Alexander Barlow, 2014 Remi Stud Scholarship winner

The Remi Stud Young Rider Scholarship is an annual scholarship and is awarded to a very deserving Young Rider who has the talent and dedication in either Dressage or Eventing but needs financial assistance to purchase a horse of their dreams. Every year the dream comes true for one lucky young rider as the scholarship includes the ownership of a purpose bred weanling foal by one of the best performed Hanoverian stallions in Australia.

The 2014 winner was Alexander Barlow, an Eventing rider from Yeppoon, Queensland. Alex had been a member of her local Pony Club since she was 6 years old and learnt to ride on horses from her riding school. She was awarded Remi Liberty Belle S thanks to the scholarship, a foal by Lauries As/ Remi Florence Nightingale by Fishermans Friend. Remi Florence Nightingale is a half-sister to Underdiscussion (aka Remi Lethal Weapon) who won the CHIO 3* Eventing Championship in Aachen, Germany in 2012 ridden by Christopher Burton. Belle was broken in by Team Van Den Berge a few months ago and has had a spell to grow in the paddock, but we are looking forward to seeing her at the Brisbane CDI this year, now under saddle!! Here, Alex shares where she is up to with her horse Remi Liberty Belle S.

"Belle is now 3 years old. She commenced her training with Tor Van Den Berg in December 2016 where I quickly learnt that she is a very talented young lady. I had the opportunity to have a ride on her whilst she was with Tor. She was so well behaved and tried her heart out as I was learning her buttons and she was learning mine. We were able to walk in a straight line and trot and canter in a circle without any hiccups. She didn’t put a foot wrong and put 110% effort in. I have noticed that she is still quite a bit nervous around people she doesn’t know but she has come a long way and I believe she will only get better as she grows up and learns to trust more.

Since then Belle has been on a well-deserved break but will commence further training in the coming months where I hope to start her with some poles and small jumps. She is growing into such a beautiful and well-mannered horse and I can’t wait until I am able to compete her.

Belle spent some time growing up on my parent’s property in Rockhampton where she had the opportunity to be a horse, however since being broken in she now lives with me in Brisbane again where I visit her every day. Belle and I have formed a special bond and we have a lot of love and trust for each other. She is very playful and still loves a good cuddle. One thing I have noticed about her lately is that she loves mud and will take any opportunity she can get to roll in it... it's a good thing she finally likes being hosed as she has been getting a lot of baths!

Raising Belle has taught me a lot and I hope that our future is bright. Thank you to everyone who made this dream a reality."