The Magic of the RDS Dublin Horse Show

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Hi everyone, and welcome back to this week’s edition of Equestrian Life! 🐴✨

This week we’re talking all about our trip to the RDS Dublin Horse Show — the equestrian highlight of the year here in Ireland (wouldn’t you agree?). It’s one of those rare events that’s loved not just by Irish horse lovers, but by riders and fans from all over the world. And this year was extra special — the 150th year of the RDS Horse Show! 🎉

There’s something truly magical about it. It’s a huge, world-class show… right in the middle of Dublin city. You’d never guess it when you’re there — surrounded by arenas, warm-up rings, the buzz of the crowd, and that unmistakable horsey atmosphere. The city feels a million miles away.

Part of what makes the RDS so unique is the mix of people and competitions. You’ve got show jumping, working hunter, showing, eventing, side saddle, Connemaras, cobs, pony club games… and then, of course, the big international show jumping classes. The RDS is part of the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup Series — so we’re talking top riders from all over the world, competing in the legendary Aga Khan Trophy and the Rolex Grand Prix of Ireland.

And the best bit? You get so close to the action. We had amazing seats on Saturay — the kind where the international riders (such as Cian O’Connor, Mikey Pender, Joe Stockdale, Niamh McEvoy, Laura Kraut (and so many more)) were strolling up and down the steps right beside us on their way to hospitality. You can watch them in the warm-up ring, see the horses up close, and get a real behind-the-scenes feel that you just don’t get at every show.

This year, I was lucky enough to go for two full days. On Wednesday, I headed in with some of my yard mates to cheer on a friend competing. And on Saturday, we went together for our mother-daughter tradition — a full day of shopping, soaking up the atmosphere, and watching the big international classes like the Puissance, the Dublin Stakes, and the thrilling 128 relays.

So, come along with us for a little tour of our days at the RDS — the shopping, the sport, the food, and the special moments that make it such an unforgettable event.

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Planning the Trip

Let’s start with the ticket saga for this year…

We always like to get really good main arena seats for the Saturday, because that’s when we love to watch the Puissance (and all the other big internationals) in comfort. You can get general admission tickets, which get you access to everything except the main arena seating, or seated general admission tickets, which include general admission plus an assigned main arena seat for all the international competitions.

Normally, we just book our seated tickets and think no more about it. But last year, right at the end of the show, they announced they’d be dismantling one of the main arena stands — the Anglesey Stand — for 2025. Which instantly made us think: uh oh, fewer seats means harder-to-get tickets!

So we got organised. We set reminders on our phones every 10 days for six months to check Ticketmaster for updates. And it’s a good thing we did, because tickets went on sale later than usual while they figured out the new seating. (Spoiler: the temporary stand they built was fantastic.)

Our persistence paid off. We managed to bag amazing seatsin the grandstand — just below the VIP area, about five metres from the arena edge and with a perfect line of sight to the Puissance wall. Best seats we’ve ever had. We thought we’d had great tickets in previous years… until we sat here!

For Saturday, we booked seated tickets in advance. For Wednesday, I went with my yard friends and only needed general admission — slightly cheaper (about €10 less) — since I was there mostly for the workers, a bit of shopping, and some show jumping. If you’re going to spend the whole day at the RDS and you want to watch the internationals in comfort, I’d say go for seated tickets. There are a few free standing areas, but they’re first-come-first-served and not always open.

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Getting There

We’re lucky — we live less than an hour from Dublin city, so the train is the best way for us. One direct commuter train into town, then a quick hop onto the DART (all on the same ticket, no platform changes). Easy. Door-to-door in about an hour, maybe an hour and a half at most.

Wednesday was an early start — up at 6 a.m., on the 6:50 train, arriving at the RDS by 8:20 (before the front doors opened, so we were snuck in the side entrance (by some very kind security guards) with a handful of other early birds. Saturday we took a later train but still arrived bright and early, staying right through to 8 p.m.

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Accommodation

We don’t stay overnight because we’re so close, but we’ve looked into it… and honestly? Unless you absolutely have to, don’t. Dublin hotel prices during Dublin week are eye-watering. If you must stay over, book well in advance and maybe look just outside the city.

