Noor Slaoui, Breaking New Ground

Born in Casablanca on 21 January 1995, Noor Slaoui has followed an extraordinary path, from her first rides on a mule in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains to competing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. As the first rider from the MENA region to compete in Olympic eventing, she has broken new ground with unwavering determination. Even a fractured back, sustained just weeks before the Games, was not enough to keep her from taking her place on the Olympic stage.

Today, she competes at the highest level of international eventing, with her sights firmly set on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Between competitions, Noor Slaoui reflects on her journey, the demands of eventing and the values horses have taught her.

Where did your passion for horses begin?

I didn’t grow up in an equestrian family. My first experience of riding was on a mule, and later on a horse, in the plains of Morocco’s Atlas Mountains. I belonged to a riding club in Casablanca, where I learned to love and respect horses. I always dreamed of making a career out of it, but I had no idea how that could happen, so I assumed it would remain a hobby.

My passion for eventing came later, while I was on my way to the University of Warwick in Coventry, where I was studying Politics and International Relations. From that moment on, everything developed alongside my studies.

You specialise in eventing. What does the sport involve?

Eventing combines three disciplines in one. It starts with dressage, which tests the precision and harmony between horse and rider; then comes cross-country, which challenges courage, stamina and trust over fixed obstacles across varied terrain; and finally show jumping, which tests technique, accuracy and composure after the physical demands of the cross-country phase.

It’s called eventing for a reason because it demands every aspect of horse and rider, and it exposes any weakness, whether physical or mental. I was drawn to it because it asks everything of me: the discipline of dressage, the boldness of cross-country and the focus required for show jumping. That level of challenge perfectly matches the way I like to work.

Noor Slaoui and Cash during the show jumping competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo: Tilly Berendt.

What qualities does this discipline demand of both horse and rider?

For the horse, it takes courage, stamina, honesty at the fence and the intelligence to manage its effort over the course of the competition. The rider needs that same mental stamina, together with the ability to stay composed and precise in dressage, confident and calm across country, and technically accurate in show jumping. Above all, you have to cope with the pressure of competing over several days without ever lowering your standards.It’s a sport where trust between horse and rider is absolutely fundamental. It’s essential, not only for performance but also for safety. And when that partnership truly comes together, it’s something incredibly special and immensely powerful.

You have represented Morocco at the world’s leading international competitions. What does it mean to you to compete in the colours of your country?

It’s a responsibility that I carry with immense pride. Becoming the first rider from the MENA region to compete in Olympic eventing at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games wasn’t just a personal achievement; it was about opening the way for others. Every time I compete for Morocco, I think about those who may come after me, and I hope that, by being there, I can make their journey just a little easier.

What has your horse taught you beyond competition?

Above all, horses have taught me humility. You can spend an entire season preparing with the greatest discipline, only to see all that work called into question by an injury or simply by a horse having an off day. I experienced that myself before the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.That experience taught me how to pick myself up, to start again without resentment, and to understand that success is built over time, not on a single result. It also reminded me of the importance of listening. A horse never lies about how it feels, but you have to learn how to listen.

Noor Slaoui and Cash at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo: International Equestrian Federation (FEI).

Noor Slaoui and Cash during the show jumping competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Photo: Tilly Berendt.

Beyond competition, what does horse riding teach young people?

Whether your goal is to compete at the highest level or simply to ride for pleasure, horse riding teaches a unique kind of discipline. It teaches you to respect another living being, one that doesn’t respond to force or impatience, but to consistency and patience.Young people who take up the sport develop a real sense of responsibility. They learn to care for an animal, to put its needs before their own, and to become resilient in the face of setbacks, because falls and difficult days are simply part of learning. Those are qualities that stay with you far beyond the world of sport.

What would you say to young people who dream of following in your footsteps?

The first thing I’d say is that there isn’t one set path, or one timetable that everyone has to follow. We all have to find our own way, one step at a time. It’s easy, especially today, to compare yourself with people who seem to be moving faster or getting further than you are, but that doesn’t really mean anything. My own journey began on the back of a mule in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, with no career plan in mind, and I didn’t discover eventing until I was at university.Just as importantly, no one gets there alone. You need a good team around you, people you trust, who believe in your dream, sometimes even before it truly exists. To young Moroccan women in particular, I’d say that your place in this sport isn’t determined by where you start, but by the commitment and consistency you bring to it. And finally, remember that you don’t have to make that journey on your own.

September 2026