The public and trade response to the first Belfast Indoor International Horse Show has been so good that organisers Equestrian Promotions Limited has confirmed its booking with the Odyssey Arena for another four-day show next year.

“It was a carefully considered gamble because Northern Ireland had never seen an international indoor show like this,” said director Theresa McKenna. “But the audiences were terrific. So warm and enthusiastic and the Odyssey Arena was a perfect setting.”

Audiences were treated to a feast of showjumping, with stars such as Robert Smith, who took the leading rider award, and grand prix winner Andrew Davies doing battle with the Irish contingent which included Peter Charles and Jessica Kurten.

But non-competing star of the four days was undoubtedly Jean-Francois Pignon, whose demonstration of his amazing affinity with his horses was greeted first with a spellbound silence and then tumultuous applause. The silence was replaced by gasps at the displays of the Naprous family stunt riders.

Total audience over the four days was approx 27,000. “There were a few empty seats,” admitted Mrs McKenna, “but I think it is the last year it will happen. We are already getting inquiries about next year’s show, which will be slightly later on December 2-5, and many international riders, some who weren’t even at Belfast, have been asking for a place in 2004.

So anyone thinking of perhaps combining travel and horse shows then a great double would be Belfast Indoor International Horse Show followed by Olympia in London - make sure you get in early with your hotel bookings and ticket bookings as Olympia sells out early each year and I suspect Belfast will g the same way.

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“We can promise even more showjumping next year, and we have some ideas about displays which will cause a stir once we announce them.”

The show is now ready to make a bid for a World Cup qualifier to replace the one lost by Millstreet and hopefully we may earn one by 2005. “We wanted to put Ireland back on the showjumping map,” said Mrs McKenna. “I think we have.”

Effective is proving to be just that - effective as he comes up through the ranks into the International arenas.

Left:Another of Ireland's popular riders with both crowds and other riders is Clem MacMahon and his very successful Glevin Clover who has again been proving the Irish horses have all the attributes required to take them into the international arenas of he world - both photos show horses with great style and technique.