Professional Dressage Rider/Coach Alice Peternell is based between Bristol and Bath where she runs her own busy livery/competition yard AP Equestrian with her husband Ian and team of staff. Alice schools and competes many horses for clients and also teaches from grass roots level dressage through to Grand Prix. At present she has three horses of her own, “a dear old boy” Fanset (Shyboy) who is a yard favourite but is retired from competition, Bella a green six-year-old who has just started competing successfully and Newt who became National Novice Champion in 2024. The horses that Alice competes for clients include Kate Pfistermuller’s Lucia, and Vespa who has gained 4 regional championships and one national title to date, Helen Loma’s Puff who became PSG Regional Champion and Sienna who was Welsh Part Bred Champion. Also, Sarah Hodgson’s Dillon came 8th at his first national championships. “All the horses have unique characters which makes life interesting,” says Alice.
How did horses come into your life?
Alice with Lucia
I first sat on a pony on a family holiday in Wales aged five and begged my parents to take it home and keep it in the back garden. For obvious reasons, this didn’t happen, but I was definitely bitten by the riding bug and finally after a lot more begging my dreams came true when I got my first pony aged seven. I continued to ride and event at pony club level and then went on to train in Holland with Bert Rutten – former Chef d’Equipe to the Dutch national dressage team and two time Olympian and world master of the dressage Grand Prix. My first big break came when I was long listed for the Atlanta Olympics with Ernie (Wendelicht) who I got as a 5yr old and brought up through the ranks from Young Riders to GP.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Alice on Newt at the Regional Championships – image courtesy of ESP Photographic
I ride 6 days a week and typically start at 7am with the yard staff taking care of the basic jobs such as mucking out and getting horses turned out or on the walker. I ride in the morning and for me it’s a continuous procession exercising individual horses according to their needs. I coach others on a regular basis, so I tend to this most afternoons. Time in the evening is occupied by chasing up emails, working out staff rotas and planning competition entries.
What do you love most about what you do?
Seeing the progression in the horses with training and working out what works best for each individual. Also, the same with my students – I take real joy and pride in helping them through the highs and lows.
Who do you train with?
Alice and Vespa on their victory lap at the championships
I train regularly with Carl Hester at his yard in Gloucestershire and have done for many years.
What are your future aspirations?
My future goal with the horses that I currently ride is to get them competing successfully at Grand Prix, in the short term I am working to get the horses qualified for the national championships at their individual levels.
It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
Alice riding Vespa after winning the regional championshipsI have a good amount of help from my core staff Lee, Becky and Macie along with support from a number of part time grooms who work at my Yard. Also keeping the wheels oiled and turning is our farrier Glen Taylor and physio Shelby Taylor, Vet Steve Walsh and of course the horse owners who I couldn’t manage without their support. Last but not least my long-suffering husband!
Your Top Tip
Number one, you must really love your horses and keep their welfare at the top of your priorities. You need to keep their wellbeing first and foremost and above that of success as a rider.
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
Be patient!
Want More?
If you enjoyed meeting Alice you might like to view more dressage rider “chatting with” interviews here. You can keep up with Alice’s progress and visit her instagram page here
