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.
Won HSI Dressage Series 2020 Novice on Misneach (former racehorse)
Won Preliminary National Championship 2011 on Springfield Rondo
Won Novice National Championships 2009 on Bonaparts
Won Novice National Championships 2007 on Sinieky
This spring, Treo Eile was once again proud to support the Stepping Stones to Success League at Wexford Equestrian, a renowned hub for young horse development and performance competition. This exciting league offered a valuable platform for retrained racehorses (ex-racehorses) to shine in a professional and competitive environment, reinforcing Treo Eile’s mission to showcase the
This spring, Treo Eile was delighted to support the Western Region Starter Series, a dedicated Thoroughbred League designed to showcase the versatility and potential of retrained racehorses. Held across six competitive qualifiers and culminating in a thrilling final, the league attracted 23 combinations, all made up of thoroughbreds now thriving in their second careers. The
Treo Eile is delighted to announce our next clinic of the year with Tomas Ryan at Tipperary Equestrian Centre. This clinic is kindly sponsored by Randox Health Ireland. This will run on the 24th May and will commence at 1.00pm. The clinic with cater for thoroughbreds beginning their retraining right up to the thoroughbred in
Treo Eile is delighted to announce our next clinic of the year with Rosemarie Ahern O’Gorman at Sceilig Equestrian, Co Cork. This clinic is kindly sponsored by Randox Health Ireland. This will run on the 17th May and will commence at 10.30am. The clinic with cater for thoroughbreds beginning their retraining right up to the thoroughbred in competition. There will be four
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