New Equestrian Holidays Ireland website

Equestrian Holidays Ieland have just launched their new and exciting website - www.ehi.ie. Equestrian Holidays Ireland (or EHI) represent the best of what Ireland can offer the comtemporary equestrian tourist. From post-to-post trail riding through some of Ireland's most scenic and unspoilt countryside to cross-country jumping on famous castle estates, www.ehi.ie has all the info you need to plan the perfect equestrian getaway.

Cirque du Cheval - Christmas on Horseback

Don't miss the most spectacular equestrian event to hit Irish Soil.The show, " Cirque Du Cheval", is a truly breathtaking production featuring top European acts, and will run from the 3rd-6th of December in the Alliance Arena, at Kill International Equestrian Centre, just 5 minutes from Newlands Cross.

This event promises to be the most talked about Equestrian production, appealing to all ages and tastes.This world class production will offer the family something spectacular this Christmas. The audience will be treated to a breathtaking choreographed performance, which will combine dramatic action, humour and awe inspiring lighting effects.

This Equestrian theatrical extravaganza, will feature Gerard Naprous and the Devils Horsemen, Irish and Team GB Vaulters, Ukranian Cossack riders, a Spectacular Western Riding display, Santa Claus and much much more. Centred around a Christmas theme, the event will feature a pantomime element throughout the show, which will keep the younger audience entertained.

There will even be an opportunity to visit Santa in his grotto before the Matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday.The world renown feature act, Gerard Naprous and the Devils Horsemen, have been wowing Cinema, T.V., and live audiences for more than 30 years. This will be their first ever live performance in Ireland, although you will be familiar with their Equestrian co-stars from the many film roles, and T.V. ads they have performed in. One of the few acts to have performed at both HOYS and Olympia, they will thrill the audience with their unique style, passion and flair, and mind blowing horsemanship.The Ukranian Cossack performance, is a dazzling display of dare devil stunts. Derived from the Military training of the Mongol Cavalry, all the way from the Steppes of Russia, the cossacks perform a range of acrobatics on horseback, which will keep spectators on the edge of their seats!

Following on from that will be the first ever Irish Display of Equestrian Vaulting. This Spectacular sport which features in the World equestrian games in 2010, currently has only one Irish International competitor, Alison Rimaud. With roots in Co. Kildare, but based in France, Alison will perform with one of the French Riders, and they will be joined by the amazing Team GB, who are looking forward to showing off their considerable skills to an Irish Audience.Western Riding has had a huge upsurge in interest since the announcement of Reining as a sport for WEG 2010, and Cirque Du Cheval are delighted to have, Flaming Hooves, (Riverdance on Horseback) to entertain audiences with a display of amazing South American Paso Fino Horses.To entertain those who prefer canine to equine, we have invited along the top canine agility performers. Negotiating a course of obstacles at full speed, they must maintain accuracy and obedience while jumping through hoops!

Santa will also be on hand, and a pantomime theme will run throughout the show. Look out for Lottie and Dottie........

Tickets are now on sale through Ticketmaster. Early booking is advisable, as this is for a limited run only.

Ballinasloe October Fair kicks off this weekend!

The Ballinasloe Horse Fair and Festival is kicking off in County Galway this Saturday October 3rd and running right through until Sunday 11th. Its one of the oldest fairs in Ireland and a real celebration of all things equestrian with lots of fun stuff happening all over the town to entertain the whole family.

Thoroughbred Trail Weekends

Well the first of the highly anticipated Thoroughbred Trail Weekends has just gone by (Sept 11th - 13th) and was a great success with 50 people joining the 2-day trip! So now we're looking ahead to the next installment in November from Friday 13th to Sunday 15th which coincides with the races at Punchestown.

For those of you haven't already heard we have teamed up with a number of luxury accommodation providers, trainers yards, studs and racecourses to offer a number of insider, behind the scenes racing weekends in Ireland. Our host is Frances Crowley, a former Classic Winning trainer and Champion Amateur Jockey who accompanies the group on its visit to one of our Trainer’s Yards and to the National Stud to see the horses and meet the trainer’s who will answer questions and give insights into the preparations that go into Race Day. Frances will also be on hand to act as tipster for the afternoon’s horse racing and may even organise some surprise visitors to the table!

Log onto www.goracing.ie or www.discoverireland.ie/equestrian for more details and how to book.

