Ireland: Land of the Horse

Videos!

2009-09-01T20:19:00Z

I think I'm going through charming accent withdrawal. Luckily for me (and you!) we captured some on video! First up, we have Fionnan Nestor of Failte Ireland giving tips on booking an equestrian trip to Ireland. If you're thinking of visiting (do it!), this is chock-full of useful info on things to consider when booking a trip, resources available online, etc. And there's some great b-roll of the colo(u)red cob class at the Dublin Horse Show. Fionnan joined us for dinner after the show...(read more)

Home Again

2009-08-19T16:02:00Z

The trip home went fine. Until we hit American soil. Travel abroad is always a bit of a coin toss, with long flights, customs, security, and the myriad snafus that can easily emerge when working on a schedule outside your own control. When coming in to Ireland, customs took about 10 seconds--glance at the passport and interview went like this: "How long are you staying?" "Until Sunday." "Have fun." Cool. Grab the bags, change the currency, and go. We did not have such...(read more)

Dublin Calling

2009-08-11T21:28:00Z

I could have spent a week happily exploring the city on the Liffey. But since I only had a day, you're getting just a peek at the bounty this city offers travelers. Whether you want food, theatre, history, architecture, or just a rolling good time, you can find it here. On our final day in Ireland, Chad I said goodbyes to our hosts and most of our traveling companions and set off to explore, accompanied by the French contingent of our tour group, Thomas, Claude, and Laure. We were provided with...(read more)

Horse Show Report

2009-08-10T20:46:00Z

I posted a few photos yesterday while sitting at the airport ( see those ), but here's the real report. The Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show has been going on for 106 years. Show director Peter Hanly told us the show began as a way to support country's horse breeders and producers. The competitions, from working hunters to Connemaras and colo(u)red cobs, to mares and foals, highlight the quality animals produced and trained in Ireland. He said the competition has given rise to the concept...(read more)

Dublin Horse Show

2009-08-09T23:39:00Z

I often describe horse shows as my "natural habitat." But while I've had the pleasure of attending a diverse array of equine events, including the Kentucky Derby, Breeders' Cup, Rolex, and the Olympics, nothing compares with the beauty of the Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show . It's the most photogenic horse event I've seen, and I hope you'll agree. As I'm posting this, I'm on hour 20 of a return journey that's contained more than a few bumps along the way...(read more)