Sarah Slattery

Started: She began riding a pony at a young age on her family's yard. She first competed internationally in Para equestrian dressage in 2021. (horseandhound.co.uk, 08 Sep 2023; farmersjournal.ie, 08 Dec 2021) Reason: "When I recovered [after being diagnosed with cancer as a child] I did a bit more with ponies, then went away to college and didn't ride for six years. It was only after I moved back to Galway [in 2016] that I was bitten by the horsey bug again. To be honest, I was never cut out for showjumping, I was too nervous for it, and I don't have the 'eye' that the rest of the family is blessed with. I preferred dressage." (farmersjournal.ie, 08 Dec 2021) Ambition: To compete at the world championships in 2026. (Athlete, 01 Sep 2024) Additional Info: DUTCH BASE In 2023 she decided to relocate to the Netherlands, where her sister has a showjumping yard. She returned to Ireland for the northern hemisphere winter before she and her family returned to the Netherlands ahead of the 2024 Paralympic Games. "My Dutch trainer Niels Bak and the Irish Para dressage trainer Debora Pijpers are based there, so it makes sense. Fortunately, my sister Sophie has a showjumping yard here, so I can base myself here. I'm so lucky. I have the most amazing support team behind me. I've dragged my poor husband and kids to live in Holland for the summer [of 2024]." (theirishfield.ie, 05 Apr 2024) NEW HORSE In 2023 she began competing with her horse Savona after her previous horse San Marino [Sam] went lame. Her mother Linda and her aunt found Savona for her. "Sophie [her sister] rode Savona for me during the end stages of my pregnancy and for a while after Millie [her daughter] was born [in March 2023]. She wasn't initially sure if Savona would suit me, and many discussions were apparently had about it out of my earshot. I first sat on Savona in May [2023], just five weeks after having Millie. It took a few weeks for us to find our feet together, but then it just clicked." (theirishfield.ie, 05 Apr 2024; farmersjournal.ie, 03 Jan 2024; independent.ie, 20 Nov 2023) SECOND DAUGHTER She gave birth to her second daughter Millie in March 2023. "It's very difficult to do this with a baby, taking a few hours out of your day to ride the horse means you need people around you who can help with everything. There's a reason they say it takes nine months for your body to return to normal [after giving birth]. I was lucky that I had a new horse and was therefore taking things very slowly but dressage is all about your core and it was tough. Millie, luckily, is the best baby! She's spent the summer [of 2023] in stables and on airplanes and probably has more air-miles than the rest of us but when you have that drive it's very difficult not to do it." (independent.ie, 20 Nov 2023)

Sporting Relatives: Her father Tom Slattery and her younger sister Sofie Slattery have both represented Ireland in equestrian jumping. (SportsDeskOnline, 07 Feb 2024; farmersjournal.ie, 03 Jan 2024; horseandhound.co.uk, 08 Sep 2023)