WHEN I got the news last week, I took a few days to let it sink in and personally call all the people who helped me along the way,” said new Guinness World Records holder Susan Oakes, casting her mind back to when she received official confirmation about becoming its latest record holder for her side saddle high jump in 2013.

The news coincided with the announcement of a Level 5 lockdown within Ireland. Not that any wild celebrations were on the cards anyhow. “I had a few glasses of wine with Mam to celebrate and relive the journey.”

With constant bombardment from the global media about the coronavirus pandemic and the public’s patience with lockdown measures fraying at the edges, human instinct is to gravitate towards any good news stories. And official recognition for her high jump record by side saddle’s poster girl is one such story.

The high jump attempt was part of her extensive ‘to do list’. One that is a long way from complete.

“Over the years I’ve got to fulfil many of my bucket list wishes which include riding side saddle on a Connemara Pony in the St Patrick’s Day parade in Boston; ride the Camino de Santiago side saddle and to hunt in the UK, France, USA, Canada and New Zealand. I’ve ridden in point-to-points in Ireland, the UK, France and USA and had winners in each country, both astride and side saddle.

“I got to ride in the La Touche Cup in Punchestown and had a ride in the Foxhunters Chase in Aintree but the horse pulled out lame just before tacking up.”

And there’s more.

Susan Oakes and The Grallagh winning the side saddle race at Oldcastlepoint-to-point in 2017 \ Healy Racing

Blessed

“I was the first person to ride a winner under National Hunt rules in a Micklem bitless bridle and won the inaugural running of the Diana of the Chase, side saddle and bitless. To ride in the Calgary Stampede was mindblowing and being part of Ireland’s first ever Skijor team was amazing and to win against the best cowboys, skiers and Quarter Horses in the world is hard to explain,” she added about this unusual win, notched up at the Skijordue Festival in Calgary.

This took place last February when the photo of Susan on board the palomino Bowie, with lifelong friend Barry O’Brien Lynch being towed behind on skis, went viral and just before the pandemic put a halt to the rest of her 2020 plans.

There is more depth to Susan Oakes’s story though than ticking off a bucket list of adventures on horseback.

“I have an autoimmune disease and 15 years ago, the doctors told me I only had a maximum of two years left riding horses. That’s when I came up with a bucket list! I’ve been extremely lucky that 15 years on, I’m still finding challenges and conquering them in the equestrian world.

“Some days weeks and months, I would be affected by my condition but as a whole, I have been extremely blessed to have achieved so much and have travelled the world all because of the horse.”

Susan received another setback four years ago following an invitation to ride at the Central Park Horse Show in New York. “My saddle broke the day before while warming up. I landed on my feet and the shock went up through my body and created two bleeds on the brain. I lost my eyesight in my left eye, my speech and my left side was paralyzed. Everyone’s brain injury is different and there is no rule of thumb on your recovery.

“It’s really hard to explain. If I saw someone I knew, it might not be instant that I’d remember where or how I knew them. Looking back through photos and reading has helped me fill in a lot of missing moments and chapters.

“Brain injuries are not talked about in the equestrian world and I think they really need to be, even a mild concussion can leave you feeling out of sorts.

"It’s okay not to feel okay and I just wish someday I can educate people about it and also the people that are around that person in how to best support them. It’s a lonely, confusing and frustrating road but there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

Life lessons

Much of her courage originated from the hunting field.

“I was basically born on a pony, my mum [Clare] has always had a huge appreciation for Connemara ponies and we always had some at home, so it rubbed off on me. As a little child I was fascinated by Bay Goodwin’s Connemara mare Ballydonagh Mistique. That’s where my love of greys stemmed from.”

Susan’s sister Elizabeth and their late father Oliver all shared this love of horses and hunting. “I grew up hunting with the Meath Foxhounds and Tara Harriers and then, later on in my teenage years, I also hunted with the Ward Union and Fingal Harriers. My mother believed I would get a better education on the hunting field; I had to face obstacles I may have been afraid to jump, I had to think wisely, be put in many different situations and be able to communicate with adults.

“I really had the most incredible childhood on the hunting field and without those life lessons I would not be as brave as I am today. I’m delighted to be the new Master of the Fingal Harriers for this season.”

Another ambition achieved but when did the interest in side saddle start? “My grand-aunts would have ridden side saddle and there was one in the tackroom at home. I started riding side saddle at the age of four on my donkey Rosie.”

Fast forward then to the now famous day – October 24th, 2013 – at the National Horse Sport Arena at Abbotstown, near Blanchardstown, where her two horses, SIEC Atlas and SIEC Oberon were tacked up for her attempt at the high jump record.

Susan credits Australian horsewoman Esther Stace, who jumped 6’6” at the Sydney Royal Show in 1915, as her inspiration. “I had come up with this crazy endeavour in 2011 and was then a blank canvas, with no show jumping horse, no show jumping trainer, only a dream. Over the two and a half years prior to my attempt, I had a roller coaster ride, many ups and many downs but the support of people kept my eye on the dream.

