A Day In The Life Of Equestrian Olympian Noor Slaoui

by Imogene LegrandJuly 11, 2024July 11, 2024

Moroccan-born Noor Slaoui is focused on her rigorous training routine as she prepares to become the first Arab female equestrian rider to represent the MENA region at the Olympic games in Paris this summer

An Early Start

During the summer when I’m in training, I wake up at 6:30AM. As I train outdoors, I’m heavily dependent on daylight so it’s important for me to get an early start. On competition days, the alarm can go off as early as 2:00AM or 3:00AM. I’m an easy sleeper, but as soon as I’m up, I get out of bed. The first thing I do is let my dogs out at 7:15AM before feeding them. I have three; Sterling, Paco and Socks. They come with us everywhere, even to competitions! They’re the best support team.

I stretch at 7:30AM before I jump into the shower. I opt for natural products. I’m big on hydrating creams, and SPF50 is a must for me. Then it’s time for breakfast. I always make sure I eat plenty of protein and fibre such as eggs, avocado and yogurt to get me through the day. I love a cappuccino.

Ready For The Day

It only takes me two minutes to get ready. Being an equestrian is a lifestyle. I spend all my days in my riding uniform which consists of a team polo shirt and riding jodhpurs. I look at the forecast to decide how many layers I need to get me through the English weather.

My little sister, Iman gives me style inspiration. She’s very good at matching outfits and accessories. I love Moroccan Touch, which mixes Moroccan-inspired patterns with more modern clothing. And Maison Ayu, which has very airy and comfortable pieces. My most cherished wardrobe items are my competition riding tailcoats from Pikeur. I’ve worn them at each stage of my career right up to my Olympic qualification. For accessories, I always wear my grandmother’s rings. They fit perfectly with any style and have high sentimental value for me.

A Moment For Self-Care

My go-to beauty buys are moisturiser, sunscreen, lip balm, and mascara. I’m not into beauty treatments; because of my job it’s hard to justify getting regular blow-outs and manicures. I do my own nails once a week. Regular polish just chips off, so I use nail strengthener and I do my cuticles – I’ve got my own little kit!

I head down to the yard to start the day at 8:30AM on my first horse. My commute is just 10 steps as I live above the main barn. Unfortunately, living out my dream of being a professional rider means that I don’t get to live in the same country as my family. I talk to them as much as I can and they do their best to support me at my shows across Europe.

I ride between eight to 10 horses every day. As soon as I get to the yard, I catch up with the staff and get a run down on the horses. Then, my business partner, Deborah, and I make up a training plan for the day. Each horse is in a different stage of training, so we have to adapt to each of them on an individual basis.

I’m a very driven person. I like to set myself goals and I do everything I can to achieve them. I’m so grateful to have a great team that supports me. I am only the visible tip of a giant iceberg. It takes a village to make it all happen and I’m fully conscious of this.

I usually don’t have time for lunch. I’ve also found that if I have a break to eat, I struggle to get back into the groove, so I have something light around 4:00PM with a protein shake before hitting the gym.

Post-Work Rituals

My work ends at different times every day; it depends on whether I’m at home training or competing. If I’m home I’ll finish at 4:00PM or 5:00PM, but when I’m at a competition, it can be anywhere between 7-11:00PM.

I usually go to the gym after work. I do mostly core strength and stamina exercises. I then get back home around 7:00PM, shower, have dinner and catch up on my messages. I’ll unwind by watching a series or a movie. I can watch Grey’s Anatomy over and over again – the characters basically feel like family now.

Time To Unwind

I sleep at 10:30PM. I try to meditate for 10 to 15 minutes every day – it clears my head and puts me to sleep straight away. I ideally like to get about eight hours rest, but can function on less if necessary.

On days off, I like to go into London, see art exhibitions and catch up with friends. I find it refreshing to hang out with those who have completely different day-to-day lives than me.