GAFFNEY Rosemary Jean

Ireland

Equestrian

Date of Birth: 12 Feb 1958

Age: 63

Gender: Female

Sport Class: GIV

Place of birth: CLONMEL

Birth Country:

Ireland

Place of residence : KILKENNY

Residence Country:

Ireland

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Equestrian	Team Test to Music
	Individual Test - Grade IV	15

Schedule

Change

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
	Equestrian Park	Dressage Individual Test - Grade IV	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Athlete:

Rank	Event	Year	Location
European Championships
11	Individual Test - Grade IV	2019	Rotterdam, NED
13	Team Test to Music	2019	Rotterdam, NED

Nickname:

Gaffers (childericsaddles.co.uk, 30 Oct 2019)

Occupation:

Athlete, Teacher

Languages spoken:

English

Coach:

Sue Smallman

Other sports:

She competed in able-bodied dressage at national level in Ireland before and after her accident in 2007. She switched to Para dressage in 2010. (tipperarylive.ie, 13 Aug 2021; nationalist.ie, 28 Jul 2011)

Debut:

2010 for Ireland (paraequestrianireland.com, 09 Sep 2012)

Injuries:

In 2014 she broke 40 bones in her leg, from the hip to the ankle, after a fall from a horse and required six operations in 10 days. (paralympics.ie, 06 Aug 2021)

She sustained multiple fractures to her other leg and knee while exercising her dressage horse at Kildalton College in Kilkenny, Ireland in 2007. The injuries led to her switch from able-bodied equestrian dressage to Para equestrian dressage in 2010. (tipperarylive.ie, 13 Aug 2021; paralympics.ie, 06 Aug 2021)

Start:

She began riding at age five, and took up Para dressage in 2010. (paralympics.ie, 06 Aug 2021; childericsaddles.co.uk, 30 Oct 2019)

Reason:

As a child she had aspirations to become an actor before focusing on horses. "I was accepted into The Gaiety School of acting but I chose horses instead. Mind you I think the two are linked as they are full of highs and lows and you have to be tough for both." (childericsaddles.co.uk, 30 Oct 2019; nationalist.ie, 28 Jul 2011)

Ambition:

To compete at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (horsesportireland.ie, 06 May 2020)

Hero:

British dressage rider Carl Hester. (childericsaddles.co.uk, 30 Oct 2019)

Influence:

Coach Evie Croome Carroll. (childericsaddles.co.uk, 30 Oct 2019)

Philosophy:

"Never give up and never give in." (childericsaddles.co.uk, 30 Oct 2019)

General Interest

Classification
GRADE IV (FEI, 16 Aug 2021)

Origin of Impairment
Acquired (paraequestrianireland.com, 17 Oct 2011)

Impairment Details
In 2007 she sustained multiple fractures to her knee and leg after a fall from a horse. (paraequestrianireland.com, 17 Oct 2011)

General
OCCUPATION
She has worked as an equine course director at Kildalton College in Kilkenny, Ireland. Her groom at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo will be one of her former Kildalton students Shannon Acheson. (tipperarylive.ie, 13 Aug 2021; paralympics.ie, 06 Aug 2021; horsesportireland.ie, 06 May 2020; LinkedIn profile, 01 Jan 2020)

RESERVE
She was named as a travelling reserve for Ireland's equestrian dressage teams at both the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games. "I've worn the bridesmaid's dress enough now." (tipperarylive.ie, 13 Aug 2021; paralympics.ie, 06 Aug 2021)

Social Media

Legend

:: Gold Medal Event
:: Silver Medal Event
:: Bronze Medal Event

Timing and scoring provided by OMEGA. Results powered by Atos