IT was a field of dreams at Ballivor horse show this year as over 20 ladies rode aside in the show ring in the side saddle class aiming for a highly sought-after qualification to the 2015 Discover Ireland RDS Dublin Horseshow.

The qualifier, one of four held during the month of June, had a huge entry and represented the high standards and the continuing great interest in this equestrian discipline.

The qualifiers were held this year at Armagh Show, Ballivor Show, Gorey Show and Galway County Show. Three ladies qualified from each to compete in August in the ladies side saddle class at the Dublin Horse Show. This is the second year running where the class and qualifiers are run in this format.

At Armagh show on June 13th, the first three ladies to earn qualification were Sadhbh Springate (Mullybrannon Diamond), Amanda Blackmore (Killyreagh Harry) and Maeve Carty (Why Not Batim).

At Ballivor the next day, judging of the very competitive ladies class continued into the late evening as judges Susan Oakes and Becca Holland decided on the top three. Qualification was awarded to Leslie Web (Vantage Point), Antonia DeBurgh (Gypsy Cobra Cruis) and Joanne Quirke (The Masters Artist).

Gorey and Galway show held back to back qualifiers on June 20th and 21st. Gorey saw qualification for Lyndsey O’Brien (Mr Shakespeare), Laura Hyde (The Publisher) and Rosemary Connors (Rehy I’m a Star).

At Galway County Show, Cheryl Cusack and bay Ricardo Z gelding Whifield Jack of hearts, winners of the 2014 ladies side saddle at Dublin, won the qualification class to earn the chance to defend their title this year.

Also qualified at Galway were Vicky Ormedillia (Dragons Den) and Amory McMahon (Inis Flaith).

While a number of the qualified combinations also competed in the class last year, this year the qualifiers have seen some talented new horse and rider combinations coming to the forefront.

The ladies side saddle class will take place on Ladies Day, Thursday, August 6th.

The Discover Ireland Dublin Horse Show will also run a junior side saddle class on the Sunday of the show and a number of junior riders have qualified for this class at the four qualifiers.

The winners at the four qualifiers were Aisling Whyte and Stormbreaker (Armagh Show), Phoebe Lambe and Gamespirit Japica (Ballivor Show), Caragh Charlton and Magical Milly (Gorey Show) and Olivia Marnane and Killbride Billy Joe (Galway Show).