General Interest |
| Awards and honours |
He was presented with the 2009 Kasimira rider award by the Event Horse Owners' Association [EHOA]. (capehuntpoloclub.com, 01 May 2010) |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"Assume nothing and take nothing for granted." (horsehero.com, 01 Jan 2015) |
| Other information |
EARLY DAYS
After finishing high school, he left South Africa for Europe. "On leaving school I travelled to Germany to train with Paul Schockemohle, gaining invaluable experience with competition horses. I used this knowledge at the Liberty Stables in Holland where I competed nationally in showjumping before finally settling in the UK in 2001." (apeventing.co.uk, 13 Oct 2017; thesouthafrican.com, 25 May 2012)
BALLET DANCER
He was a ballet dancer at the National School of Arts in Braamfontein, South Africa. "I used to dance professionally, so I've always been comfortable in front of an audience." (mg.co.za, 31 Aug 2012; thesouthafrican.com, 25 May 2012) |
Further Personal Information |
| Languages |
English |
Last Update |
| |
20 Apr 2022 |
General Interest |
| Nicknames |
Alex, AP (Facebook profile, 25 Dec 2020) |
| Injuries |
He completed the 2011 Badminton Horse Trials in England despite a severed collateral ligament in his knee. (horsehero.com, 01 Jan 2015) |
| Other sports |
He trained as a ballet dancer for 12 years at the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg, South Africa. He has also competed in equestrian jumping at national level in the Netherlands. (apeventing.co.uk, 13 Oct 2017) |
| Famous relatives |
His wife Suze competed in eventing at national level in Australia until 2013, when she moved to the UK. (apeventing.co.uk, 13 Oct 2017) |
| Hero / Idol |
British ballerina Margot Fonteyn. (horsehero.com, 01 Jan 2015) |
Sport Specific Information |
| Why this sport? |
"My passion for horses came about in my early teens when I rehabilitated a mare from SPCA [the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals], who later went on to win the FEI Pony Show Jumping Championships in South Africa." |
| When and where did you begin this sport? |
He took up eventing in 2001 in England. |
General Interest |
| Milestones |
In 2009 he became the first rider representing South Africa to compete at the Burghley Horse Trials in England. A year later he became the first South African rider to appear at the Badminton Horse Trials in England. (HorseHero, 14 Aug 2011) |
