“SO happy” was Debora Pijpers reaction after the Irish para dressage team finished in 10th place at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games on Friday afternoon at the Chateau de Versailles.

“We knew it was an ambitious goal and we knew we would have to do everything nearly perfect and we did,” Ireland’s high performance director told The Irish Field after the competition. Her team of Sarah Slattery (Savona), Michael Murphy (Cleverboy) and Kate Kerr-Horan (Lykkebo’s Don Akino) finished on a combined total 208.545 after brilliant performances across the board. All three athletes improved their scores from the individual competition earlier in the week.

“It was a huge team effort,” Pijpers continued. “There were three in the team but all four riders contributed to this. The atmosphere has been so good. These four riders showed true sportsmanship, they were so positive, overcame challenges and rode so well. I am really proud.”

While all four riders just missed out on Freestyle qualification (top eight to qualify), Pijpers said they all have to be ready to ride in case another horse withdraws or fails the vet inspection. “We will do the vet check in the morning (Saturday) at 8.30pm because we have three riders in ninth and one in 10th.

“Of course, we don’t wish that someone doesn’t pass but it could happen so we have to be prepared.”

The USA team of Roxanne Trunnell (Grade I), Fiona Howard (Grade II) and Rebecca Hart (Grade III) secured gold ahead of The Netherlands while Germany edged out Italy for the bronze medal.