Limerick to Dublin by Stagecoach

The Bowman family with their teams of horses will retrace the steps of the coaching era, travelling the highways and byways from Limerick to Dublin with all the proceeds going to the Barretstown ‘a Hole in the Wall Camp’ charity.

Barretstown is a specially designed camp for children with serious illnesses - primarily cancer and serious blood diseases - from Ireland, Britain and throughout Europe. They provide a unique programme of adventure, activities and fun,which helps children with serious illness regain their confidence, trust and self-esteem so its a really worthwhile cause and should be a cracking experience!

Its happening from September 21-24 with stop-overs along the way at historic coaching inns and hotels. You can downlada their brochure on Discoverireland.ie/EQUESTRIAN.

Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show 2009 (Part 2)

Here you spoke to the CEO of the RDS, Michael Duffy and asked him to explain what the Dublin Horse Show is all about. It should give you a flavour of what the event in the heart of Ireland's capital is all about! Courtesy of Discover Ireland and Festival TV.

Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show Video (Part 1)

As promised here is the first of our video pieces on the 2009 Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show - enjoy! Courtesy of Discover Ireland and Festival TV.

Environmental best practice for Irish equestrian centres

Fáilte Ireland (Irish Tourist Board) are currently in the process of preparing environmental guidelines for riding establishments in Ireland. Headed up by the Environment Unit work began on the project in July. The main objectives are to undertake a number of environmental audits of Irish equestrian centres with a view to identifying and evaluating all the significant environmental impacts and issues associated with them. Then based on the observations at each centre, as well as current environmental legislation and international best practice, we will produce and publish best practice guidelines for distribution to all equestrian cenrtes in Ireland. We hope the recommendations in the final report, which is due out later this year, will further an awareness and appreciation of environmental best practice in Irish equestrian centres and highlight cost-saving opportunities in the process.

Dublin Horse Show teaser videos coming soon

We are currently preparing a number of short teaser videos we made at this year's very successful Dublin Horse Show at the RDS in Dublin to give those of you who have never been to the event before a feel for what its all about and as you will see, there is much more to the Dublin Horse Show than meets the eye. They will be available to view exclusively here on this blog soon so keep your eyes peeled! Courtesy of Discover Ireland.

Busy Time for Irish Equestrian Sports!

These next two weeks are surely the most exciting for any equestrian enthusiast in Ireland. The Galway Races (July 27th - August 2nd) kicked off yesterday at Ballybrit and launched Galway City into into its busiest week of the year. And next week we have the Dublin Horse Show (August 5th - 9th) in the RDS. This year I am lucky enough to have the opportunity to go to both so I'm hitting the road for Galway tomorrow morning to make the first race of the day at 1.50pm (tomorrow's feature race is the William Hill Galway Plate and 4.25pm).

Then next week we're offered a few day's grace after the last race of the festival in Galway until the doors of the RDS open at 9am on Wednesday morning. If you're planning on coming along over the course of the 5-day show be sure to drop by the Discover Ireland stand (D1) right inside the entrance to the Main Hall of the RDS. With food tasting, demonstrations, live music face-painting and much more happening each its the right place to start your Horse Show journey! And we have a competition running each day on the stand to win one of 5 activity breaks around Ireland. Enjoy the show!

Great publicity for the Killarney Riding Stables

As you can imagine, an important part of being a successful equestrian tourism centre is generating positive publicity for it where you can and getting the good word out there not only about you and your centre, but about the area in which you live. Well when it comes to publicity there's no better man than Donie O'Sullivan at the Killarney Riding Stables in Kerry.

Not only was Donie and his world famous stables featured on Fáilte Ireland's Master's Apprentice series earlier this year on RTE 1, but following a visit by a German TV crew a couple of months ago, their adventure with Donie on the Ring of Kerry will be broadcast on German television (ARD) on a program called “Ratgeber Reise” this coming Sunday, July 26th. Now I realise that many of you do not have access to German television, nor I expect, do many of you speak fluent German, but if you do you should take a look or watch it online on www.daserste.de/ratgeber/reise_default.asp.

