CELEBRATING 50 years this year is Kilmacanogue Horse Show with a bumper event planned for Saturday, July 23rd at Enniskerry Horse Farm, by kind permission of Mary and Syl Fenelon Bourke.

Starting out in 1972 as a Horse Show and Pony Gymkhana, Kilmacanogue has become a very special date in the equestrian calendar and has raised hundreds of thousands of euros for charities since its inception.

Remarkably, its current president Harry Williams was involved in the first show in 1972, has been on the committee ever since, and has never missed a show.

This year’s show offers some wonderful in-hand classes. The Irish Draught mare class has a prize fund of €400 and two separate Irish Draught filly and colt foals have a prize fund of €125 each, due to the generous sponsorship of IDHBA Dublin Branch, U.V. Moore and Ronnie, and James Kavanagh. There is also a qualifier class for the Irish Draught Filly Foal Championship at Ballinasloe on September 25th.

The Plessey Cup, first awarded in 1977, will be presented to the winning competitor in the Broodmare class and there will be qualifiers for the A. Browne Filly Foal Championship at Moate Show and the Colt Foal All Ireland Championship at Clarecastle Show.

There is always an in-hand donkey class at Kilmacanogue show and this year’s show has a qualifier for the All Ireland Donkey Mare and Foal Championship at Ballinasloe.

The Kerry Bog Ponies and the Heavy Working Type Farm Horse class are back and there’s a riding class to suit everyone. Children’s classes include The Obedient Pony, Fancy Dress, Style and Appearance and to celebrate the 50th show, the champion of the Riding Classes for 13-16 years (Equitation Class) will be awarded the new Jack Roche Perpetual Trophy. There are Show Hunter, Riding Horse, Clear Round Jumping, Working Hunter, and Performance Hunter rings, not to mention a Carriage Driving Class.

Get baking for the new children’s baking and crafts classes, wild flower arrangement classes and adult baking competitions. There will also be vintage cars on display including Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, sheep shearing demos, free pony rides, the Steadfast Band, Donie’s clever collie dogs herding geese, a showcase of local food and of course the very popular dog show.

Further information, along with the full 2022 schedule, visit www.kilmacanoguehorseshow.com