We are delighted to host a side saddle clinic with Olivia Connolly at Stradbally Hall in Co. Laois on Saturday 23rd May 2026. Please book in on itsplainsailing noting that members will be given first priority, spaces are limited.
Author Archives: Ciara O'Connell
Carr & Day & Martin National Championship 2026
The following shows are already affiliated to the Carr & Day & Martin / Side Saddle Ireland National Championship League 2026. We are looking forward to welcoming many more shows back to the fold! Please note that there is a huge €2500 prize fund to be divided among the top six placed intermediates/ladies- all information is available under the ‘rules’ section of this website.
05/04/26 Show of the East- Combined Lead Rein/ Junior, Intermediate and Ladies classes.
09/05/26 Cork IPS- Combined Lead Rein/ Junior
26/04/26 Limerick Harriers- Combined Ladies/Intermediate
09/05/26 Kingdom County- Combined Ladies/Intermediate
24/05/26 Midleton Show- Ladies
30/5/26 Raheendaw Show Co. Carlow- Intermediates, Ladies
01/06/26 Newcastle West Show- Combined Lead Rein/ Junior, Combined Ladies/Intermediate
20/06/26 Cork Summer Show- combined lead rein/ junior
21/06/26- Cork Summer show- Ladies
28/06 Charleville- Combined Ladies/Intermediate
04/07/26 Killusty Pony Show – Combined Lead Rein/ Junior, Combined Ladies/Intermediate
05/07/26 Clonmel Show – Combined Lead Rein/ Junior, Combined Ladies/Intermediate
05/07/26 Longford Show- Ladies
09/07/26 Bannow Rathangan- Combined lead rein/junior, Combined Ladies/Intermediate
11/07/26 Ardrahan Show- Combined lead rein/junior, Combined Ladies/Intermediate
12/07/26 Westmeath Agricultural Show- Ladies
26/07/26 Tattersalls- Ladies
26/07 Ossory Show Laois- Combined Leadrein/Junior, Combined Ladies/Intermediate
01/08/26 Castlegregory Show – Combined Ladies/Intermediate
06/09/26 Royal Meath Trim Show – Combined lead rein/ junior, Intermediate, Ladies
Members are awarded with points after competing in these affiliated classes, a tally of which is kept by the committee of Side Saddle Ireland after every show. You must be a member of Side Saddle Ireland on the date of the show in question in order to earn points- membership is open at www.itsplainsailing.com/org/ssi
We are delighted to announce substantial prize money this year which will be awarded at our end of season awards party, along with gorgeous products from our generous title sponsor- Carr & Day & Martin.
Please keep checking back as the list of affiliated shows will be added to regularly as shows get their affiliation in. If you are running a show and would like your side saddle classes to be considered as qualifiers for our league, please register at www.itsplainsailing.com/org/ssi – click on Events and then click on ‘Register your show’.
Affiliation 2026
When you affiliate your class(es) they automatically become part of the Carr & Day & Martin National Championship League 2026.
Show secretaries- please visit our payments page http://www.itsplainsailing.com/org/ssi
Click on ‘Online Entries’ then ‘Register your show’ and choose which classes you wish to affiliate. For the affiliation fee of €20 per class, you will receive a bag of rosettes (1st – 6th, a Best Turned Out, and a Best Rider). For shows registering two or more classes, we will provide a Champion & Reserve Champion rosette free of charge so that you can hold a side saddle championship. The class wording should be included in your schedule, this is available on the ‘Class Wording’ tab of this website and can also be e-mailed to you. If you require any further information please contact Ciara on 0872266321. Please leave a whatsapp message or text if the phone is not answered.
Membership 2026
2026 Membership is now open at http://www.itsplainsailing.com/org/ssi
Please ensure to also enter our league as soon as you get your membership number via receipt- entry into the league is free of charge. In the It’s Plain Sailing page, click on ‘online entries’ and then scroll down to ‘Side Saddle Ireland National Championship 2026’ where you can fill in the relevant information. This will enable the committee to keep track of all combinations competing and points earned throughout the season when recording results. Unfortunately if you do not register your participation in the league we will be unable to apply any points to the excel file after every show.