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What to Wear

This is not the day for heels — even if it is a fancy show. There’s a lot of walking involved. Go for comfortable shoes or trainers, and be ready for all weathers (it’s Ireland, after all). We’ve had years with the odd shower, but this year was glorious — sunny and dry, just a little breezy on Saturday. A raincoat in the bag is never a bad idea.

For the record, my mum’s green wool fedora with feathers has become a bit of a trademark at shows… but most people are in jeans, gilets, and comfy footwear. You can always spot the real horsey crowd, the first-timers, and the super-glam set!

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Food & Drink

There’s no shortage of choice — everything from sit-down restaurants to food trucks serving pizza, Thai food, curries, burgers, sandwiches, donuts, and champagne. But queues can be long, especially on busy days like Saturday, and prices are what you’d expect for a big event.

We often bring our own picnic (especially on Saturday) — sandwiches, snacks, bottles of water — which means no queuing and more time for shopping or watching classes. Wednesday was quieter, so I grabbed some chips and sprite with friends without having to wait in line.

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If you’re going to the RDS, my big tips are:

• Book seated tickets early if you want to watch the internationals in comfort.
  
• Wear comfy shoes and dress for the weather.
  
• Bring a picnic on busy days.
  
• Take the train if you can — it’s far less stressful than city traffic and parking.

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The Classes & Competitions We Watched

Traditionally, Saturday has always been our day at the RDS. For years it was our mother–daughter tradition — because until recently, I wasn’t old enough to go on my own. We picked Saturday for one big reason: the Puissance.

If you’ve never seen it, the Puissance is the famous big red wall that gets higher and higher each round — essentially Chase Me Charlie taken to the absolute extreme. The atmosphere is electric. The main arena is packed to the rafters, with people trying to squeeze in even without tickets. There’s singing, dancing, Mexican waves… but the moment a rider turns towards that wall, the stadium falls into complete, breath-holding silence. It’s one of the coolest things you’ll ever experience in show jumping — and it’s even shown live on TV.

The international show jumping competitions at Dublin are genuinely world-class. The horses are spectacular, the riders are household names in the equestrian world — Olympians, gold medallists, world champions — and the courses are fast, technical, and thrilling to watch.

This year, while we missed the Nations Cup and the Grand Prix, we got to see:

• The Puissance 🟥 — the wall reached dizzying heights, and the atmosphere was unmatched. (won by the one and only Rachel Proudly and Easy Boy de Laubry Z)
  
• The Dublin Stakes — big jumps, fast times, and top riders battling it out.
  
• The International 128cm Relay — where international riders are paired with Irish pony riders on speedy little 128s. Imagine huge warmbloods and tiny pocket-rocket ponies flying around the same course — absolutely brilliant to watch.
  

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Showing Highlights

We also caught some of the national showing classes. While we missed the Connemara pony classes this year (they were on Thursday), we did get to watch a Supreme Championship that included lightweight hunters — and the standard was just fabulous.

On Wednesday and Saturday, I saw some familiar faces competing in the Irish Draught Performance Hunters (4- and 5-year-olds), the Connemara Performance and the Working Hunter Ponies. It’s always special watching someone you know in the ring — but also nerve-wracking!

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The Emotion of Dublin

If you’ve ever done Working Hunter, you’ll know how technical and tricky it can be. Now add huge crowds, noise, and a completely different atmosphere to anything a rider or pony has faced all season… and you get Dublin. Ponies spook at the grandstands, at the flowers, at the people. The courses are unlike anything else.

Just qualifying for Dublin is an achievement in itself. Out of a class of 20, only the top five are called back — so for most riders, being there is the real reward. But it’s tough watching when things don’t go to plan, especially for young riders. My mum has often sat there blinking back tears, wanting to run up to a rider who’s fallen off and say: You’re brilliant — you made it to Dublin!

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The Pony Club Games

We didn’t watch them this year, but we have in previous years. They are utterly bonkers — lightning-fast, slightly chaotic, and full of fearless kids tearing around on ponies. Brilliant fun to watch in short bursts… but they go on for a very long time!

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A Historic Moment

One of the real highlights this year was witnessing Rachel Proudley from Great Britain become the first female rider in 61 years to win the Defender Puissance. The stadium erupted — standing ovation, cheers, and the kind of roar that sends shivers down your spine. It was especially inspiring to see so many talented young female riders in their early 20s competing at the top level this year.

