As a showgrounds, Lisburn Park opened its doors to the public for the first time last year and the move to the new venue was hailed a success by exhibitors and visitors alike. However, there were some teething problems, mainly relating to traffic entering and leaving the 65-acre site, which, for exhibitors at least, have been addressed.

“We have made some subtle layout changes to the showgrounds, primarily to improve the flow and the overall experience for visitors,” said the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society’s chief executive, Colin McDonald. “A traffic management plan for the event includes a provision for a new exhibitor and livestock entrance which will help with traffic flow but we would strongly encourage visitors to consider public transport.”

New classes have been added to the horse and pony programme, headlined by the Stonebridge Premium Feeds young event horses classes for which there are qualifiers at Ravensdale Lodge (April 15th), The Meadows (April 22nd) and Gransha (April 29th).

Diane Gibson, chairman of the RUAS Horse Committee, acknowledged that this means an early start in the career of the four-year-olds but said: “While our classes are similar to those at the RDS, they are more geared towards the less experienced horse. We have received positive reaction to the classes’ inclusion and a lot of enquiries about them.”

Also new to the programme are classes for maxi cobs and ridden Irish Draughts while a young handlers’ competition has been included in the Ulster Bank Clydesdale horse section. In the pony division, the show hunter classes have been extended.

There was disappointment among riders of ex-racehorses that their class had been dropped from the schedule. “We put up good prize money to attract the big name horses but just didn’t get them,” said Gibson. “As their producers target the RDS, perhaps our show comes too early in the season. All classes need to be well supported to retain a place in the programme.”

Speaking at the Iveagh Foxhounds’ point-to-point on Saturday, horse committee member Terence McKeag revealed that this year horses and ponies will be stabled by exhibitor and not class.