Shea Walsh competed in the individual dressage at the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, making history as the first Irish Olympic dressage competitor – finishing 51st in the qualifying round with his horse, Robby.

Born in Galway, Walsh grew up in Dublin where he started riding. He subsequently trained in Italy, Germany and Switzerland and was instructed by some of the world’s best trainers. He emigrated to the USA in 1977 and worked on farms before establishing a successful riding school in Rhinebeck, New York State.

One of his clients, Robert Andersen, purchased his Olympic horse Robby and provided the sponsorship for Seoul. Walsh and Robby competed on the European circuit at Aachen, Paris, Schooten and Hanover before the Games.