150th Dublin Horse Show launched at the RDS

Photo: (L-R) Liam Kavanagh (RDS CEO), Fiona Sheridan (Dublin Horse Show Director), Judy O’Donnell and Harry Hillman (both of whom have qualified in the Working Hunter Starter Stakes), Lt Michaeli Byrne, Lt Col Tom Freyne, (OC Army Equitation School), Ray McAdam ( Lord Mayor of Dublin) and John Dardis (RDS President)

The 150th RDS Dublin Horse Show has been officially launched, and it promises to be another thrilling no-to-be missed five days of top class equestrian action in the hearth of the Irish capital.

With a prize fund of over €1.4M divided between 168 classes and competitions, the 2025 RDS Dublin Horse Show will see more than 1600 horses coming through the RDS during the week, attracting over 120,000 spectators. To mark the 150th anniversary of the RDS Dublin Horse Show, a special exhibition will be on display in the main concert hall throughout the duration of the show.

The show kicks off on Wednesday August 6th, with the Minerva Stakes and Sport Ireland Classic being the opening day highlights in the main arena. The five-day RDS Dublin Horse Show will as ever feature a range of young horse classes in Showing, Eventing and Show Jumping, with potential purchasers expected from all over the globe in search of the next Irish-bred star. Thursday is ladies day at the RDS, with the Future Event Horse class and Anglesea Speed Stakes taking place in the main arena. Friday as ever is Aga Khan day as eight of the worlds top teams battle in the Nations Cup. Defending champions the USA will return in a bid to win the Aga Khan for the second year running, but will face tough competition, not least from the home team from Ireland.

Saturday is Puissance day the the RDS as horse and rider attempt to scale the big red wall, while the Dublin Horse Show finale on Sunday August 10th will be the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland. 

Speaking at the launch, RDS CEO Liam Kavanagh said:
“The RDS Dublin Horse Show is the highlight of the Irish Sport Horse industry’s year and we are proud to be hosting it. The show will bring approximately €50m to the Irish and local economy, with the sport horse industry as a whole contributing close to  €1Billion to Ireland’s economy. At the RDS, our mission is to support the Irish sport horse industry, the sport horse breeder and producer throughout. We do that by showcasing the best Irish bred horses, developing a marketplace for the best Irish-bred horses, encouraging the highest possible standards and promoting Show Jumping by hosting an international show to the very highest standards.”

Lord Mayor of Dublin Ray McAdam added:

“The Dublin Horse Show is a beautiful event. It connects rural and urban Ireland. It blends elegance with grit and it draws people of all ages from all over the world. I encourage everyone, wither you are a lifelong enthusiast or a first timer, to come and enjoy the magic for yourself. The Dublin Horse Show is more than a competition. It is a celebration of who we are, of our heritage our excellence and our enduring love of the horse.”

The Irish Horse Board will once again host a trade stand in the Simmonscourt arena throughout the duration of the show, and international visitors interested in coming to Ireland to purchase Irish horses can contact the Irish Horse Board by email: info@ihb.ie

For more information on the 2025 RDS Dublin Horse Show click HERE