Twenty one year-old Irish international dressage rider Sadhbh O’Toole combines riding and working at her own yard with studying Genetics and Genomics at the University of Galway. Passionate about horses she currently has two horses in training. Next Diamond, (stable name Pete), a six year old KWPN gelding, as well as her homebred Dawn’s Sherlock, A 4 year old Irish Sports Pony. Sadhbh broke them in by herself and has been producing both geldings hopeful of a successful future with them.
Notable achievements to date include participating in the European Championships for Ponies in 2019, as well as competing in the international competitions running up to the Europeans! Sadhbh was placed in Keysoe CDI, and placed 4th in Hickstead. She also won three National Champion titles in 2019 at the Dressage Ireland National Championships, on her loan pony, Maverick S.
Sadhbh and Pete were selected as part of the Irish team that competed in Wales at the Youth Home Nations earlier this year, where they finished 2nd in a huge Elementary class. Another highlight of 2024 was being asked to do a demo at the RDS as well as becoming National Champion u25 in elementary. This very talented and hardworking young lady will undoubtedly enjoy many more successes along her journey and we will be following her progress with great interest.
How did horses come into your life?
Sadhbh and Next Diamond doing a demo at the Royal Dublin Horseshow (image courtesy of Louise O’Brien Photography
I was lucky enough to grow up with horses. My parents breed Connemara ponies in the heart of Connemara, so I’ve been around ponies all my life. My parents never rode, but I started riding from a young age thanks to my Aunt Collette, who used to lead me around on her Connemara pony Hamlet after her ride, and it wasn’t long before I became obsessed. One of our foals, Clochanard Dawn, was born a couple days after I was. My parents kept her for me, and we grew up together. Dawn was a 14.2 mare, a very strong and speedy pony for a young girl to learn on. My coach, Judy Cazabon, started to help me with Dawn when we were eight years old. We did lots of flatwork, showing and dressage in our early years and I became hooked to the sport.
When and where do you ride?
My horses are kept at home in our own yard. My 4-year-old Sherlock gets worked 4 times a week, twice dressage, one jump and one hack. Pete gets worked about 5 times a week, usually one lunge, 3 schooling rides and a hack. Usually Sunday is our hacking day for all the ponies. We hack to our local beach and depending on the horses workload that week, we will either take them for a swim, or if they have excess energy, take them for a gallop. It’s their (and our) favourite day of the week, and the change of scenery keeps their brain fresh for dressage.
Who do you train with?
Sadhbh and Maverick S (owned by Judy Cazabon) competing in Holland
I’ve trained with Judy Cazabon since I was eight years old, so for almost fourteen years. In 2022, I took a gap year from academics, and I moved to the UK for one year, with Pete, where I trained with David and Serena Pincus, at Sheepcote Equestrian. This was a fantastic opportunity, as Pete was a green 4-year-old when I went over there, and they helped me give him the best start in his dressage career.
What does a typical day for you look like?
Depends! On weekends, I’m at the yard at about 8am. The horses get fed and turned out. Everything gets mucked out, the stables are prepped for the evening and the turnout areas are poo-picked. The horses are then ridden, and turned back out until about 6pm, when they all happily come in for dinner. We usually have 4 horses/ponies in the stables, (2 of mine, 2 of my sisters) and then the youngstock/ breeding mares/ retired mares are all kept on 24/7 turnout and fed from the field.
What are you and your horses currently working on?
Sadhbh looking very happy with her own Next Diamond after competing as part of the Irish team in Wales at the Youth Home Nations
Pete has recently started to compete at medium level, and we are working on our flying changes at home. We hope to get out at advanced medium level in 2025.
What do you love about riding?
My favourite thing about riding is the connection you establish with your horse. Especially as the majority of my horses I have had since they were babies. I’ve seen them grow from newborns to established horses/ponies. They each have their own individual personalities, and it’s so nice to see them grow in confidence when they start their ridden career.
What challenges have you faced on your dressage journey?
Sadhbh and Schermeers Hof Arendsoog (owned by Judy Cazabon) competing at Keysoe CDI
In 2019, after I aged out of Pony level, it was tough seeing other pony riders move on to horses and continue up the levels. Trying to find a Junior horse was not an option for me financially, instead we decided to buy Pete as a yearling. It’s been a long road, but now it is the best decision of my life. I am learning so much by producing my own horse. The journey we are on now is much more exciting and rewarding than if I moved up the levels on a schoolmaster.
Losing my first pony Dawn to illness in 2020 was an extremely sad time, a pony that I had owned for my entire life and taught me everything! She left me heartbroken, however I am fortunate that we did breed from her, and my 4-year-old Sherlock is an offspring from her.
It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
I am so lucky to have a great support team, especially in the day to day running of the yard when I’m away at university. I study 1.5 hours away from home, and although I try my best to do both, my sister Clodagh is absolutely amazing to have at home for the morning and evening feeding- especially in the winter months. Also, my parents, family and boyfriend have all been equally as supportive.
Pete has his own little team that keeps him fit and healthy. Tack fitters, dentists, vet, farrier etc, but a special mention to his physio Vera who is incredible. We are also sponsored by Saltus Ireland, a brand-new Irish brand that I am so lucky to have supporting me.
What notable experiences have you enjoyed so far?
Sadhbh and Next Diamond competing for Ireland during the Youth Home Nations
Participating in the European Championships for Ponies, in 5 international competitions, the BD youth Home Nations 2024, a dressage demo at the RDS, 5 National Championships and 4 National winter finals.
Also, most of my summers have been spent as a working student, in many different yards. All these experiences have taught me so much. I was fortunate to be a working student for Olympic event rider Karin Donckers a few years ago, as well as Irish Grand Prix rider, Kate Dwyer. And of course, my year in Sheepcote taught both me and Pete so much.
What would you like to be doing in the future, and do you have any goals?
My goal for next year is to compete at advanced medium with Pete. From there, I will take it as it comes. My lifetime aim is to compete at PSG, and of course Grand Prix, but Pete is young, and I don’t want to pressure him yet. We are just enjoying this journey together.
Do you have any rituals before competing?
Not really, I pack my tack in a certain way every time, I must draw out my test in a certain way and there is certain tack that I must use, but nothing extraordinary.
Your Top Tip
Patience! Dressage horses take years to train and produce. Keep their work varied to keep their brain fresh, and just enjoy the journey.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
‘Ride well, the horse goes well’, can’t fault it really!
Down the Centre Line
Who would be your dream horse to ride?
Giraldo, or Cassidy
Who is your equestrian hero?
Cathrine Laudrup- Dufour
Favourite horse event?
RDS
Want More?
If you enjoyed meeting Sadhbh you might like to view more dressage rider “chatting with” interviews here . You can keep up with Sadhbh’s progress and check out her instagram page here
