Phyllis Dawson competed in eventing at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, finishing 10th individually. She rode Albany II at the Olympics. Aboard Albany II, Dawson won the open intermediate division at Ships Quarters and was second in the open intermediate at the 1986 Middleburg Horse Trials. The pair finished in the top three in eight competitions in 1987. Dawson also rode for the US team in 1997, competing at the Open European Championships aboard Snowy River. She competed at the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event multiple times and has also completed at the Burghley Horse Trials. Dawson trained all her horses, which led to a career in which she owned and operated the Windchase Stable in Purcellville, Virginia.