Equestrian

BIOGRAPHY Abi comes from a completely non-equine background but finally persuaded her parents to buy her a horse after completing her GCSEs. She started college in Queens (English and Film), but left after 18 months and worked as a groom in a racing yard, before moving to England in 2009, to work and train in [...]

BIOGRAPHY When his best horse Uptown Girl was retired in 2016 Daniel found himself at a crossroads but a move to Canada ignited his career to far greater heights. He initially went to work with Conor Swail but soon became first rider for owners Susan and Aeriel Grange in Ontario, and his world ranking has

BIOGRAPHY A graduate of UCD with a first-class degree in Maths and Classics Aoife performed brilliantly at her last Olympic Games in London 2012. Her seventh place, on Master Crusoe, was Ireland’s best individual finish in 36 years, and helped the team to a fifth-place finish. She rose to 11th in the world rankings in

BIOGRAPHY Susie was riding from a young age (her mum is a vet and a breeder) and, from 2012 to 2017 represented Ireland in six European Junior Championships, winning team gold and team bronze. In 2014 she relocated from Northern Ireland to Maidwell, Northamptonshire to train and work for Piggy March and won Junior European

BIOGRAPHY Heike Holstein has represented Ireland in four Olympic Games. She made her Olympic debut at the 1996 Atlanta Games, finishing 26th in individual dressage aboard Ballaseyr Devereaux. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, she placed 42nd with Royale 42, and at the 2004 Athens Olympics, she secured 50th place riding Welt Adel. Heike took 13

BIOGRAPHY Sarah Ennis made her Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games, finishing 36th individually with her horse, Woodcourt Garrison, and contributing to Ireland's eighth-place team finish. Ennis was selected to represent Ireland at the 2024 Paris Olympics with her horse, Action Lady M. However, after the cross-country phase, she withdrew prior to the show

BIOGRAPHY Sam Watson represented Ireland at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Competing in individual eventing with his horse Tullabeg Flamenco, he finished 30th, and contributed to Ireland's 8th place in the team event. Since his international debut (2002) Sam has competed in three World Equestrian Games (2010, 2014, 2018) and contributed to three top ten team

BIOGRAPHY Austin is competing in his fourth Olympic Games in Paris. He and his Olympic partner from Tokyo had a sensational year in 2023 when he was the first Irish rider in 40 years (since Jessica Harrington) to make the podium in Badminton. He then went on to win the prestigious CC15* in Maryland; the

BIOGRAPHY Shane began his Grand Prix career aged 16. After qualifying in IT from the University of Limerick in 2004 he headed to USA to work with US Olympic veteran Margie Engle, and has been based in Florida since. He was eighth individually to help Ireland to team gold at the 2017 Europeans. In 2021

BIOGRAPHY Bertram Allen made his Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games, competing with his horse Pacino Amiro. Allen qualified for the individual jumping final, finishing 15th with 8 faults and a time of 84.64 seconds. Beyond the Olympics, Allen has achieved significant success in international competitions. At 19, he won the opening round of

BIOGRAPHY Darragh Kenny made his Olympic debut at the 2020 Tokyo Games, finishing 17th in the individual show jumping event aboard VDL Cartello. He rode in his first Grand Prix at 14 and debuted in the Dublin Horse Show (2007) when just 19. He was a member of Ireland’s Nations Cup (Aga Khan) victors in

BIOGRAPHY Cian O'Connor has competed at four Olympic Games and is Ireland’s only equestrian medallist to date, winning a bronze medal on ‘Blue Loyd’ at London 2012. During the 2020 Tokyo Olympics he competed with his horse Kilkenny and finished seventh in individual jumping. He also finished 7th overall in the team event at the