A Day Out at the Balmoral Show
Each May, the Balmoral Show draws thousands of visitors to Balmoral Park, Lisburn, just outside Belfast. Hosted by the Royal Ulster Agricultural Society (RUAS), it’s Northern Ireland’s largest agricultural event, bringing together a vibrant mix of farming traditions, family fun, food, and top-tier animal displays. Whether you’re attending for business, sport, or leisure, Balmoral never disappoints.
What You'll See
The show spans four jam-packed days, with everything from:
Livestock judging – including dairy cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry
Tractor and machinery exhibitions – with the latest agricultural innovations on display
NI Food Pavilion – packed with local producers offering artisan goods and live cookery demos
Dog agility, sheep shearing, craft zones, live music, and funfair rides
Over 700 trade stands selling everything from wellies to wagons
But standing tall (often literally) among the attractions are the equestrian events, which remain a key pillar of the Balmoral Show's identity.
🐎 Spotlight on Equestrian Events
The equestrian competitions are a major draw at Balmoral, featuring a blend of skill, precision, athleticism, and showmanship. Held in dedicated rings across the showgrounds, the programme includes show jumping, working hunter classes, showing, and young rider competitions.
This year, Balmoral 2025 hosted over 200 equestrian classes, drawing entries from across Ireland, the UK, and even further afield.
🎠 Our ESR Bars Co Founders Side-Saddle Debut at Balmoral Show
We asked our co-founder Lisa to tell us a little about her experience at this years show as she and her horse took part in the Side-Saddle event.
ESR Bar Co-Founder Lisa and Cochise
We had the most incredible day at the Balmoral Show on the Thursday of this year’s event, competing in the side-saddle class with my beautiful Frisian, MARCUS FAN IT NIJE BEGJIN — affectionately known as Cochise.
This was Cochise’s first ever proper side-saddle show, and I couldn’t have been prouder of him. At 13 years old, he’s only recently taken to side-saddle, having started properly just six weeks ago. We’d been delayed getting going because we had to get the saddle professionally fitted, but once that was sorted, we hit the ground running.
Despite the very warm weather, Cochise travelled beautifully, settled quickly, and stood like a gentleman in the box. He took everything in his stride and seemed to genuinely enjoy showing off. He was alert, calm, and really showed himself well in the ring — a real credit to his breed.
As a Frisian, cantering doesn’t come naturally to him, and on the day, we decided not to push too hard given the heat and where he is in his training. While we didn’t place, we were over the moon with the experience and the feedback we received. The judge gave us fantastic comments and described Cochise as a “noble steed” — a compliment we’ll treasure.
He behaved impeccably and soaked up the spotlight, loving every minute of his time at Balmoral.
Looking ahead, we’re aiming to compete in as many side-saddle classes as we can over the coming months. We’re proud members of the Side Saddle Association (Area 21), and this was just the beginning of what we hope will be a successful and fun season.
All in all, it was a brilliant family day out, and one we’ll remember for a long time. Balmoral was the perfect stage for our debut — and Cochise certainly rose to the occasion.
Cochise always loves the attention and we are thrilled that both he and Lisa had an amazing experience at the show. And be on the lookout for both at the upcoming side-saddle events, Cochise loves having admirers.
🏆 Top Events and Winners at Balmoral 2025
Here are some of the standout results from this year’s show:
International Show Jumping Grand Prix
Date: Saturday, 17 May 2025
Prize Fund: €30,000
Course Designer: Colm Quinn (IRL)
Top 3 Riders:
Dermott Lennon (IRL) – Loughview Lou-Lou – Clear Round | 55.32 sec
Jessica Mendoza (UK) – Spirit T – Clear Round | 56.91 sec
Shane Breen (IRL) – Z7 Ipswich – 4 faults | 52.10 sec
Source: RUAS Results Archive
Working Hunter Championship – Horses
Date: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Judge: Mrs. Rachel Thomas
Top 3 Placings:
Ciaran Feldman (IRL) – KBF Paved with Stars
Alison Connolly (NI) – Bellgrove Jasper
Charlotte Moore (ENG) – Tullyview Beauty
[Source: Balmoral Working Hunter Ring Listings, 2025]
Pony Club Games – Team Relay Finals
Date: Friday, 16 May 2025
Top 3 Teams:
East Antrim Pony Club
North Down Pony Club
Iveagh Pony Club
[Source: Pony Club UK, Balmoral 2025 Round-Up]
Why Horse Events Matter at Balmoral
For many, the equestrian competitions are a chance to witness elite horsemanship up close, often featuring riders and horses that also compete in HOYS (Horse of the Year Show) and Dublin Horse Show. The mix of top-level sport and grassroots talent makes Balmoral a vital showcase for Ireland’s thriving horse world.
From elegant Ridden Hunter classes to heart-pounding Puissance-style jumps, the Balmoral rings deliver excitement and tradition in equal measure.
Plan Your Visit
Even if horses aren’t your main focus, the show has something for everyone – and there's no better way to spend a May day in Northern Ireland.
📅 Balmoral Show 2025 took place 14–17 May, but the memories last long after the rings are cleared. Be sure to save the date for next year from 13-16 May, 2026!
Did you attend this year’s Balmoral Show? Share your favourite class or moment below!
For full results and class details, visit: www.balmoralshow.co.uk/results