CHESNEY, JESSICA

JESSICA CHESNEY-KÜRTEN
1969-
Born on the 24th November 1969 to George and Rosemary Chesney, Jessica began her riding career on a donkey. She discovered her passion for horses and love of riding from an early age and encouraged by her parents who both had a competitive streak Jessica went on to win several national pony championships as a young girl.

When Jessica decided that she wanted to make horses and show jumping her career her parents told her it was too tough a job for a girl, but looking at her long list of achievements she has proved them wrong. She has represented Ireland twice at the Olympic Games, first in 1996 in Atlanta finishing 26th individually and again in 2004 at Athens finishing 18th individually.
In 1994 Jessica met her future husband Eckhard Kürten at the Dublin Horse Show and attributes a lot of her success to him as he was also her manager. They were married shortly afterwards and moved to the German Rhineland, relocating in 2012 to Paris.
“I am crazy about horses and I still burn for show jumping, however, I felt that the time was ripe for something new.” In December 2014 Jessica decided to take a break from the sport to focus on what her priorities would be for the rest of her career, and in January 2015 she announced her retirement from competitive show jumping. Since retiring she has become a regular commentator at show jumping events on the FEI TV online channel and has designed the equestrian centre at the Quintas de Obidos Country Club in Portugal.

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