RIOGHAN Rua translates from Irish as ‘Red Queen’ and if you search for some of the qualities associated with the name Rioghan, you typically find someone that is sensitive yet co-operative, intuitive and one that works hard to gain confidence.

By the Swedish warmblood Jack of Diamonds out of the deceased Flagmount King mare Highland Destiny, Rioghan Rua has amassed just over 900 Eventing Ireland points in her career to date. Her first EI run was with Rachael Power at Calverstown in 2011; an area that she was to grow far more familiar with in the years ahead!

Partnering with Cathal Daniels in 2013, Rioghan Rua took team gold at the European Junior Championships a few months later and went on to bring home team gold and individual silver the following year.

A team bronze medal at young rider level in 2015 propelled the chesnut mare into the senior ranks and a win at Chatsworth in 2018 was a stepping stone to the team silver medal at the World Equestrian Games at Tryon in 2018.

Cathal and Rua recorded victory at four-star level in Bramham early last summer before going on to take their first individual bronze medal at Senior European level last August.

Rua lit up social media in the run up to Christmas when she became the first Irish horse to win the Equi-Ratings horse of the year title; with 11,500 people voting in the final.

Ireland is privileged to be able to enjoy one of the eventing mares of our generation. To recognise the past successes of Rioghan Rua and hopefully many more to come, Eventing Ireland Director David O’Brien presented a Special Achievement Award of an honorary lifetime registration with Eventing Ireland to owner and breeder Mags Kinsella on behalf of the Eventing Ireland Board.