I WAS born in Dublin and have lived my whole life in Carbury, Co Kildare. Married to William Bell and we have two kids, Jake (14) and Archie (12).

I’ve ridden all my life, a Kildare Pony Club member and did show jumping, showing, inter-schools cross-country and dressage. As the fences got bigger, dressage became much more attractive!

I’ve been national dressage champion 13 times and competed at four Olympic Games: Atlanta (1996. Devereaux), Sydney (2000. Royale), Athens (2004, Welt Adele) and Tokyo (2020. Sambuca).

1. Congratulations on both breeding Sambuca and representing Ireland at Tokyo on a home-bred and owned horse. A whirlwind couple of days after years in the making?

Thank you, yes it was an amazing experience made all the more special riding a horse that I bred. It’s everyone’s dream, isn’t it?

2. Tell us about breeding Sambuca.

Well we wanted to have another child and I decided that I would breed from Astoria (Limmerick – Weisha, by Wendepunkt. Breeder: John Reid) at the same time. My mum Gisela, an international dressage judge at the time, was in Germany at a show. They had a stallion parade during the lunchbreak and that’s how she saw Samarant and thought he would be a great match for Astoria. He was by Sandro Hit (Sandro Song), who has lots of successful dressage progeny.

3. Proudest moment as a breeder?

Two of my proudest moments (there are many!) would be being a member of the team that qualified Ireland’s first-ever dressage team for the Olympics and another would be competing Sambuca in Tokyo.

4. Do you have other broodmares?

I don’t have any other broodmares and don’t breed horses anymore either.

5. Any future breeding plans for Sambuca or any stallion picked out yet?

I haven’t really thought about breeding from Sambuca before now but maybe that’s something for next year! There are so many amazing stallions out there at the moment to choose from!

6. Compared to breeding show jumpers and event horses, dressage horse breeding in Ireland is up to small group of dedicated breeders. As well as Sambuca’s achievements, any suggestions as to how to raise the profile of Irish-bred dressage horses?

Competing Irish-bred horses successfully abroad really raises their profile. There are many young horse classes abroad too.

At home here, Horse Sport Ireland ran a very successful dressage league last year for Irish-bred horses which attracted a big crowd of participants, and hopefully this will happen again.

7. Tokyo was the fourth Olympic Games you’ve competed at. How much do you think dressage horse types have changed since Atlanta?

Yes I think the type of dressage horse has changed. When you look back 20, 30 years at videos and photos of international dressage horses, they have definitely changed in my opinion. But if you look at who’s competing internationally now you can see that Grand Prix horses come in many shapes and sizes! There is no standard type.

However, training and how they are ridden plays a huge part. If horses are trained and produced correctly, the paces, etc. get better. With bad training, the paces, etc. get worse.

With proper training, the shape of a horse can be changed for the better with the proper muscles being developed that help it carry itself better and perform better.

8. It takes a team – who’s on yours?

It does take a team! Amongst my team is my Mum who helps me with the training and my husband, who is an accountant, can do many things, including drive the truck and fix nearly everything!

My babysitter Mary, who was our babysitter when we were young, is a godsend. I wouldn’t be able to go away without knowing that she is at home minding the kids, bringing them to football, picking them up from school, etc.

Then my brother Erik, who helps look after whatever horses are at home while I’m gone.

I am very privileged to have amazing sponsors who help make it all happen and am very grateful for their ongoing support; Red Mills, Forans, Norbrook Equine, KSB Equissage, HorseBitHire, Flexi Tack Lockers, Saddles Ireland, DSE Equestrian, PM Equestrian, Flex On, Clippers Ireland, WHIS and Hive Insurance.

My friends and clients are also a huge support, especially Ceara, who always has my back.

9. Best advice you ever got?

I’ve had lots of great advice over the years, one that was said to me and that I say to pupils is that “It’s the same arena, just in a different place!” Riders need to feel at home in our dressage arena and no matter where you are competing, it’s still the same arena, so tune out from what’s outside the arena and concentrate on what’s on the inside.

10. Least favourite food?

I eat nearly everything but can’t stand celery or tuna!