I went to the Dublin Horse Show last Saturday. I don’t think I’ve ever been before. When I was a kid my Dad took me to the Spring Show one year but I don’t think I’ve ever been to the Horse Show. It’s a little surprising as I’d happily watch horses jumping against the clock or show their strength in the Puissance competitions when covered by RTE. It wasn’t too expensive for what was a great day’s entertainment. I know nothing about horses, and passers-by used terms like “temperament” and “presence” when describing a horse they fancied. As with all disciplines, knowing the vocabulary can help a lot.
I was in for a treat though. I saw Jessica Kuerten go clear to great cheers from the crowd. The relationship between horse and rider, the power of the horse, the skill of the rider and hours and hours of training, all came together for a performance that lasted not much more than a minute. It was great to see. It wasn’t the only clear round on Saturday, but Jessica gets a mention in this post as it was the one that got the crowd on its feet.
I’d just returned from a week in Italy and one of the reasons I went to the Horse Show was that I wanted to keep the holiday feeling alive for as long as possible. My idea was to approach things back home in the same way as I approach things while on holiday. Whatever the reason, I find that if I see a poster for an event when I’m on holiday I immediately think that it would be fun to go to it. I don’t know how hard or easy it is to get to the venue, or often more importantly, to get back afterwards; but in my mind I’m already there. I find that when I’m on holiday I’m a little more open to new experiences than when I’m at home. This could be as a result of the normal daily activities filling all available hours, but I think it’s more than that.
It could be a familiarity with what’s on offer. Concerts in The O2, quarter-finals in Croke Park, exhibitions in the National Gallery, are very much part of summer in Dublin, yet I go to very few them. Of course the cost, the timing and in some cases the weather influence my decision, but whereas on holiday I have already decided to try and make it work, at home I automatically start thinking of the reasons why it’s not a good idea.
So I wanted to bring some of my holiday attitude back home with me this time. That’s why when I realised that the Horse Show was on, and also recognising that I could easily have gone many times before, I decided I really had no excuse.
Holidays are great. Having a good break is important, but continuing in a holiday mindset for as long as possible on return is important also. When I was in Italy hardly a day went by without stopping outside a bar or café watching the world go by. Depending on my mood a coffee, a beer or a glass of wine in addition to being outside, was not only relaxing but entertaining. Probably due to unfamiliarity with my surroundings and normal activities not getting my attention.
In an attempt to keep the feeling alive, and realising I can’t go to the Horse Show every weekend, I have tried to find a café substitute. In Dublin the atmosphere is different, the temperature is lower, the umbrellas (or awnings) aren’t there to block the sun but protect against the drizzle; but the principle is the same. After leaving the RDS on Saturday I found Sandymount House was a perfect spot to sit back and enjoy the daily activity of life in a “village” and the next day at The Pier House in Howth, with the sound of traditional music escaping from the bar, was the perfect place to be a tourist again.
I plan to keep this up, I’ll let you know how I get on.
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