This week I’m excited to be chatting with another highly talented young international dressage rider with a very big future…..Alicia Lee. Alicia has a range of horses and has recently made her debut at Grand Prix level.
Tell us a little about you and your horses
Bonita and Alicia during the prize giving in Belgium at their first international. The pairing were placed 2nd in the Individual and 3rd in the freestyle.
I am 21 years old and an international dressage rider from Herefordshire. Last year I graduated Oxford Brookes University with a Real Estate degree and I now do horses full time. I have a range of horses from 3 years old to grand prix. I have owned my main horse, Bonita (Benetton Dream x Prince Thatch xx), for over 5 years and together we have moved up the levels competing internationally at young riders, at the European Championships and now recently making our U25 Grand Prix debut.
How did your horses come into your life?
My mother used to be an international event rider, so I have never known life without horses!
How long have you been riding?
Since before I could even walk!
When and where do you ride?
I am extremely fortunate to have my own yard with great facilities at home where I can ride and train every day.
Riding her rising 5 yr old, Damo
How did you start riding?
I naturally fell into it. I was plonked as soon as I could sit up and became totally horse obsessed.
What you and your horses currently working on?
Bonita and Alicia hard at work training the grand prix movements at home
Each horse is at a different stage of their training. For Bonita, grand prix is very new for us, so we are working on getting confident and stronger in the harder movements and transitions between them! It is a massive step up, so I am taking the time to ensure it’s polished!
What do you love about riding?
I don’t think I have ever got on Bonita after a bad day and not instantly felt better- as cheesy as it sounds, I have got on literally in tears before after a stressful morning and minutes later all stresses are cleared, and I am grinning ear to ear. Whether it be a young or advanced horse it is great to feel the trust they have in you and the progression in training… there is always room for improvement, and it feels so good when it pays off!
What would you like to be doing in the future and do you have any goals?
Alicia and Bonita keeping calm at the vet check during the Europeans Championships
Hopefully to be successfully training and competing horses to the top of the sport. I have high hopes for my young horses, and I hope we have a great road to grand prix! I would love to compete internationally with Bonita at U25s Grand Prix and hopefully be in the running for more European championships to come. Who knows where life will take us, but I definitely dream of Olympics and senior teams in the future!
Have you ever had to deal with nerves in riding?
Here are the pair competing in Hungary last year at the Europeans . Such a talented pair….. We wish them every success…
I am truly fortunate that it isn’t something I really struggle with! I love competing and I feel I perform better under pressure and with an atmosphere.
Your Top Tip
Don’t compare yourself to others – trust the process, your time will come!
The Final Furlong
Who would be your dream horse to ride?
Showtime FRH! But I do love mares
Who is your equestrian hero?
Really hard one! There are so many people I admire and each for different characteristics, but I really look up to Catherine Dufour and Carl Hester!
If you could have 5 people to dinner who would they be?
5 of my closest friends who I unfortunately don’t get to see enough!
