WHILE the loss of Dublin Horse Show to the Irish breeding, showing, and show jumping scene is incalcuable, the financial fall-out of this week’s cancellation of what is the country’s biggest sporting event will put a dent of at least €50 million in the ailing Irish economy.

Only interrupted by world wars in the past, Dublin Horse Show crucially provides a vital shop window to Irish breeders, owners and producers. Over the five-day summer event, 100,000 visitors go through the gates at Ballsbridge, delivering an incredible €10 million spend each day into the economy.

It’s emerged that this week’s cancellation came on the back of the RDS reaching a point where they would have to commit very substantial funding to the show – which costs the Society some €5 million to stage – and with the Covid-19 restrictions, there was no realistic alternative but to cancel the flagship event.

Speaking to The Irish Field this week, RDS Chief Executive Michael Duffy said that the decision to cancel this year’s show – scheduled from July 15th-19th 2020 – was made with ‘great regret’, citing ‘health and safety’ concerns as the main reason for the decision.

Michael Duffy said: “It was a decision from the RDS that came with great regret. The main concerns of course were health and safety, that was the first issue. The show attracts 100,000 people over five days, we followed very carefully and very closely all the HSE advice and Government regulations. We also had our own staff to think about, as well as the 260 volunteers, trade exhibitors and the public.

“The second issue was trying to provide clarity as soon as we could but without making that decision prematurely. People were preparing horses for the qualifiers, booking accommodation, buying tickets, etc., and we wanted to provide clarity as soon as we could. We were looking at the feasibility of international travel – what was the appetite for the show – corporate hospitality – and we came to the conclusion that we really needed to call it. The Council, who are the Trustees of the Society, decided on Monday that we had to call it.”

Asked was there cancellation insurance in place, Mr Duffy said there was “no insurance” and explained: “As you know, the show costs €5 million, plus or minus, and the expenditure acclerates very much from the end of April. We were doing a lot of remedial work on the arenas, preparatory work. It was a matter of cost control, converging factors.”

Asked was there a possibility of the RDS staging a smaller horse show at some later stage in the year – possible either a national show or a two or three-star international show in autumn or winter – Mr Duffy said this was not something under consideration.

“We are planning for a return to normal on a gradual basis. We are not taking risks with anyone. Our Equestrian Committee has not considered that. Our immediate task is to get good dates for Dublin Horse Show 2021 from the FEI. We have options in July and August 2021. The last time Dublin Horse Show was cancelled was 80 years ago so clearly we are going to have an opportunity to have the 147th Dublin Horse Show a really special show in 2021. This year for instance, we wanted and had intended to celebrate the voluntary aspect which is so important to Dublin Horse Show. Without our volunteers, we could not host an event of this size,” concluded Mr Duffy.

FEI Calendar issue

Last Thursday afternoon, an RDS spokesperson confirmed Dublin Horse Show as still on despite the appearance of a ‘cancelled’ listing for Dublin on the FEI Calendar. The FEI Calendar listing was dismissed by the RDS as an ‘internal FEI error’ and almost immediately taken down.

It has since emerged that part of the RDS legal agreement with the FEI, in the case of a cancellation, is that the Society has to apply for consent to cancel and in turn, the FEI has to agree to that. This forms the background to the FEI Calendar listing last Thursday which caused much comment online.

Balmoral Show

With Dublin cancelled, many people are now asking if Balmoral Show, postponed from May to August, will go ahead or not.

Asked was Balmoral still going ahead for its rescheduled dates of August 19th-22nd, a RUAS spokesperson confirmed to The Irish Field this week that Balmoral Show is currently still on. “Yes, the (Balmoral) Show is still scheduled to take place in August. We will continue to carefully monitor the situation and follow UK Government Guidance,” she said.