(all other photos property of Our Little House in the Country)

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The Shopping & Our Favourite Stands

Let’s be honest… the real reason some of us go to the Dublin Horse Show is for the shopping. 🛍🐴
(Dont get me wrong- the horses are fab but come on!)

The RDS shopping hall is an equestrian paradise. Yes, it’s always busy, but if you’re prepared to brave the crowds, you can pick up some brilliant deals. Prices tend to drop as the week goes on — Wednesday is full price but fully stocked, Saturday often has reductions, and by Sunday, they’re practically trying to clear the stands. The flip side? By Sunday, the best stuff might already be gone.

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The Annual Hoodie Tradition

Our first stop every year is the official merch stand for the hoodie. The Dublin Horse Show hoodie — complete with Nations Cup/Aga Khan winners flags on the back — is a yard essential. I have a growing collection now, and they’re in constant rotation for riding, at home, and everywhere in between.

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Our Must-Visit Stands

TRI Equestrian – Of course, this is top of the list. We’ve only recently become a TRI affiliate partner, but they’ve been one of our favourites at the Horse Show for years. You’ll find boots, caps, gilets, saddle pads, headcollars, grooming gear, body protectors — you name it. Gilets are our thing, and the fleece ones from TRI are smart, comfy, and practical. They’re one of those “best investments” we recommend to any rider.
(TRI has up to 70% off during the show — affiliate link here — and if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.)

Lemieux – Love it or roll your eyes at the matchy-matchy trend, Lemieux is always a must-visit. Even if I’m not a full matchy-match convert, a good saddle pad or base layer is always on the list. This year’s haul included a base layer and a saddle pad. In other years? Three saddle pads. Socks. The occasional headcollar (Mums convinced have enough- but you can never have too many spares).

Berney Bros Saddlery – Great for tack essentials, like the martingale stopper I needed this year, plus good-value saddle pads and leatherwork. The staff are always friendly and knowledgeable, which makes it easy to find exactly what you need.

Random Finds – Every year there are smaller stands worth a browse — from pick-and-mix pony treats to belts, purses, and feathered fedoras (yes, my mum’s beloved green one came from here a few years back).

Ayre Equestrian – If you’re after brands like Lemieux or Ariat at good prices, this is one to check. They always have the BEST deals

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Shopping Hall vs. Simmonscourt

The main shopping hall (in the main RDS building) is where you’ll find the big-name equestrian stores, tack shops, and yard gear suppliers. Over in Simmonscourt, where the amateur show jumping takes place, the vibe is a bit more “bougie” — think Samshield helmets, Kentucky Horsewear, and high-end country clothing- however there are some hidden treasures hidden around the expensive stalls.

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Extra Tip: The Online Sales

In the week leading up to the show, during the event, and sometimes a few days afterwards, many big equestrian retailers run special “RDS sales” online. Keep an eye on TRI Equestrian, The Equine Warehouse, and others — you can often snap up show-week bargains without setting foot in Dublin.

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Why We’ll Be Back Next Year

Will we be back at the RDS next year? Of course we will. We’ll be back every year — it’s just that kind of event. It’s a real feel-good few days full of excitement, fun, and atmosphere. It’s something we look forward to all summer.

Next year we’ll definitely be there for the Puissance, and I will probably do a couple of midweek days again. Once you start going to Dublin, it’s hard not to make it an annual tradition. If you miss a year, the horsey FOMO is real.

The show is actually on a little earlier than usual next year, so we’ll be factoring it into the summer calendar as always. Everything else gets planned around Dublin — that week is non-negotiable.

If you’re into horses, ponies, or anything equestrian, the Dublin Horse Show is unmissable. There’s something for everyone: world-class international competitions, national classes, amateurs, demos, shopping, and even liberty horses. The mix of professional sport and Irish equestrian tradition is unbeatable.

So yes, we’ll be back — and no, we won’t be sharing our exact seat numbers. The grandstand is ours. 😉

Were you at the RDS Dublin Horse Show this year? What days did you go? What did you watch? What did you buy? We’d love to hear about your experience — drop a comment below, share your Dublin haul, or tag us on Instagram under this post.

Here’s to another brilliant year in 2025! 🐴💚

For more pony adventures, show days and tips, tricks and essentials, check out out Equestrian Life series by clicking here!