TAKE A wander through Ballsbridge this week and you’ll catch a whiff of horse manure in the air, but for once it won’t be coming from AIB headquarters.
Hundreds of horses and ponies will be convening on the other side of the road for the annual Dublin Horse Show, which begins a week later than usual (to avoid clashing with the Olympics) this Wednesday.
From pony-club games to the Puissance, the equestrian feats at the RDS are never less than thrilling, but the street outside offers an alternative form of entertainment.
Watch in awe as bankers take their lives in their hands dodging horse boxes, bowler hat-wearing judges and swarms of pony-mad little girls, in a daredevil bid to make it across Merrion Road in time for their 12.30 at Roly’s.
The Dublin Horse Show, which is a highlight of the international show jumping circuit, is expected to attract more than 100,000 visitors this year.
Despite the fact that tickets don’t come cheap (on Friday, it will cost an adult more than €50 for admission and a seat in the Anglesea Stand), advance sales are up on last year, as are show entries.
Bankers may not be impressed that their favourite seats in the Horse Show House are hogged by the horsey set this week, but they’ll just have to slum it in the Ice Bar, because the economic benefits of the event are huge.
Estimates suggest that the iconic show, which attracts buyers from abroad, contributed more than €43 million to the economy last year between direct and indirect spending, and it is hoped that this can be repeated this year.