Side Saddle Clinic 28th March
Bookings now open for Side Saddle Clinic with Faith Ponsonby on 28th March in Mullinahone, Co. Tipperary. Saddles can be provided on the day but please note we have no saddles available that are suitable for wide or extra wide horses. Clinic can be booked through www.itsplainsailing.com/org/ssi (click on Online Entries). http://www.itsplainsailing.com/org/ssi
The Carr & Day & Martin National Championship League 2026
Side Saddle Ireland are delighted to announce that for the third year running, Carr & Day & Martin are coming on board as title sponsors of our National Championship League. More information will be provided in due course.
To be eligible to earn league points in affiliated classes you must carry out two steps on our itsplainsailing account:
- Pay your 2026 membership
- Register to participate in the league (have horse passport to hand)
Both of these steps must be taken so that we can apply points in correct categories- all of the points collation is done by volunteers after every show so unfortunately we cannot chase you for information. Both steps are available at www.itsplainsailing.com/org/ssi
Please keep checking back, as affiliated classes/shows will be regularly added to this list as well as a pinned post on our facebook page!
26/04/2026 Limerick Harriers Spring Show- combined LADIES/INTERMEDIATE CLASS. Ballycahane Equestrian Centre, Limerick.
RDS Side Saddle Qualifiers Information
Please click http://https://www.dublinhorseshow.com/equestrian-information/qualifiers/#10 to see their list of 5 qualifiers for the side saddle classes at Dublin Horse Show
Awards Party 2025
The awards party will take place at the 5 star Lyrath Hotel in Kilkenny on the 18th October at 1.30 for a 2pm start. Tickets for the event are available on our payments page www.itsplainsailing.com/org/ssi
There are rosettes for all participants this year along with a huge range of prizes and trophies for many different categories. We look forward to welcoming you on the day !
Merchandise now available
Link
Our beautiful new gilets are now available to pre purchase on our payments page
Side Saddle Ireland – Its Plain Sailing Online Payments page events
We will have some extra gilets available to try on at shows over the summer and will also have some available at our end of season awards. If you have any questions about the gilets please contact sidesaddleireland@gmail.com or 087 2266321
Sponsorships for awards
National Championships 2025
This year we are again blessed to count on the support of our title sponsor for the
Carr & Day & Martin National Championship Side Saddle League, with the supreme champion (highest scoring rider out of the Lady OR Intermediate Category winning €1,000 while the top 4 Ladies, Intermediates and Juniors will also win gorgeous Carr & Day & Martin products and merchandise.
Within this Championship we also have awards for the following Categories:
The Carr Day Martin Best Turned Out League (those who win the most BTO Rosettes will be awarded a beautiful sash at the end of season A Best Rider League (the lady or intermediate with the most Best Rider Rosettes wins an Equestrian Portable Showers Ireland Horse shower! The Traditional Irish Horse Association National Side Saddle Championship sponsored by Agria Equine Ireland for the highest scoring TIH The Registered Irish Draught National Side Saddle Championship sponsored by Emma at Farmhill Agri Services The Thoroughbred National Side Saddle Championship sponsored by Poolcourt Engineering The Irish Sport Horse National Side Saddle Championship sponsored by Kinard Stables Ciara Dennigan The Connemara Pony National Side Saddle Championship (awaiting confirmation of sponsor) The Junior National Side Saddle Championship (awaiting confirmation of sponsor)In most cases the Champion will be awarded with a perpetual silver plate or trophy, a sash, prize money/vouchers, the Reserve will be awarded with a sash and prize money or vouchers, the remaining entrants in the category will be awarded a beautiful rosette.
In order to win a breed championship you simply register your participation in our league by inputting your membership number, horse/pony details from their passport and then score the highest amount of points in your category over the course of the league. Registration is open at itsplainsailing.com/org/ssi
Our league is open to ALL horses of every breed and none, these sub categories are simply extra recognition of the highest scoring horses in their respective categories. It is never too late to join and start gaining your points, an updated list of shows has been published on our website as per 12/06/2025
Good luck to all entrants!