“Everything ran perfectly up to the day. On the day I had videographers, photographers, FEI officials and friends present to witness it. I wanted to jump the puissance wall and the triple bar on two different horses. SIEC Atlas was so special to me and he felt fantastic on the day. I bought over 40 side saddles over the two and a half years and none were right, but the side saddle that I only got two weeks before felt perfect. Only for that saddle, there wouldn’t have been an attempt,” Oakes explained.

Susan Oakes clears the Puissance wall to set a new world record \ Coffey Shots

It’s official

“We jumped a few different-sized walls before the big one. The relief when I landed was understandable, only now do I truly cherish the feeling. Then I dismounted and remounted SIEC Oberon to attempt the triple bar at 6’5”.

“This was the most difficult thing so far in my life that I have ever attempted. I had to dig hard mentally and my trusty steed did exactly the same and more. What Oberon did for me that day I will never forget.”

Susan and SIEC Atlas duly set a new record of 2.03m (6 ft 8in) at Abbotstown. The Guinness World Records, previously known as the Guinness Book of Records, had until last week listed only the high jump record established in 1949 when Chile’s Capt. Alberto Larraguibel Morales set this record in Santiago with his horse Huaso (2.47m, 8 ft 1.25 in).

Seven years after Abbotstown, this record has finally been recognised. “Out of the blue I got a phone call from Guinness World Records and was shocked when they said they wanted to verify and recognise my record, due to all the support it has received worldwide.”

Waiting until the story first appeared in The Irish Field last Saturday, Susan then spread the good news about her official record, via a video on social media.

“The video has gone viral with over 200,000 views so far and I’m getting contacted from all over the world with people extending congratulations.

“I have a real love of travel and adventure, I’m very free spirited and a complete adrenaline junkie. I love my American friends, the Myopia Hunt ones in Hamilton, Massachusetts feel like family. Every time I fly in I feel like I’m going home. I think people appreciate that everything I’ve done only stemmed from a dream.”

Time out

How does she pack a side saddle for these trips? “I used to take it as hand luggage and other times, I’d have to book it a seat. When I started travelling so much I left two saddles and two habits in the USA.

“Another highlight was owning Cisero to win the Landrover Puissance in the RDS when he was ridden by Shane Breen. Other highlights as an owner include watching SIEC Oberon coming second in the class with a young Michael Duffy and having Alex Butler place third with Tsjakka. We grew up in the Meath Pony Club so I was delighted to supply him with the horse.”

Had 2020 been a different year, Susan had hoped to compete in the Dublin Puissance class herself this summer. “I really thought I’d be off around the world at present but I’m blessed to be home with my family and have this quality time. When the world comes back to some normality, I will continue following my dreams.

“The big one is to qualify for and jump in the puissance. I have a great new horse who is a Puissance specialist called H. D’Or and was in Mexico training on my show jumping with the hope of jumping in the RDS this year but that wasn’t to be.”

Not one but two silver linings happened during her Mexican stay. “I’ve said over the years I feel perfect and I’m making a wonderful recovery but I think 2020 is when my body actually had the space and time to do its final healing.”

Dragons Den calling

The other positive was developing a new product. “I have a dental business in Navan. My parents wanted me to get a qualification and advised me to keep horses as my hobby. I’m delighted I listened to their advice and that I have the best of both worlds.

“Dental business is down 90% with the coronavirus but when I was in Mexico, I developed a new product which I’m bringing to Ireland to launch in the next few weeks. It’s a sanitising arch and the liquid is bio-friendly, eco-friendly and has been proven to help prevent the spread of the virus,” she revealed about this product; a walk-through arch which dispenses disinfectant mist at, for example, an airport entrance.

There are no prizes for guessing what she called the new company. “Puissance Protection! Already some major companies are interested in installing them around the world and I haven’t even launched it yet. I want to bring production to Ireland and have this country as the base.”

So what’s left on the famous bucket list? “The Mongolian Derby. I’ve been accepted to try it side saddle for 2021, but not sure it will be on. I’d like to buy a top grey thoroughbred for hunter chases and I’d still like to jump Bechers Brook! Do a riding safari, hunt all 150 hunts in the USA in a season and bring over my Irish horses to do it; train to jump a 1.50m track or a big Derby. My horse has been placed in the Hickstead Derby so something like that. It would take a few years of training I’m sure.

“I’m a big supporter of the Irish endurance team and have been lucky enough to see first hand many great races, including some in Dubai. I’d like to base myself in Dubai for a season and learn and compete. I was offered a ride in the Maryland Hunt Cup before and would love to try this.

“Once all these things are done, I will go back to my favourite game which is polo. I made the decision to get all the crazy things out of the way first and then spend the next chapter of my life playing polo, it is an amazing game. At that point I’d like to put pen to paper and share my equestrian adventures.”

Such a book would certainly be a chronicle of positivity and setting alternative goals. Susan Oakes started doing that 15 years ago.

“I like to think I give life colour and make it more exciting for everyone around me. I believe good things are on the other side of obstacles, so taking a risk isn’t a big deal. I embrace them.

“Maybe my purpose here is to inspire others to believe in themselves, expand their perspectives and to take a risk on the things they most want in life.”

Next week: Clare Oakes