What does it take to bounce back from major disappointment and win a five star just weeks later? 

Four-time Olympian Austin O’Connor joins host Melanie Young to discuss resilience, strategic decision-making, and the team behind his success with top horse Colorado Blue. From comparing four different Olympic experiences to explaining why Burghley 2024 required choosing five-star competition over European Championships, Austin provides honest insights into elite eventing. 

We also hear from Francesca Denning, his competition groom, about the behind-the-scenes work that makes championship performances possible—from quarantine logistics to keeping a grey horse pristine white.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

• How resilience is the strongest word in sport
• The evolution of four Olympic experiences from Sydney to Paris
• Why Colorado Blue’s temperament and competitive heart make him exceptional
• The vital role of competition groom Francesca Denning 
• Strategic decision-making around targeting five stars versus team championships

GUEST DETAILS

Austin O’Connor is a four-time Irish Olympic eventing rider who has represented Ireland at Sydney 2000, Beijing 2008, Tokyo 2020, and Paris 2024.

Austin grew up in a dealing and riding school environment in County Cork, which led him naturally into eventing, particularly drawn by the adrenaline of cross country. His top horse, Colorado Blue (known as “Salty”), was born in County Limerick and is sired by Jagermell out of a proven dam line.

Austin is known for his strategic approach to competition planning and his close-knit team approach, including his wife Amy and competition groom Francesca Denning.

Francesca Denning is Austin O’Connor’s competition groom for Colorado Blue, a role she’s held since Tokyo 2020. She previously worked for Austin early in her career after university and spent several years grooming for Lucy Jackson, where she developed her competition grooming expertise.

MORE INFORMATION

Horse Sport Ireland is the national governing body for equestrian sport and the sport horse industry in Ireland, overseeing disciplines and high-performance teams, regulating athletes and horses, issuing equine passports and maintaining studbooks, and supporting breeders through national breeding services and coaching programmes. https://www.horsesportireland.ie/

This podcast was produced by dustpod.io

QUOTES

You know that’s sport. There’s certainly more downs than ups at the end of the day. Yeah, we did have to pick ourselves up. – Austin O’Connor

Paris and Versailles was probably the most special. The setting, the French crowds and everything just made that extremely special. It was as close to playing in Old Trafford as you get in the eventing world. It felt like a new beginning really, getting there with a great group of riders. – Austin O’Connor

The strongest word in sport is resilience. If you don’t have it, you’re not going anywhere. You just sort of pick yourself up and look forward or go and get a different job. – Austin O’Connor

KEYWORDS
#eventing #Olympics #horsesport #resilience #fivestar