WHEN you set a goal, it is a wonderful feeling to achieve it. That is what the Irish para equestrian team did yesterday (Friday) at the Chateau de Versailles when they finished 10th at the Paralympic Games.

Debora Pijpers was bursting with excitement on Friday afternoon, “we did it!” she said upon answering the phone. It marks a two-place improvement from Tokyo three years ago. Well done to the whole team, backroom staff and everyone who played a part in getting a team qualified and to this point.

Despite all four riders getting off to a good start in their individual tests earlier in the week, there was slight disappointment when each athlete missed out on the Freestyle final by either one or two places. For Sarah Slattery and Jessica McKenna, they should be so proud on their Olympic debut.

Kate Kerr-Horan is the ultimate perfectionist and, she said it herself (see page 77), as a dressage rider, she is never happy! She has brought a nine-year-old horse to a Paralympic Games after just a short period together, that is an unenviable task and one she did with class.

As for Michael Murphy, even with all he has won in his career so far, it was heartening to see him get emotional after his first test with Cleverboy. It shows the appreciation he has for his horse. Let’s not forget that Cleverboy once competed in able-bodied dressage up to Grand Prix level. To go in and do a walk test and look after Michael like he does shows what an incredible animal he is.

The dressage at Burghley was a good watch over the last two days but, I expect, nothing like we will see tomorrow over the monstrous cross-country course. Lesley Hunter-Nolan is onsite at Burghley this weekend for Irish Horse World and will have full coverage in next week’s paper.