Entries close on Monday 8 July 2024, at 5pm.
Equine Vaccination Requirements
Compulsory Vaccination against Equine Influenza
To control Equine Influenza, all equines must be vaccinated every year as a routine measure. The primary vaccination must consist of two inoculations given at intervals not less than twenty-one days and not more than ninety-two days apart. Booster given between one-hundred-and-fifty days (5 months) and two-hundred-and-fifteen days (7 months) after the primary vaccination. The annual booster dose must be administered within twelve months of the previous inoculation.
The Vaccination Requirements and Protocol for national horses and ponies entering the RDS Showgrounds is as follows:
All (national) horses and ponies entering the Showgrounds must have received the primary vaccination against Equine Influenza. The primary vaccination must consist of two inoculations given at intervals not less than twenty-one days and not more than ninety-two days apart. The Booster vaccination, which is given between one-hundred-and-fifty days (5 months) and two-hundred-and-fifteen days (7 months) after the primary vaccination, is not necessary for entry to the Show.
For details on the Vaccination Requirements for international horses click here - Vaccinations | FEI
Recommended Head Gear
Protective headgear conforming to the current recommended BSI Kitemark or Inspec IC Mark standards – PAS 015 2011, Snell E2016 (with official Snell label and number), ASTM F1163 (2004a or 04a onwards with SEI Mark), VG1 01.040 (2014-12), UTAC / CRITT or AS/NZS 3838 (2006 onwards and must have SAI Global mark), and fitted with an adjustable harness, is compulsory for all riders.
(Please note that as of 1 January 2023 hats with PAS 015 (1998) and Snell E2001 kitemarks / standards can no longer be accepted).
International Competitions
Details of the 2024 International Competitions and 2024 International Competition Schedule are not available yet. For information on the 2023 competitions please click here.
Mobile Phones
The use of mobile phones is prohibited in all judging rings, exercise rings and jumping arenas.
Mucking Out
Boxes must be cleaned before 8.30am or after 6.30pm each day. A €60 fine will be levied on owners in breach of this rule.
Irish-bred Restricted Classes
The 2005 Show demonstrated a significant increase in the number of horses bred outside of Ireland competing at Dublin. The rationale behind the Show and its classes is to promote Irish breeding and the Irish horse and it is for this reason, in support of the Irish-bred horse, that we have introduced a restriction to a number of classes.
These classes are restricted to horses foaled in Ireland with appropriate documents to support that fact. Microchipped horses that are entered in a class with the Irish-bred restrictions, must be micro-chipped to reflect this rule. The Irish-bred classes provide the ideal opportunity to showcase the best of Irish horses. Otherwise the Dublin Horse Show remains a truly open international show.
The following classes are subject to the Irish-bred restriction:
- Show Hunters (Classes 1 - 10)
- The Working Hunter Championship (Classes 13-17)
- Three Year Old Potential Event Horse (Class 61)
- Three Year Old Loose Performance (Class 62)
- Four & Five Year Old Young Event Horses (Classes 63 & 64)
- Junior / Young Rider Event Horse (Class 65)
- The Four Year Old Show Jumping (Class 104), Five Year Old Show Jumping (Class 105) and Six Year Old Show Jumping (Class 106) classes are restricted to animals registered as being bred on the Island of Ireland and those entire animals (stallions and mares) bred outside Ireland that are registered and approved/preliminary approved, or select for breeding in an Irish Studbook (Approved by the Dept of Agriculture) prior to the qualifying competition
- The Racehorse to Riding horse class is restricted to horses that have either been bred in Ireland or foreign bred horses that have been trained (for racing) in Ireland for a minimum of one year
Rules & Regulations
All equines exhibited must at all times comply with all current regulations and guidelines issued by the Irish Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. All exhibitors must comply with the RDS rules and regulations which can be seen here.
Smoking
In accordance with the legislation and fire regulations. Smoking is not permitted in any indoor area on the Showgrounds or in any stabling / hay barn area.
Alternative Stabling
Due to limitation on stabling, a quota system will apply. If the number of entries exceed the capacity of stabling, precedence will be given to the earliest correct entries received. You are advised to ensure that your entries arrive early to avoid disappointment.
The following list of riding centres may have stabling available for exhibitors who may need to bring horses or ponies with them which are due in the RDS towards the end of the week.
Please note the RDS is providing this list as an aid to exhibitors ONLY and all livery conditions, costs and insurance implications are between the exhibitor and the riding centre. Exhibitors are free to use any other centre of their choice and knowledge.
Carrickmines Equestrian Centre, Glenamuck Road South, Carrickmines, Dublin 18
Tel: 01 2955990
Website: www.ceq.ie
Kells Equestrian Centre, Carlanstown, Kells, Co. Meath
Tel: 087 9544351
E-mail: kellsequi@hotmail.com
