The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-28 00:00:00

The National Honie Show, Dublin.

The second national horse show, held under the auspices
of the Royal Agricultural Society, was opened on Wednes-
day on the premises of the Royal Dublin Society, Kildare-
street.. The Carlisle Agricultural Hall, the Shelbourne
Hall, and the Clarelane-yard were fitted up with stalls, the
greater portion of the animals being located it the com-
modious building first named, which contained six parallel
rows from end to end, with three spacious passages be-
tween for visitors. In the large court-yard in front of
Leinstkr House a circular wire fence of great dimensions
was erected, with. a couple of safe jumps for horses at one
side, and round this fence, and over the jumps, the hunter
horses entered for the show were galloped at intervals dur-
ing the day. This novel and interesting feature in the
show attracted much attention. It is a remarkable fact
that while horned cattle,.sheep, and pigs of Ireland have'
been greatly increasing for several years past,-the number
of horses has for upwards of seven years exhibited a
*pro-
gressive annual decline. Although, however, the number
of horses in Ireland this year is much less than in :861, the
quality has improved in a Marked degree. The decrease in
the number of entries for the show on Wednesday, as com-
pared with. those of 1864, is little short of 100, but this is
capable of a very satisfactory explanation. The ;lumber of
horses exhibited at the show in 1864 amounted nearly to
400. The number on Wednesday was but 303. But the
entrance fee in 1864 was only 10s., whereas for the present
exhibition it was raised to a guinea. It is worthy of re-
mark that at the present show there are few animals ex-
hibited the names of whose progenitors are not to be found
in the stud book. The entries in the class for thorough-
bred horses and sires were good, but the most numerous in
the entire show were in the hunters' class, which contained
no less than 72. The three and four year old colts contain
some very fine specimens, but in the class for ladies' and,
pack horses, although there were 17 animals exhibited, the
judges were 'constrained to award but one prize only, the
first, considering that none of the other animals possessed
sufficient merit to justify them in awarding the second
prize. A beautiful chestnut mare, the property of Lady
Albertha Hamilton, daughter of his Excellency the Lord
Lieutenant, was the winner of the first prize in this class.
There were three entries and no merit in the section of
class F for the best pair of matched carriage geldings, and'
ne'entry at all in the section for matched carriage mares,
while that for the best brougham mare contained but one
entry, and that not.possessed of sufficient merit to obtain a
prize. In class 11, for horses calculated for the artillery and
cavalry service, there were only about half a dozen entries,
'amtall of them without merit. The entrie 'ln the ponies'
class were numerous enough, and contained amongst them
some very pretty specimens. An extremely thrall oire; ex-
hibited by Mr. T. W. Adams, of Foxrock, bore away a
prize of a silver medal for being the smallest in the show,
and its tiny proportions excited much curiosity'and admi-
ration. There was a very good show also in the useful class
'IA brood mares. In the agricultural class, too, the animals
showed a general improvement, and made a fair display in
point of numbers on the whole. In one particular section,
hOWever, that for the best agricultural stallion three-yrs-
old, there was no entry, and in the section of the best three-
yr-old agricultural gelding there was not sufficient merit to
justify the awarding of a second prize. Notwithstanding
these drawbacks the agricultural department manifeSted
marked and satisfactory improvement. The prizes in this
department, amounting to XlOO, were altogether contributed
out of the funds of the Royal Agricultural Society, as on
the previous occasion. The remainder of the prize fund
reaching to a sum of over £lOO, has been subscribed by
the nobility and gentry of the country, headed by the Lord
Lieutenant. From a monetary point of view the show is a
most decided success, and in this respect also--not by any
means the least important in which to consider it—it is in
advance of that of 1864. The general arrangements of the
exhibition, which are most efficient, aro altogether under
the superintendence of Captain J. B. Thornhill, the
secretary of the Royal Agricultural Society.
During the day the attendance of visitors was numerous
and fashionable, as it was generally known that his Ex-
cellency-the Lord Lieutenant would attend the show. At
a quarter to four o'clock- his Excellency arrived, ac-
companied by the Marchioness of Abercorn, the Ladies
Georgiana Maud and Albertha Hamilton, Lord Naas, Lord
Strathnairn, Lord James Butler and Lady Rachel Butler,
Major Hayes, and the Hon. Captain Dormer, A.D.C., in
waiting. The viceregal party were received in front of the
entrance to the Royal Dublin Society's house by the eom-
' mittee of the show, while the band, which was in attend-
ance for the purpose, played "God save the Queen." His
excellency and the viceregal party then proceeded to inspect
the various departments of the show, and at five o'clock
precisely, as the carriage passed round the courtyard from
the Royal Dublin Society's house to the carriage entrance
in Kildare-street, the gentlemen present lifted their hats
and cheered. His Excellency, in return, uncovered aid
bowed.