Well known and respected dressage rider and trainer, Sonya McCormack, began her equestrian career on a riding school pony. Rising through Pony Club levels in eventing, dressage and showjumping she appeared on many teams including the Irish Pony Club Tethrathlon team. It was a dressage lesson with Countess Anna Merveldt (mother of Irish Olympic dressage rider Peetsie Merveldt) that piqued Sonya’s interest then a clinic with Heike Holstein that hooked her.

Since then Sonya has trained many young horses ranging from Draughts and Irish Sport horses to schooling 2yos for Curragh trainers helping them achieve better balance for racing.  She is an Approved Producer for the HSI Future Young Horse Breaking and Schooling Scheme.

Sonya retrains thoroughbreds after their racing careers are finished, giving them new jobs as eventers, showjumpers and dressage horses. Her success is “down to patience and learning what makes each horse tick.”

A recent highlight was the HSI Dressage Series in which she retrained a ‘just off the track’ thoroughbred to win the HSI Portmore Show and finish 2nd overall in the Novice event. He was the only thoroughbred in the 5yo class! After the first ride on Misneach Sonya said she “felt something!”

Sonya ensures she knows everything about each horse that comes into her yard from feeding to stable behaviours. She takes great pride in her work and nothing gives her greater pleasure than returning horses to their owners in a better place for a new or continued career. Whether you have a racehorse needing some flatwork or retraining for an equestrian career, you will not find a more patient and hands-on trainer.