Classes
| When: | Where: |
|---|---|
| Saturday 8 August | Ring 1 |
| 30. THOROUGHBRED, mare or gelding, 4 years old and over. (To be ridden by riders who have attained their 16th birthday by 1 January 2026 (Restricted to 18 entries.) |
|
Aim
To showcase successful Irish bred or trained racehorses as useful and suitable riding horses. The horses entered in this class should demonstrate quality, substance, bone, correct conformation, presence and true action.
The class may include racehorses of hack, riding horse or hunter types with the best of type being judged the winner.
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Entry Fee
RDS Members: €360 each entry; Non-Members: €400 each entry.
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Rules
This class is open to Thoroughbred horses only. This class is open to ‘Irish Bred’ horses and / or foreign bred horses that have been trained (for racing) in Ireland for a minimum of one year.
The winner of the open Racehorse to Riding Horse class at the following Shows will also be given an invitation to this class (Please note 2026 Date & Venues will be available below in due course);
- Northern Ireland Festival, Cavan Equestrian Centre, Co. Cavan – Friday 1 May
- Armagh County Agricultural Show, Gosford Forest Park, Co. Armagh – Saturday 13 June
- Athlone Agricultural Show, Athlone, Co. Westmeath – Sunday 21 June
- Charleville Show, Charleville, Co. Cork – Sunday 28 June
- Ballyfoyle Agricultural Show, Ballyfoyle, Co. Kilkenny – Sunday 28 June
- Flavours of Fingal County Show, Swords, Co. Dublin – Saturday 4 July
Please note only competitors who place 1st at the invitational events will receive an invitation, no reserves will be taken.
Please note once a combination obtains an invitation they are not permitted to compete in any further invitational events. If the combination competes in a second invitational event, they will be eliminated from the event and forfeit their invitation to the Dublin Horse Show.
Please note the number of entries in this class will be restricted to 18 (inclusive of the 6 invitations), if more than 18 entries are received horses will be selected (exclusive of the 6 invitations) based on highest official earnings as recorded by the Racing Post database on the 6 July 2026.
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Judging
To be judged on the ride, manners and conformation. Judges will ask the class to gallop. Judges may ride some of the exhibits and may require individual shows from as many as time allows. The individual show, if required, must not exceed 2 minutes and should include walk, trot, canter, a simple change at canter, rein back, strike off on required leg, gallop on, halt and stand still. There will be a strong emphasis on manners, ride and training.
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Awards & Prizes
Class 30;
1st €595, 2nd €415, 3rd €320, 4th €222, 5th €160
The number of prizes awarded is based on the number of animals catalogued. For more information please click here.
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Cups & Trophies
Cup No. 161 – Perpetual Challenge Trophy presented to the winner of the Racehorse to Riding Horse class.
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Parade
Winner and Reserve of this class are required to participate in the Parade of Champions on Sunday 9 August. Further details are available here.
NB: The rules and conditions for each class and competition as published in the current year's RDS Dublin Horse Show Competition Schedule are complete, final and binding.
All exhibitors must read the current year's Schedule when entering for a class or qualifier. No other version of the class detail or rules are considered official. See link to RDS Dublin Horse Show Competition Schedule.
