The Meath’s Greatest Show at the RDS
The Meath Hunt Pony Club Musical Ride team performed Meath’s Greatest Show at the Gallagher’s Dublin Horse Show and what a performance it was!
There is something truly magical about the atmosphere at the RDS: the excitement throughout the showgrounds, the music playing, the crowds gathered around the ring and the wonderful cheers of support. Riding into Ring 1 in front of such an enthusiastic audience was an unforgettable experience for the entire team. Our young riders and their ponies rose to the occasion, filling the ring with colour, energy and all the excitement of Meath’s Greatest Show.
After an absence of 25 years, the Meath Hunt Pony Club made a spectacular return to the Musical Ride competition at the Irish Pony Club Festival in Barnadown. This talented team proudly claimed the title of 2026 Musical Ride Champions with their dazzling performance. They also took home a second cup for creativity.
Their score sheets said it all with high marks given for the riding and pony partnerships! With one judge awarding full marks for the costumes, designed and created by Julianne Baker; full marks for the music arrangements by Joey Moore and Dave McCune; and full marks for the choreography by Aoife Clayton. None of this would have been possible without Georgette Geraghty’s fabulous organisational skills!
Our riders, ranging in age from just 8 to 16, have devoted countless hours to training, learning new formations and working alongside their wonderful ponies. To see all that hard work come together in the incredible atmosphere of the RDS was a very proud and emotional moment for everyone involved.
A huge thank you goes to Evabelle’s grandparents, Eunice and Sammy McQuade of Drumagoland Farms who generously sponsored a bespoke, beautifully embroidered winner’s rug for every member of the team. Each rug featured the ‘Meath Hunt’ and ‘Pony Club’ logos on one side and the words “Musical Ride Winners 2026” on the other. The rugs were organised through Paul at Showtime Equestrian in Trim.
Another massive thank you goes to Alan and Sarah Buckley whos company Abtec Autocare, kindly sponsored the girls’ tops, which were embroidered with “RDS Musical Ride 2026” and each rider’s initials.
The girls and ponies looked absolutely fab 😀
Finally, thank you to all the parents, families, supporters and everyone who has played a part in this incredible journey. The encouragement from the crowd at the RDS made the occasion even more special, and it is a memory our riders will treasure for many years to come.
The adventure is not over yet! The team has now been invited to perform a demonstration at the National Dressage Championships.
Meath’s Greatest Show continues!