Renowned Horse Whisperer coming to Ireland

Derek O'Byrne-White of Cochise Stud is bringing the renowned horse whisperer Franklin Levinson to Ireland from August 23rd to 29th. Mr. Levinson will be giving a presentation at the Game and Country Fair at Birr Castle and Demesne in Offaly on the 22nd and 23rd. He will then be travelling to Cochise Stud on the 24th and 25th, Coolmine Equestrian Centre in Saggart on the 27th and Lonesome Dove Ranch in Cliffony, Sligo on the 29th.

This is a great opportunity to see one of the finest horse whisperers of our time in action. You can find out more at http://www.wayofthehorse.org/ or http://www.cochisestud.com/.

See the world - walk a donkey!

Have you ever lay in bed hitting the snooze button ever 5 minutes for over an hour to avoid going to work, dreaming about your perfect holiday? Me too. Has that holiday ever involved a donkey? Me neither. But believe or not donkey-walking holidays are becoming more and more popular in Ireland!

I was back West a few days ago visiting some equestrian centres I hadn't been to before but heard a lot about. I ended up going for coffee with Bertie Cummins from An Sibin equestrian centre in Whitegate, near Mountshannon in Clare. Bertie runs the Galway Clare Burren Trail and we somehow got talking about donkeys - probably because my dad has a couple at home in Mayo and managed to breed two foals last year. Donkey foals are pretty cute but apart from their aesthetics, their role in Irish life has lessened in importance over the decades.

I told Bertie I had heard that Mary and Hans Clissmann in Wicklow, who run Clissmann Horse Caravans, have started Donkey Walking holidays and it was proving pretty popular, particularly with German guests. A visitor can rent a donkey for a week, load it up with luggage and what not and lead it lazily over the Wicklow Way, staying at different B&Bs every night. It turns out Bertie has been doing the same thing for years! How had I never heard about this, surely the most unique walking experience this country has to offer? Its not hard to see the appeal. A real 'get away from it all,' across Ireland's green hills with a trusted friend.

A Trail Ride in Donegal

Trail-riding in Ireland is something of an iconic image I think. Braving the Irish elements on horseback, exploring exposed and dark bog landscapes, trekking mountainous paths that overlook a dramatic Atlantic coastline far below, or galloping a lonely sandy beach, waves crashing beside you on the shore. It sounds dreamy, almost other-worldly doesn't it? There must be people all over the world who would give anything for an experience like this! What I can never understand is why we in Ireland aren't all out there doing this in our free time. We live in a place where opportunities like this abound all along the West Coast.

The Connemara Trail, the Galway-Clare Burren Trail, the Ring of Kerry Trail, all gorgeous! But if you really want to experience something truely unique in Ireland, you might need to consider heading up to Donegal. The natural beauty of this region is unparalleled and still somewhat of an state secret. Trail-rides at Dunfanaghy Stables at Arnold's Hotel have been attracting horseback adventurers from around the world for years and is it any wonder why - just look at that photo! Their 5-day trail includes accommodation, gourmet evening meals and packed lunches so you can have the best of both worlds - a challenging trek by day followed by a relaxing evening (indoors) with some good mates. Log onto www.arnoldshotel.com/Dunfanaghy-Stables for more details.

Ravensdale Lodge, the Cooley Mountains and a good eye.

If you haven't been to Ravensdale Lodge Equestrian and Trekking Centre in Louth, you're missing out on one of Ireland's most scenic riding spots. Treks in the area against the backdrop of the Cooley Mountains are stunning. I was speaking to Niall [Connolly], Ravensdale proprietor, recently and complimented him on the imagery he uses on his website (http://ravensdale-equestrian-centre.com/), he must have a good eye I said! He quite rightly replied, "I have a good eye I suppose but any gobshee could have a good eye around here, in fact if you couldn't get good images here there'd be something very wrong!" I couldn't agree more.

Niall kindly agreed to allow us access to some of his images to help promote the region under a new Discover Ireland campaign promoting the region that falls within an hour's drive of our Capital. Here's an example of one of the ways Nialls images from Ravensdale are helping us get the message out there that a world class equestrian experience is right on your doorstep. The image speaks for itself!

You can find out more about Ravensdale Lodge and other equestrian centres in Ireland on www.discoverireland.ie/equestrian.

Equestrian Twitter

Its a bizarre thing Twitter but it seems everyone is doing it and we're nothing if not sheep! For exciting horse-riding holiday ideas or racing festival up-dates why not follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/HorseIreland. By the way the Dublin Horse Show is coming up soon (August 5-9) so if you're planning a city break with an equestrian edge this is the perfect opportunity to get the best of both worlds. Book your accommodation soon though and for tickets log on to http://www.dublinhorseshow.com/.

