What to Wear To This Year's Dublin Horse Show

One of Ireland’s largest and most loved events is back. RDS Dublin Horse Show spans five days combining sport, style and socialising, it requires stamina too …

There will be many equine firsts at this year’s Dublin Horse Show, which starts today. In culinary terms, a pop up restaurant by Michelin starred chef JP McMahon on the band lawn is unprecedented. On Thursday, August 18 and Friday 19, a limited number of pre-booked diners will enjoy a bespoke menu of three courses, selected from a choice of seven savoury dishes, with an optional dessert course. The Band Lawn Menu, €55, features McMahon’s signature style of using only the best fresh, seasonal produce with a keen eye on provenance, as seen in his Galway restaurant Aniar. Guests attending the Horse Show can pre-book their preferred day and choice of sitting (12pm, 2pm or 4pm) through OpenTable through this link. This is the perfect addition to a dream day out at this iconic event, packed with sport, style and socialising.

One of the special guests at the show is seven-year-old Teddy the Shetland pony, who stands at just 32 inches. Teddy will be meeting and greeting fans in the Kids’ Zone and has his own Instagram account @teddytheshetland.

Thursday is of course Ladies Day, when the Very Best Dressed competition takes place in the Band Lawn area – registration is required and is available from 11.30am to 2.50pm. Prizes include a gift card worth €10,000 from Very Ireland and a Longines Dolce Vita watch for the winner of the “Elegance is Attitude” award. One of the judges this year is designer Olivia Rubin, who is best known for her standout skirts and brightly coloured prints. That may be a hint for what she is looking for, by the way.

Ladies also have a chance to enter a second competition – the Continentally Classic Best Dressed Competition, at the InterContinental Dublin. Fashion writer Bairbre Power will be joined by the hotel’s general manager Nicky Logue in judging the Best Dressed on Thursday evening, with a prize of a €1,000 voucher for Kildare Village, the services of a Personal Shopper, complimentary use of the VIP suite, and hands-free shopping for the day. The winner will also enjoy a luxurious overnight stay with breakfast and dinner in the InterContinental Dublin, and in sister MHL Collection hotels the Powerscourt Resort Hotel & Spa in Wicklow and Glenlo Abbey Hotel & Estate in Galway. The Best Dressed Man will receive a night’s stay at the InterContinental Dublin with breakfast, dinner and a bottle of Perrier Jouet Champagne. Doors open at 5.30pm, and the winner will be announced at 7pm.

On Friday, the Aga Khan trophy or Nations Cup competition is the main draw in the main arena, when President Michael D Higgins will also be in attendance. This is the oldest and most prestigious team challenge in equestrian sport. So far, teams from France, The Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland and Ireland have confirmed their participation. On Saturday, the main event is the Land Rover Puissance competition, which tests a horse and rider’s courage, athleticism and mutual trust.

Do visit the My Fair Lady pop up to experience the world of Eliza Doolittle and Professor Higgins and a chance to win tickets for the forthcoming show at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, which will run from October 6-30. To win tickets, attendees at the show can choose from a multitude of props and strike their best pose.

As well as plenty of equestrian action, there are also 300 trade stands to browse including fashion, beauty, homeware, garden, art, antiques and jewellery. As for what to wear to the show, competitors can be spotted in jodphurs, while their chic entourage is most likely to be found in heritage jackets from Magee1866, a crisp white shirt, skinny jeans, horsebit loafers or Dubarry boots. Minimal jewellery is all that’s needed, but a little sparkle is essential – a diamond stud perhaps. For more information visit www.dublinhorseshow.com. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.ie/DublinHorseShow.