Jo Barry is a National Dressage rider based near Edinburgh. She is also a HorseScotland Performance Group member and is therefore supported by SportScotland through HorseScotland. From a family run business, she provides livery and coaching, while working and training her own horses in her goal to reach International level. At Jo Barry Dressage, they offer the best quality horse stabling and 24 hour, supervised horse management whilst striving for the kind of service your horse would choose. Based in West Lothian there is easy access to all the major routes in Scotland, enabling those requiring flatwork tuition or livery a commutable destination.
Jo started riding at the local riding school at the age of four. She had weekly lessons, which soon turned into spending whole weekends at the yard as well as many evenings after school when possible.
She got her first pony, a stroppy chestnut mare, when she was eight. She taught Jo how to stay on and learn to ride. They took part in Pony Club activities and Side Saddle before venturing in to the world of showing. During the next few years she rode at many of the major shows, the RIHS, HOYS and Olympia riding in SHP, WHP and M&M classes.
With her 14h Show Hunter Pony, Jo tried a few dressage tests and within a short period of time, showing was soon became left behind and British Pony Team selection was firmly in her sights! In 1993 Jo firmly chose to concentrate her efforts into dressage, which had started to become an addiction. On leaving school she was offered a job with Carl Hester in early 1996, this was to fill in the few remaining months of her gap year. A few months turned into five years and in the end, University never happened! During her time with Carl she was head girl, rode many of Carl’s horses and rode to PSG competitively. In 1997 she won the National Talent Spotting and in 1998 she headed the Young Rider Rankings. In 1999 she aided in the training of Daphne, a GB Pony Team member & National Champion. In 2000 she travelled to the Sydney Olympics to groom for Carl which was an experience of a lifetime.
In early 2001 Jo returned home to just outside Edinburgh to run a livery, training and competition yard. It is from here that she is still based. The yard is run by Jo and her mum, Flora. Ormiston is ideally positioned being only 10 minutes from the Edinburgh city bypass, M8 (junction 3), M9 (Newbridge interchange) and Edinburgh airport.
Jo travels throughout the UK to give clinics and has gained her UKCC Level 3; Dressage Specific, EFI Level 1 & 2 certificates and is an EFI qualified Tutor. She is accredited to The Scottish Equestrian Association, SportsScotland, British Dressage and The British Horse Society and has the appropriate insurance, first aid and child protection cover.
She travels to train with Carl Hester and Paul Hayler and competes throughout the UK. She has won 16 National and numerous Scottish titles, qualifying many horses for Winter National, Summer National and Scottish Championships. During her dressage career, Jo has had the opportunity to receive training from some of the greatest riders and judges while participating on clinics and conventions taken by people such as; Reiner Klimke, Nicole Uphoff, Hubertus Schmidt and Christoph Hess. She has been noted by these prominent figures to have the required talent. Jo’s lifelong goal is to ride internationally at Senior level for the UK and if all things go well, maybe even with a place on a Senior Team!
Jo is a member of the HorseScotland Performance Squad & has been for a number of years. She feels privileged to be a member of the squad & benefit from the training, physiotherapy & fitness support they give.
In December 2014, Jo suffered a serious head injury after a fall from one of her horses. After two months in hospital it became obvious that recovery was only just beginning but even now, years later, there is still improvement being made.
Rider History
Nominee for the Horse & Hound Inspiration of the Year Award 2018
Scottish Equestian Dressage Combination of the Year 2018
HorseScotland Performer of the Year 2016
Pat Smallwood Training Award 2009
AON Dressage Rider of the Year 2002
No 1 Ranked Young Rider 1998
GB Young Rider Team Shortlist 1998
GB Talent Spotting Winner 1997
Worked for Carl Hester 1996-2001
GB Junior Team Shortlist 1994
GB Pony Team 1993
Number of Titles Won
18 British Championship Titles
39 Scottish Championship TitlesBritish Championship Roll of Honour;
2002
G-West Nibby Bright, owned by Lyndsey Scott
Elementary Open Winter Champion2003
Don Noir, owned by Shona Jones
Novice Open Winter Champion
Novice Freestyle Open Winter Champion2007
Vivaldi V, owned by Lady Hope & Jo Barry
Novice Freestyle Open Winter Champion
Elementary Open Summer Champion
5yo Young Horse Champion (Summer Championships)
Overall 4yo & 5yo Young Horse Champion (Summer Championships)2008
Waratah, owned by Helen Owen & Jo Barry
Novice Freestyle Open Winter Champion2010
Vivaldi V, owned by Lady Hope & Jo Barry
Elementary Freestyle Open Winter Champion
Medium Freestyle Open Winter Champion
Medium Open Winter Champion2012
Corchapin, owned by Lady Hope & Jo Barry
Novice Open Summer Champion2013
Corchapin, owned by Lady Hope & Jo Barry
Elementary Open Summer Champion2014
Corchapin, owned by Lady Hope & Jo Barry
Elementary Freestyle Open Winter Champion
Medium Open Summer Champion2018
Goofy La Perle, owned by Gordon Grainger (Kingfisher)
Elementary Freestyle Open Winter Champion
Elementary Open Summer Champion2021
Goofy La Perle, owned by Gordon Grainger (Kingfisher)
PSG Silver Summer Champion