IF you imagined for a minute that post-Dublin Horse Show fatigue had settled on the nation, it only took a trip to Millstreet this week to see that the opposite was the case. In spite of an early arrival on-site on Thursday, the ‘car park full’ signs were out and this was a healthy barometer for the event.

Action continues this weekend and before the final horse has completed the Grand Prix on Sunday evening the task of moving infrastructure to the nearby Drishane Castle will have begun and final preparations will be put in place for the international event starting next Thursday. A record entry has been received and the Duggan family is happy that even a visit to Ireland from Pope Francis will not detract from their showpiece.

Having three successive weeks of high-class showing, show jumping and eventing is exhausting, but also highlights the popularity of the disciplines and the venues at which they are being staged. The Dublin Horse Show takes place in the middle of Dublin 4, at an iconic location that has a long and distinguished history. It is a unique venue.

If you were to suggest building a green-field centre of excellence for equestrian sport, it might be respectfully suggested that you would not build it in Millstreet. However, ‘no’ is not in the vocabulary of Noel C. Duggan and he and his family have left no stone unturned to make Millstreet the success that it has become. Both their Green Glens Arena and Drishane Castle are invaluable cogs in the equestrian infrastructure of Ireland.

Less well-known is the sport of polo, though it continues to grow in popularity. Many of our leading National Hunt jockeys, along with a selection of trainers and international polo players, will take to the field today in the Phoenix Park to raise funds for the Irish Injured Jockeys, the first match taking place at noon. Ireland and the USA ladies will go head-to-head at 3.30pm in the day’s feature.

Tuesday in Dublin saw the Magnier family and Aidan O’Brien become the second Irish recipients of the Longines and International Federation of Horseracing Authorities International Award of Merit, Jim Bolger having been honoured with the inaugural accolade in 2013. While a relatively recent innovation, the award is one of the most prestigious in the world of racing and breeding and to have the Coolmore/Ballydoyle axis recognised jointly was well merited and well received.