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
Equestrian enthusiasts and thoroughbred lovers are gearing up for an exhilarating day of top-tier competition as the “Tattersalls Ireland Treo Eile Showing Pathway Series Final” prepares to showcase the best in equine excellence. Set to take place on Sunday, 3rd September, at the esteemed Royal Meath Show, this event promises to captivate audiences with the
Building on the success of Last year’s pre-Dublin Horse Show clinic, we are hosting a Dress Rehearsal Clinic in Coilóg Equestrian Centre Co. Kildare. It will be hosted by multiple RDS racehorse to riding horse class winner Joanne Quirke. Joanne has won this class on esteemed exracehorses ‘Cooldine’ and ‘Forpaddytheplasterer’. Feedback from last year’s
We are excited to announce that we will be holding a thoroughbred showing clinic with three prestigious professionals on Wednesday the 5th of July in Meadows Equestrian Centre, Lurgan, Co. Armagh. Kevin McGuinness, Julie Donaghy Simpson, and Judy Maxwell will join forces to offer a complete package of showing preparation and execution. In The
In the lead up to the Corinthian Challenge Charity Race, the Irish Injured Jockeys have donated €5,000 to Treo Eile. Our organisation is truly grateful for this kind gesture stemming from Caren Walsh of AIRO, IIJ General Manager Michael Higgins, and others within the IIJ. This donation will aid Treo Eile in continuing our
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