THE national equestrian industry in Ireland is set to enjoy a significant boost over the next week as the RDS National Championships, the Irish Breeders’ Classic and the Millstreet International Horse Trials sees close to €300,000 in prize money up for grabs.

The RDS National Championships got underway with the event horse and Connemara/Draught performance classes at Lambertstown, Co Meath, on Tuesday, and they continue this weekend at the RDS in Ballsbridge, where 400 horses and ponies will compete over 18 classes, offering a total prize fund of €135,000.

Each of the young horse classes – four, five, six, seven, eight/nine-year-olds – offer a prize fund of €15,250, with the winner taking home €4,300. There is a special prize of €1,500 for the breeder of the winning horse in each class.

The winner of the three-year-old Potential Event Horse on Friday evening took home €5,000, the biggest pot of the weekend, as well as a €1,500 prize for the breeder. There is a prize fund of €2,600 for each section of the three-year-old Loose Performance class, which is divided into colts and fillies, and €900 for the breeder of each section winner.

Show Director Pat Hanly spoke about this year’s focus, saying: “While we aren’t operating the Dublin Horse Show this year, the RDS reputation in equestrianism is considerable and we have focused on upholding the standard of competitions despite the exceptional circumstances. That is ensured this year with one of the best course designers in the world, Alan Wade, maintaining the high standard of competition, which underpins the value of animals that will compete here.

“There will also be the added benefit this year of all underage riders competing in the RDS main arena, helping to prepare all of them for top-class competitions in the future.

“The RDS is a part of the fabric of the sport horse community. We understand how difficult the past 18 months have been. We know that many will appreciate what we have organised this year despite Covid-19, but like us, many will have an appetite, after two years absence, for a Dublin Horse Show next August,” Hanly added.

CEO of the RDS, Geraldine Ruane, added: “These Championships will help kick start the resumption of trade in high value horses in Ireland. This important export-led industry is worth over €800 million to the Irish economy, supports around 14,000 jobs and contributes hugely to rural Ireland. An important part of our work as a registered charity is giving back to the sport horse industry and helping it thrive.”

All the young horse classes on Sunday will be live streamed, supported by Land Rover. So too will the Amateur championship, four-year-old final and the three-year-old loose performance today (Saturday), and the three-year-old potential event horse class yesterday (Friday). However, there was disappointment among parents and connections of pony riders that their classes in the main arena on Friday were not be streamed live, but instead highlights uploaded to social media.

Irish Breeders’ Classic

Now in its 10th year, the Irish Breeders’ Classic continues to offer the richest young horse class in Europe and has increased its overall prize money again this year to €100,000. The show kicks off next Thursday at Barnadown Showjumping in Co Wexford, running until Sunday. (See full IBC preview on pages 80-81).

Sunday will see the National Champion crowned after the final leg of the Horse Sport Ireland 1.50m Premier Series takes place.

The feature five and six-year-old Irish Breeders’ Classic also takes place on Sunday with a total prize fund of €30,000, €9,500 of that going to the winner. HSI will also sponsor a prize fund of €4,000 which will be allocated to the breeders of the top three horses in the final. The seven and eight-year-old IBC final has a prize fund of €10,000.

Mikey Pender returned home for the RDS National Championships and will also jump at the IBC in Barnadown next weekend. “It’s one of the biggest competitions we have for young horses in the year, one of the best venues in Barnadown with that grass arena. I haven’t won it yet, so I will be trying hard!” Pender said. “It amazing that the young horses can jump for this money, it is the richest prize fund for young horses in Europe so everyone is there to try hard.”

Meanwhile, the Millstreet International Horse Trials take place at the Duggan family’s Green Glen Arena in Co Cork from next Wednesday, with a total prize fund of €28,000. The classes range from CCI4*-L, which offers a prize fund of €4,500, all the way down to the four- and five-year-old National Eventing Discovery.

3Read the Millstreet International preview on page 93.