I want to make Eventing Ireland proud and show the world that we the nation of the horse can compete at the very top level of the sport,” so said Irish Senior Eventing High Performance director Sally Corscadden when I visited Grange Farm in County Meath, the training facility she operates with her husband Brendan.

Behind a calm welcoming smile I found a woman strong in her convictions and dedication to the team she successfully led at last year’s World Equestrian Games. Asked what it is she brings to this important post she paused for a moment and then, with great realism and no hint of self-praise, she said experience, empathy, love for the sport and the desire to compete.

Experience

Corscadden’s road to Tokyo began with the Quorn Pony Club in Leicestershire, England. As a teenager she trained for six months in Ireland with Iris Kellett – “She inspired me to follow horses as a career.” Next came three years with Princess Anne’s trainer Alison Oliver in Oxfordshire.

Corscadden was selected as part of the British young rider squad in 1985 with her Irish-bred horse Kilmacthomas. Strong performances at big English international events such as Chatsworth earned her selection to Badminton Horse Trials in 1987.

Fate intervened and Badminton was rained-off so she came to Punchestown instead, where she met Irish competitor Brendan Corscadden. They married in 1988, their daughter Katie was born in 1994 and son Alex in 1998.

She partnered a new horse, Cagedore, a series of good national and international results which earned Corscadden her place on the Irish team for the 1991 Europeans at Punchestown. After cross country she was in fourth place but unfortunately she was forced to withdraw from the competition before the final show jumping phase because her horse had pulled a shoe off. “It was heart-breaking because we were in sight of a medal.”

Her luck turned when she joined Sonya Roe, Eric Smiley and Sue Shortt on the Irish team who won Bronze at the 1993 European championships. Continued good form saw Corscadden selected for the 2004 World Equestrian Games and the 2007 European Championships.

Unfortunately injuries began to take their toll and after 30 years Corscadden retired from international competition.

Empathy

Since 2006 Corscadden has been sharing her experience and knowledge. She was dressage and cross country coach to Brian MacSweeney’s junior and young rider squad’s for four years. She took over from MacSweeney in 2011 and between then and 2017 led Ireland to nine medals – two junior team, five young rider team and two individual young rider.

Two years ago she took on her current role she already has two medals in the bag.

An example of how empathy is part of her role arose at Tryon last September when Sarah Ennis’ horse lost a shoe during cross country and was recalled at the trot-up. “It was like déjà vu, going back to my Punchestown in 1991 – a matter of helping keep Sarah focused”.

Love of the sport

Grange Farm is a symbol of eventing even down to the cheeky Jack Russell named Todd for Mark Todd. There is no better example of Corscadden’s love of the sport than the innovative training course that she and Brendan established in 2010.

The training facility was set up with the help of neighbour Brendan Ryan. Together they replicated almost every cross country obstacle, including a water complex, banks, hedges, related distances and so much more.

It surely helps pupils keep pace with the dramatic changes that have come to eventing in recent years. “It is a glaring fact that Irish teams were failing on cross country courses that were shorter but much more technical and intense with less time to adjust between fences,” she notes.

Competing well

Looking forward to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics a combination of seasoned riders and some new combinations have begun planning for the season, they have already had a debriefing day at the Institute for Sport.

“We want to keep that mind-set that we can win medals. In addition to the Europeans at Luhmuhlen, Germany we will be focusing on getting riders qualified at Tattersalls, Blenheim, Bramham and Boekelo where there will be a Nations Cup at the end of the year,” Corscadden says.

She is also focused on the riders enjoying their sport. “We are lucky that since its foundation Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) has been so supportive. Yes I can set a vision but with HSI backing I have been able to surround myself with experts in whom the riders have great belief.”

Finally she says: “It is love of the horse and competing well that really matters – that feeling that everything is going well.”

Let’s hope all goes well for Sally and the team as they head out on the road to Tokyo.