Nineteen-year-old, team GB international dressage rider Rose Foley has been based at Barstobrick (Dumfries and Galloway) for fourteen years, where she and her mum Isla Foley, run the family riding school, coaching people on their own horses as well as having horses and ponies in for backing or training. Rose currently trains four horses for different owners ranging from a newly backed four-year-old to the older experienced horses competing at Prix St George and Intermediate 1.
A hugely talented and successful young rider, some of Rose’s highlight so far include winning High Profile and Premier League shows, Representing Great Britain at Pony and Junior level and being short listed for the the pony and Junior Europeans, winning an Elementary under-21 national title at the Winter Championships, Medium silver reserve national championship title where she was also the highest placed Scottish rider taking five regional titles. Rose has won six Scottish championship titles and five area festival titles to date and also won the Horse Scotland Youth performer of the year and pony of the year awards at the Scottish equestrian awards. Another career highlight for Rose was riding in a demo for Carl Hester.
How has your dressage journey evolved?
Rose and Harry Payne’s Duque L on their way to winning the Prix St George and Advanced Medium at the BD Associated championships
Horses have always been in our family, I learnt to ride on a family pony Wee Max that my Grandma bred and has been in our family for thirty six years now, he taught me and my sister (Enna Foley) the ropes and together we did local dressage and show jumping competitions. A few years later when I was eight my Mum bought me my first own pony Westerby Mister Stardust as an unbacked three-year-old. With help from my mum, I backed and together we produced him whilst I was still young. I took him to his first agricultural shows as a four-year-old and we soon realised showing wasn’t for him as he wasn’t keen on other ponies coming so close to him, so we gave dressage a go. I’d say he definitely started my passion for dressage, we started off with local unaffiliated shows and gradually got into BD youth. We have many amazing memories and results together with a special one being a Scottish championship title and being pictured in horse and hound when I was ten and he was five as “rising stars” – “Bert” as he is known at home has now been in our family for ten years and currently teaches the more experienced kids on the riding school being the ultimate school master.
Whilst starting out on our dressage journey a few years later my mum bought me my first horse, Tyydyncochyn Solomon a two-year-old from “Ruth Skillen” Tyydncochyn stud. It was love at first sight when I went to see “Solly as he is known at home” in Wales and that day he joined the family. I backed and produced him and we have been a partnership for over six years now, he has had some amazing results and gave me so many good times- although he finds jumping his kind of fun he is currently living his best life out on loan with “Ethan” and I love watching them together.
Rose and Jo Barry’s Corchapin, pictured with her mum, Isla Foley.
When I was thirteen I was offered the ride on Cordici k owned by Shona Leckie, (our story is quite special and I could go on for hours but I’ll try and keep it short) he tried to buck me off four times when I went to view him but a week later he arrived home. At the time, now six years ago Gucci had a severe injury and we weren’t sure if he be able to go above novice again. He has been my pony of a lifetime from taking me round my first medium, to winning national titles, being invited onto the Horse Scotland performance squad and representing Great Britain at Pony FEI level. He made all my dreams come true and sometimes I find it so easy to forget how our journey started. I have been incredibly fortunate since then to be offered amazing horses to ride – Corchapin owned by Jo Barry who took me to my first Junior international CDI, Duque L owned by Harry Payne who has taught me the ropes at Prix St George and Intermediate one, Suarez owned by Jade and Debbie Struthers, together we have been reserve National champion at Medium and are currently working towards representing GB at young rider level and most recently four year old stallion MFS Zack’s legacy owned by MFS stud (Caroline Ironside). I’m eternally grateful to these owners for their trust and support in riding and caring for their horses , it means a lot.
Who do you train with?
Rose with Jade Struthers’ Suarez, taking the Medium silver reserve national championship title
I regularly train with my Mum Isla Foley at home and at shows, helping me warm up as well as list 1 judge Harry Payne who has helped train and mentor me these past few years being part of the Horse Scotland Development Squad. I’m incredibly grateful to both for all their help.
What does a typical day for you look like?
Its usually a twelve-hour working day consisting of working/ teaching on the riding school, seeing to livery horses, mucking out, hacking, and training the horses.
What do you love about riding?
Rose with Shona Leckie’s Cordici K at Valeview Premier League
I love the feeling when the horse becomes stronger and more capable.
What challenges have you faced on your dressage journey?
My biggest challenge in my career so far was having to give up my Junior horse due to to an unfortunate old injury that reoccurred. It was a tricky and emotional time but I’m grateful to close friends and family that helped get me through it, he has since then been retired and lucky to still be able to visit and hack out.
What are your future aspirations?
Rose and four-year-old MFS Zack’s legacy owned by MFS stud (Caroline Ironside)
I’d love to go abroad and work on an international Dressage yard with the hope of one day running my own Dressage yard.
A dream would be to compete at a European championship either u21 or senior and to successfully compete at Grand Prix.
It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
I am grateful to my support team who help keep the horses and I in top form. Mike Robert’s Farrier, James Noble Dentist, Juliet, and Robyn Dunn from outline-chartered physio, Lauren Semple from Equestrian fitness Scotland, Stephanie Jones sports psychologist, Laura Nickel from Amayzing saddlery. Owners Shona Leckie, Jade Struthers, Harry Payne, and Caroline Ironside.
Your Top Tip
Rose and Westerby Mister Stardust at their first affiliated show, gaining 75% and pictured in Horse and Hound. Rose says ” he started my passion for dressage”
So many marks are lost on inaccurate test riding so my top tips would be to ride the test as accurately as you can, use your corners and smile at the judge.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
It has been definitely “You only get out what you put in.” This has helped my mind set hugely in my career so far, the early mornings and late nights can be tiring but it is something I truly believe in.
Down the Centre Line
Who would be your dream horse to ride?
Glamourdale
Who is your equestrian hero?
Lottie Fry
If you could have five people for dinner, who would they be?
If you enjoyed meeting Rose you might like to view more dressage rider “chatting with” interviews here. You can keep up with Rose’s progress and visit her instagram page here