The Curragh Derby Festival

The home of Irish flat racing and the largest horse training centre in the country, the Curragh has been host to all the great names in racing such as Alamshar, Galileo, and High Chaparral. And who could forget the famous but ill-fated Shergar?

Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby Day is the highlight of the racing calendar. Taking place on Sunday 28th June, it is an infectiously exciting social occasion of great glamour and electric atmosphere. The moment you arrive you know that this day is going to be special. Featuring some of the finest racehorses in the world, owned, trained and ridden by the world’s finest trainers and jockeys, let yourself be swept away by the thrill of this world-class racing. For more information on the event or on the Curragh itself log on to www.discoverireland.ie/equestrian or www.curragh.ie.

Greyhound Racing and Horse Racing - A Dual Race Day at Dundalk Stadium on July 12th

For a really unique day out you should consider heading to Dundalk Stadium's Dual Race Day on Sunday 12th July with the Best Dressed Lady Competition taking place in that afternoon.

Dundalk Stadium will host a 7 race horse card commencing at approximately 2.15pm followed by 12 greyhound races commencing at 7.45pm which includes one of the biggest events of the year, the Dundalk International 2009. This race is one of the richest one-off events in the UK and Ireland with some of the top Irish and English greyhounds being invited to take part.

All ladies should register in advance on: www.dundalkstadium.com and there is a programme of entertainment to delight kids and adults alike throughout the afternoon. Its shaping up to be great day out. Did you know Dundalk Stadium is Ireland’s first floodlit all-weather horse track?

Where to find the really detailed information...

I forgot to mention that if you are looking for really detailed information on horse-drawn caravans you should check out www.irishhorsedrawncaravans.com. There are only four operators in the country and they are all listed on this site. You'll find them in Mayo, Wicklow, Laois and Galway - really beautiful parts of the country.

If however its horse racing that gets you going you should have a look at www.goracing.ie. There are 26 racecourses all over Ireland and well over 300 race meetings a year so this is a must on any trip with an equestrian edge. The Galway Races are fantastic by the way if you can manage to get down there for them you wont regret it and Galway City itself, unforgettable.

Equestrian Holidays Ireland offer a residential riding experience and represent about 20 of some of the best operators in the country. Have a look at www.ehi.ie for more information. Talk to you soon!

For All Things Equestrian...

Over generations horses and Ireland have been synonymous. The country has a deep tradition in equestrian matters which is anchored in our reputation for excellence in horsemanship, breeding and training, as well as our countryside and our affinity as a people with horses. Overseas visitor numbers engaging in equestrian activities has been steadily increasing over the past number of years and in 2007, 50,000 overseas tourists took the time to find out for themselves why Ireland is known as Land of the Horse.

With 48 equestrian tourism centres scattered all over Ireland, it has never been easier to find a horseback activity to suit your needs. From a gallop across a sandy beach in Donegal to a lazy trek through the Wicklow hills, horse riding has something for everyone. Trail-riding through some of the most beautiful landscapes in Ireland like the Burren, Connemara and Kerry offer challenges and great rewards to the more experienced rider. However if you are looking for something a little more luxurious than a cross-country trek there are residential riding centres all over Ireland where you can relax in gorgeous accommodation, enjoy fine food and take a more leisurely approach to your riding. Horse riding in Ireland is a holiday with a difference. Chill out or break free.

There are plenty of unique experiences awaiting the equestrian tourist in Ireland, none more so
that a break in a horse-drawn caravan. What better way to see rural Ireland than with a trusted friend in your own covered wagon. Take your horse and caravan down lonely country roads and get back to basics. Each caravan is beautifully equipped with a kitchen and comfortable beds. Stay at a different farm site each night and explore the countryside at your own pace.

If however you are looking for something a little less hands-on, maybe a day at the races is more your thing. Did you know there are 26 racecourses in Ireland and over 300 race meetings every year? An estimated 1.4 million people went to the races last year making a day at the races one of Ireland’s most popular pastimes.

So whether you are looking for your first riding lesson, a family break with an equestrian edge, a gallop on the beach at dawn, a trip to the horse show or a day at the races, you’ll find all the information you need on one website - www.discoverireland.ie/equestrian