Currently ranked in the top five in the country, Alexander is a former number one South African showjumper. It is for this reason that he is best placed to impart a winning streak in the next generation of equestrians.
“I have been coaching for a long time,” said Alexander, who coached Samantha McIntosh who represented South Africa at the Youth Olympics, and Jeanne Engela who won the World Cup Series qualifying series in 2013. “There have been many highs,” said Alexander.
He said he foresees a great future in South Africa for equestrian sports. “We are rapidly evolving to a level of high competition, [even though] being so far from the rest of the world limits us.
“The Global Champions Tour in Europe and America are similar to the Formula 1 Race cars series with the amount of money that one can win, and although our sport is better, we are still far behind on a monetary basis,” said Alexander.
Nonetheless, he said he was proud to note the competitive spirit that young riders display. “[They] are so competitive and mature in their mental approach to their riding. They sit on amazing horses with great coaches, which can only lead to advanced coaching,” he said.
It is this mature approach that propels Alexander to coaching. “As a coach, people come to me with their own horses. We offer a stabling and coaching facility, we are not a riding school. A riding school teaches people the basics in riding skills, I take them to the next step.”
Alexander, who has competed in the World Cup Series in Milan and has won the South African Showjumping Championship, has some personal goals he wishes to still accomplish. “[I] never stop learning. I want to give my clients as much knowledge as possible, and I personally want to go to the Olympics,” he revealed.
“I have been very fortunate to [have ridden] many nice horses so far in my career.”
Besides good companionship with one’s horse, Alexander said the secret to success that he shares with his clients is to stay calm, breathe and focus. “Most importantly, enjoy it,” he exclaimed.
Lets us know of any sport in the area that you would like to see in the Midrand Reporter. E-mail midrandreporter@caxton.co.za
-
-
-
-
