Clare Abbott represented Ireland in eventing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, finishing 36th individually and 8th as part of the Irish team alongside Jonty Evans, Mark Kyle and Padraig McCarthy.

Abbott rode the Irish Sport Horse Europrince, a chestnut gelding owned by Dr Cormac McKay. She came to international prominence in 2013 when she was called up to the Irish senior squad for the European Championships in Malmö at short notice, going on to finish 29th individually. She also competed as an individual at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy.