She competed for Great Britain at the 1968 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal in the individual jumping event.

In 1960, her father bought Stroller, an eight-year-old pony, originally imported in a job-lot from Ireland.

[2] In 1970, Coakes won the Hamburg Derby with a clear round–the fiftieth recorded on the course and the first time by a female rider.

[5] In 2006, Marion Coakes was inducted into The British Horse Society Equestrian Hall of Fame.

[1] Coakes played a part in season 4, episode 3 of Monty Python's Flying Circus.