NEW for this year, the Horseplay Hub will take over the RDS Concert Hall for each of the five days of the 2018 Longines FEI Jumping Nations CupTM of Ireland at the Stena Line Dublin Horse Show with Síle Seoige as the host on Wednesday and Friday.

Starting tomorrow (Wedmesday), on the first day of the Show and created for the curious visitor, Wednesday and Friday will feature farriers, equine vets, historians and course designers, as well as some surprise special guests, to lend visitors a deeper understanding of what goes in to turning out an international show jumper, as well as the making of the Show itself.

Thursday is always a hot ticket with the Dundrum Town Centre Ladies’ Day drawing a crowd. Stylist Laura Mullett will take over the Horseplay hub for the day and be joined by a wealth of other stylish guests, including some Irish designers, with tips on everything from outfits, to hats, to accessories, and how to put them all together.

Saturday and Sunday are traditional family days at the Show and the Horseplay Hub is reflective of this across the weekend. The creative workshops of Imaginosity and Dave’s Jungle Reptile Show are the headline acts and both of them will get children of all ages completely involved. They are supported by numerous other performers at the hub, including magician Brian Daly, circus act The Fanzini Brothers, Friendly Celtic Giants, mime artist Professor Plunger and lively traditional musicians Sin A Deir Sí, to make it a really full day out for all the family.

Of course, running every day of the Show is the Keelings Kids’ Zone where bouncy castles, pony rides and face-painting are all on offer, as is the interactive ‘Learn to Grow Gazebo’ where kids can learn the skills of seeding and planting. And adding to the festival-like feel will be roaming acts around the showgrounds seeking out impromptu audiences wherever they go.

Speaking about this new initiative for 2018, Michael Duffy, CEO of the RDS said: “We have arranged the Horseplay Hub to speak to different audiences on different days of Show. Not everyone who comes to the Show has a deep knowledge of horses or show jumping, so Wednesday and Friday are tailor-made for them with Síle Seoige interviewing people who have behind-the-scenes roles at the Show.

"Ladies Day is on Thursday and that will see style and fashion to the fore with a number of Irish designers and stylists on hand. While at the weekend the hub will be given over to entertainment for children, with some brilliant Imaginosity workshops, musical acts, magicians, clowns and plenty more besides. But away from the hub there is a wealth of other ways to spend the day at the Show, from shopping, to exhibitions, to food and drink and of course the main attraction, as always, is top class international show jumping competitions.”

(See www.dublinhorseshow.com/hub for full details).