Accessibility Concerns Raised Following Incident at Dublin Horse Show
Equitas has been made aware of concerns surrounding the experience of people with disabilities at this year’s Dublin Horse Show following an incident during one of the event’s biggest days.
The concerns relate to events on Friday, 7 August, when the Nations’ Cup for the Aga Khan Trophy took place at the RDS. A para-rider and disability advocate, who has previously contributed to Equitas, attended the event alongside a number of other people with disabilities.
She has since publicly documented parts of their experience, including being moved between viewing areas on more than one occasion and being directed through different areas of the grounds while attempting to access suitable viewing facilities.
The footage raises legitimate questions around how accessibility procedures operated during one of the busiest periods of the Horse Show, particularly where attendees have mobility requirements or cannot reasonably be expected to repeatedly move significant distances around a large venue.
The RDS states publicly that the Dublin Horse Show takes place across eight show rings on a 43-acre site and provides a range of accessibility measures. These include limited accessible viewing platforms around competition rings, designated accessible viewing within the Main Arena, fully accessible buses operating from its UCD Park & Ride facility, accessible toilets and specific provisions for visitors with restricted mobility.
The issue being raised is therefore not simply whether accessibility provisions existed, but how those provisions worked for people attempting to use them in practice during a major live event.
The individual involved says she contacted the RDS following the incident but did not initially receive a substantive response. She has subsequently said that the matter has now been escalated within the organisation and that an investigation is underway.
Equitas has not yet sought a formal response from the RDS and believes it is important that the organisation is given an appropriate opportunity to explain what happened, what procedures were operating on the day and whether changes are required. We will be contacting the RDS in the days ahead.
This is not solely a question about one incident or one event. Accessibility within the equine industry deserves considerably greater attention, from how people with disabilities navigate showgrounds and competition venues to viewing facilities, communication, transport, seating and the practical implementation of accessibility policies during busy events.
Policies matter and they need to work in tandem with the experience of the person relying upon them.
We want to understand more about what happened, but also what the experience was like for the people involved. It would be valuable to hear from people with disabilities who attended the Dublin Horse Show this year and are willing to share their experiences, as well as those who have attended other equestrian shows and events throughout Ireland.
Understanding where accessibility works well is every bit as important as identifying where people have encountered difficulties or where improvements may be needed.
Equitas will continue to follow the issue, hear directly from those affected and seek the RDS’s perspective. More broadly, we want to understand the experiences of people with disabilities at equestrian events and whether there are lessons here that can help make those events more accessible, considerate and inclusive in practice.
