The 125th Horse Show opens at the RDS today, and for the first time one of the main events will be a competition between top Irish jockeys and Ireland's showjumpers.
Donning their racing silks on the opening day will be Richard Dunwoody, Tony McCoy, Adrian Maguire and Conor O'Dwyer, who will take part in a time trial event against showjumpers, including Eddie Macken, Trevor Coyle and Peter Charles.
The jockeys-versus-showjumpers competition will be in aid of the Jockey Accidents Fund and will be one of many events taking place during the next five days.
The Horse Show is celebrating both its 125th anniversary and 10 years of sponsorship by Kerrygold. It will be officially opened at noon by the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh.
For the first time since 1938, the prize for the show's most famous event, the Nations' Cup, will not be presented by the President, Mrs McAleese. The President is attending a two-week Irish-language course in Donegal and is unavailable to present the Aga Khan Trophy to the winner.
Seven nations - Britain, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium and Ireland - will have full teams to compete for the trophy on Friday.
South Africa, the US, Portugal, Britain and Ireland will also be represented by individual riders in the other 10 international jumping competitions, and there are almost 1,000 national exhibitors.
The record-breaking prize money this year exceeds £225,000 in the international competitions, while the national jumping and showing-class exhibitors compete for £75,000.
Among the 88 showing classes for horses, ponies and donkeys will be a number of new classes. These will include one for side-saddle riders where horses are drawn from the small hunter and riding horse classes. A new Starter Stakes for show hunter ponies has also been introduced for children under 12, while a competition to find the world's smallest horse will be held on Sunday, the last day of the show.
Tomorrow will be the traditional Ladies' Day, which this year will include a fashion competition with the theme, "Do you stand out in the crowd?", for the best outfit. The prize is a red Rover 214.
In the exhibition halls, there will be a wide range of consumer goods, craft works, equestrian clothing and an antiques fair. The EBS Craft Competition display will act as the focal point of the indoor areas.
A huge demand for corporate hospitality has led to a new section of the grandstand being allocated for this as well as the well-known Pocket area.
The RDS grounds are open from 9 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. daily. Daily adult admission is £6, and £3 for children and senior citizens. Family tickets are £15 for two adults and up to four children under 16 and the Sunday Special Family ticket costs £12 for two adults with any number of children. Admission to the Anglesea Stand and grandstand is free today.