Joan De Sales La Terrière of Kiltinan Castle died on this day in 1968. The Nationalist described her as ‘one of the most remarkable and best-known personalities in the Tipperary sporting world’.
She shocked a generation when she became the first woman to ride astride her horse while competing in equestrian events rather than riding side-saddle as was the convention for women.
De Sales La Terrière was a member of the Grubb family of Castlegrace, Clogheen. She was educated in England and Belgium before returning to Castlegrace. She showed an abiding love of horsemanship and animals from an early age and began to make a name for herself in the spheres of hunting and show-jumping. She jumped on famous horses such as “Tommy”, “Irish” and “Velt Kornet” at various shows across Ireland and Britain.
As Joan Grubb, she caused some controversy at the Olympia London International Horse Show when she rejected the side saddle style, which was conventional for women, in favour of the 'gentleman's' style, i.e. riding astride the horse. Mark Bence-Jones in his book Twilight of the Ascendancy, says De Sales La Terrière was viewed with suspicion for her contempt for the traditional role of women. She refused to be cowed and persisted in riding astride at other international competitions.
Unfortunately, her jumping career was cut short by the outbreak of the Great War where she served as an ambulance driver with the Red Cross in France. She was wounded in an explosion and was invalided out of the army and returned to Castlegrace. Her husband Gerard Arthur O’ Callaghan, a captain in the 18th Royal Irish Regiment, was killed in action in Flanders only a few weeks after the pair were married in 1915.
She married Francis de Sales La Terrière of Kiltinan Castle, Fethard after the Great War. While living in Fethard, she specialised in the breeding of children’s ponies, many of which won renown in Ireland, England and America. Indeed, Killusty Pony Show was founded in 1962 partly to provide a shop window for her ponies and the show has gone from strength to strength ever since.
The De Sales La Terrières had two children, Rory and Tara. Rory joined the Royal Scots Greys during the second world war and was killed in action in Holland in 1944. He was 21 years old.
Joan De Sales La Terrière died on 3 February 1968. She was buried in the grounds of her home, Kiltinan Castle in 1968.
Sources:
The Nationalist, 10/02/1968, p7.
Tipperary Star, 10/02/1968, p12.
https://prabook.com/web/joan.mary_de_sales_louisiana_terriere/2212947
