THE sixth Kildare Performance Hunter Show takes place at Punchestown Racecourse, Co Kildare, on Sunday, March 26th next. Organised by the Kildare Hunt Club, the show’s purpose is to find Ireland’s finest hunting horse.

Eighty horses and riders have signed up from hunts across Ireland. It has proved so popular that one class sold-out within 30 minutes. New to the show this year is an Irish Draught class for six-year-olds and upwards, split sponsored by the Kildare Branch of the Irish Draught Breeeders Assoication and West Wood Trailers Naas.

“We wanted the Draughts to have a chance to compete with their peers,” commented Hazel Valentine, committee member and course designer.

The Kildare performance show’s objective is to test the hunting élan of the Irish hunter and to showcase its performance ability on the hunting field. The show will now consists of four classes, besides the Draught class, a four- and five-year-old Yound Hunter (sponsored by producers Rory Cleary Racing & Equine and Graham Dempsey Farrier), six-year-old and upwards Seasoned Hunter (sponsored by Dublin Products Dunlavin Ltd), all guiding 100cm efforts and finally The Berney Bros. Kilcullen-sponsored Huntsman’s Class designed for horses with exceptional ability, with a guiding jumping effort of 130cm.

“In order to accommodate the new Draught class, we had to cut the number of entries from 100 to 80, so we hope it will be a case of quality not quantity on the day,” commented committee member Ronan Wilson.

The course consists of the type of obstacles encountered on the Irish hunting field, such as natural hedges, banks, drains, also man-made ones such as stud rails, wire and gates. With a nod to the Curragh, even a sheep pen has been added.

The horses and riders are evaluated individually by a panel of judges, who ride their final choices over the course. With riders entering and paying on-line, the riders are issued specific start times, enabling a smoother running of the show.

The show has gained a reputation for foreign buyers to visit; looking to source Irish hunters. This year’s entry, which was full after less than 12 hours, and sees at least 45% of the entry for sale. The Kildare Hunt plays no part in the selling process but is happy to promote the Irish hunter at every chance.

“The horses have to tackle the course on their own, there is nowhere to hide and this is where their bravery shines through,” added Wilson.

Located 30 miles west of Dublin, Punchestown Racecourse is considered the home of Irish steeplechasing. In his book Memoirs of a fox hunting gentleman, World War I poet Seigfried Sassoon describes an army friend’s “visionary contemplations of being stationed at the Curragh and riding at Punchestown Races”.

The racecourse itself was founded in 1854 by the hunt club and still remains within the members’ ownership. The performance hunter course is located on the in-field of the only racing cross-country course in Ireland; the La Touche. On this ground was found the natural drains, banks and hedges required to run the show - a fitting tribute to the heritage of National Hunt racing.

(More information on: https://performancehunter.wixsite.com/website)