UK based, New Zealand international Grand Prix dressage rider Victoria Wall is a former 4* Three Day Event rider who fell in love with dressage. The first horse she trained through to Grand Prix was Letty Lei EDH who was originally bred to event and purchased as an unbroken 4 yr old. The pair went on to place in major 3 and 4* CDIs in NZ and Australia during their first taste of international dressage.
After that, Victoria imported a broodmare from Australia with European bloodlines and started breeding .
With the exception of Podcast and Letty, all her horses have been bred at home. This includes the licensed Rheinland stallion Furst Hit EDH.
Victoria is extremely passionate about horse welfare in sport and is an expert in performance horse management, from designing supplements to optimising performance through studying how to support optimum performance through muscularskeletal support bodywork, and hoof balance.
Victoria spent 2022 in Germany training with National Under 25 German coach, Sebastian Heinze, and competing on the European CDI circuit with Letty Lei EDH and Furst Hit EDH. Competing the World Breeders Championships for Young Horses was a highlight.
Now based in Gloucestershire, UK with 4 horses and training with the legendary Carl Hester …. the future awaits
Tell us about your horses
Meet New Zealand international Grand Prix dressage rider Victoria Wall
I have seven horses in the northern hemisphere and one back at home. I bred five of them.
Lulu – Letty Lei EDH – retired sound Grand Prix mare. 17yrs 170cm 2/3 TB 1/3 Hano. Top score 70.8% Grand Prix
Friday – Furst Hit EDH – Furstenball x Sandro Hit x Jazz 170cm
Recently gelded licenced Rheinland stallion. 8 yrs in November. Homebred. Working PSG/some GP. Top scores 83% Novice 77.6% Medium.
Competed for NZ at WBYHC in 5 yr old class at Ermelo 2022.
Turtle – Nations Hit EDH – Negro x Sandro Hit x Jazz 170cm 9 yrs homebred gelding. Regional YH 5 yr old Champion in NZ with 83% then injured. Working Advanced medium.
Daisy – Nationelle EDH – Negro x Sandro Hit x Jazz 173cm
Just turned 6 yr old mare. Full sister to Turtle. Just started this year. Won NZ National Rheinland foal award in her first year.
Beans – Podcast – Lantanas x Ferro 174cm KPWN 4 yrs. Purchased as unbroken 3 yr old at an online auction. Unplanned purchase. Not a bad buy.
BB – Fleetwood EDH – Furst Hit EDH x Bretton Woods. Black homebred gelding 4 in November. 168cm. Bred both parents.
Didi – filly foal purchased in Germany via auction a couple months ago. Dynamic Dream x Millenium x Furstenball
How did horses come into your life?
Victoria and Furst Hit at home
My family were not horsey, but I clapped eyes on my aunts horse Jinks when I was about five and that was it. I got my first pony when I was eight and I used to bike 3km to her paddock every day to ride and muck her out.
When and where do you ride?
I ride 5-6 days a week. 5 in work and I’m very hands on with physio and feeds so it’s a full day.
Who do you train with?
Victoria and Letty Lei EDH competing at Hagen in Germany
I am very fortunate to train with Carl Hester most weeks. I have been training with him for a year and I feel very blessed to be working with such an iconic talented trainer. The longer you work with him the more genius you realise he is.
Peter Storr has been a very influential trainer for me over the years also. He has an incredible eye.
2022 was a fab year with the talented Sebastian Heinze in Germany.
Back in New Zealand I trained with Andrea Raves and Vanessa Way. Andrea was my first pure dressage trainer. She is German and the thing I loved most about her was that she never stifled me as a rider. I was always trying new things about my riding, and she would listen and say yes or no. I don’t think she ever said no, but she always encouraged my individuality as a rider and my confidence.
What are you and your horses currently working on?
It’s been a very quiet year competing. Friday had some gelding complications which are mostly resolved now. Turtle has had some hurdles too. Both going well now but missed the 2024 season.
Beans, Daisy and BB are young and just training.
What do you love about riding?
Victoria riding Beautiful 5 yr old Millennium bred by Herr Ramsbrock who bred Furst Heinrich and around 500 other licensed stallions in German
Everything. The fact you never stop learning about the horses, managing each one according to their individual needs and finding how to get the best out of each one. The differences in training each one. Some find it easier than others, but they all have gifts and things they excel at. It’s such an exciting journey.
I love watching them and letting them show me what they need. I enjoy finding the way with each one.
So many of them struggle with things we aren’t aware of, and I love finding those things and fixing it and watching them improve and perform better. It would be a whole lot faster if they could speak.
I actually think this is what our sport needs. Horses say no when they are struggling, and that’s often when force is applied. Of course, you have to work through in the moment but if we step back and find out why, force is not necessary to get the performance, and you have a happier horse that shows harmony and ease.
I think we need to promote listening to the horse more in high performance sport.
What would you like to be doing in the future, and do you have any goals?
I’d love to do the World Cup circuit in Europe and the WBYHC again. Of course, WEG and the Olympics are always the goal.
It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
Farrier – Lewis Plummer
Groom – Catherine Stainer
Vet – Tim Beauregard Summerhill Vets
Sponsors – Cavallo Germany
Have you ever had to deal with nerves in riding?
Victoria and Furst Hit EDH Addington premier 6 yr old
Yes of course, I think we all do. Especially if you want to do well.
How do you deal with them?
I have a degree in Psychology and attitude and optimising mental performance has always interested me. I had some help from a good sports psychologist last year as I wanted to learn how to optimise performance. It was really helpful.
Do you have any rituals before competing?
I try not to because it’s harder to control your mental state if you allow outside influences to effect it.
Your Top Tip
Listen to your horse, they will teach you so much.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
When you’re training always put the horse in the position where he can easily do what you want him to do.
Down the Centre Line
Who would be your dream horse to ride?
Mine!
Who is your equestrian hero?
Carl Hester OBE
If you could have five people to dinner, who would they be?
Mohammad Ali, Channing Tatum, Micheal McIntyre, Billy Connelly and Rasmus Bagger.
Favourite colour horse?
Black
Favourite horse event?
Olympics. The European CDI circuit is so much fun too.
Favourite food?
Any dessert at all .… literally
Favourite way to relax?
On holiday somewhere warm with a pina colada in hand.
Favourite film?
Top Gun or The Notebook
Want More?
If you enjoyed meeting Victoria you might like to view more dressage rider “chatting with” interviews here . You can keep up with Victoria’s progress and view her instagram page here