2022 Dublin Horse Show: Everything You Need to Know!

Filled with great family fun, good food, fancy drinks, and a little dressing up, the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Dublin Horse Show is an amazing experience and one of the best days out of the summer. And that’s not even mentioning the horses! Throughout the five days the extensive RDS grounds will host the best of equestrianism- it is, after all, considered one of the top equestrian shows in the world.

But it’s not all about the horses! The Show is a dazzling social occasion; a unique place to meet up with friends and family to experience lively bars, great food, style and shopping.

So, enjoy a day out at the Dublin Horse Show, a thrilling festival where summer memories are made.

There is lots to do at the Dublin Horse Show, with some of the world’s best showjumping to the forefront. There are over 168 equestrian classes and competitions throughout the five days including showing classes, performance classes, national and international showjumping, with the best horse and rider combinations from around the world being showcased. The prestigious Aga Khan Trophy is on offer for the winner of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ of Ireland, where 7 international teams compete against each other on Friday. The Land Rover Puissance with the big red wall is a fan favourite on the Saturday of the Show and the Longines Grand Prix of Ireland closes out the Show on Sunday.

Very Best Dressed, Thursday, August 18 is the day to get suited and booted for what is historically known as Ladies’ Day at the Dublin Horse Show. Frocks, fascinators, and fabulous style are part of this elegant day for both ladies and gents, which never disappoints. Be in with a chance to win a €10,000 very.ie voucher for Very Best Dressed.
 
Every year, the Show provides an excellent entertainment programme for all visitors to the Show. For 2022, there is a wealth of entertainment planned throughout the 5 days, with music and circus-like acts on hand to entertain and captivate audiences at the Band Lawn. Many acts will also be roving around the RDS, bringing a festival feel to the occasion. In addition to this, there is also a host of equestrian entertainment such as Gari Zoher and his Lusitano Stallions and Horses Inside Out with Gillian Higgins.
The fun isn’t just restricted to adults, there is lots of family fun too, including the Schleich Play Hub and the Kids Zone, as well as interactive entertainment such as Drum Dance Ireland Workshops and Wooly Pet Farm.

With over 50 food stalls, 9 on-site restaurants & cafés, and 13 bars, the Dublin Horse Show has something for everyone and for all budgets. From healthy & vegan options like Cali Cali and Mean Greens, to family favourites like Eddie Rockets and Fish Shack. Or you can treat yourself to bubbles and seafood at the Champagne & Seafood bar.  

Yes, there is a lot of shopping at the Dublin Horse Show. The Show takes over Halls 1, 3,
and 4 of the RDS campus with a variety of shopping. You will be spoiled for choice with the wide range of products on offer from gifts, fashion, beauty, homeware, leisure & all things equestrian to art, antiques, and jewellery!

Absolutely! The Dublin Horse Show is a family favourite every summer. Keep the little ones enthralled with a mix of interactive entertainment roving throughout the RDS grounds.

There is a large Kids’ Zone behind the Grandstand, where you can meet Wooly Farm and their animal friends as well as partake in face painting and inflatable attractions. The HorsePlay Hub in the Concert Hall with interactive workshops from Drum Dance Ireland and shows from the likes of Ronaldo Fanzini: King of Mayhem, and much much more.
The Schleich Play Hub will be at the show again this year, showcasing the best of their toy offerings, running competitions, and free giveaways throughout the event.

There are many options for visitors traveling to the Dublin Horse Show. Being held in the heart of Ballsbridge in Dublin, it is easily accessible by multiple forms of public transport and it is encouraged that as many attendees as possible use one of the many public transport links to the venue.

There are several major Dublin Bus routes that stop either right beside the venue or without a 5-10 min walk, including the 4, 39a, 46a, 145, and more that can be found here. Additionally, the show is within easy walking distance of two Irish Rail Dart stations at Sandymount and Lansdowne Road.

If you are planning to drive to the show, please note that there is no parking on the RDS campus itself. You can find more info on the car parks available during the show, with free shuttle bus transfers here.

Wheelchairs are available at the Hall 1 Cloakroom on the day for a €20 deposit. There are a limited number of wheelchair viewing spaces in front of the Grandstand and Anglesea stands. These spaces have to be booked via Ticketmaster in advance. Accessible viewing areas at Ring 1, Ring 2, and Simmonscourt do not require advance booking and are prioritised for wheelchair users.

Sustainability is more important than ever for the Dublin Horse Show. This starts with the horses. The manure from the 1,600 horses competing at the show is collected and transferred to an industrial composting site where it is turned into nutrient-rich fertilizer for gardeners and food producers.  As well as this, in 2022 the Horse Show team has begun digitalisation their printed materials at the show. QR codes across campus give online access to information about the show, reducing the paper footprint by more than 25,000 printed pages this year.

They have also increased the variety of plant-based menu options available across the catering vendors at the show, with more than 19 outlets offering vegan-friendly choices. This is just a start for the Dublin Horse Show, and more sustainability initiatives are already in planning for 2023.

Tickets are available here. The RDS recommends that if you are planning to attend the event that you book your tickets well in advance.
To stay up to date with the #DublinHorseShow news, make sure to follow Dublin Horse Show on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @DublinHorseShow.