According to my parents, my first sentence was "me want pony." Not exactly Shakespeare, but it turned out to be very prophetic! For as long as I can remember, my dream in life has been to ride horses at the highest level. Not just for the thrill of equestrian competition, but because of the caliber of rider I would need to become to achieve that goal. All my adult life, I’ve worked hard to reach that dream, balancing a full-time job while horseback riding and sacrificing time to train horses.

When I moved to America in 2010, I made the decision to go all-in as a professional horse trainer. I started by working in other people’s barns and finally established my own equestrian facility. In 2017, while strolling through Facebook, I came across a picture of a stunning black foal. I knew the stud farm where his sire was based, and they bred excellent-quality horses. Typically, horses of this caliber are very expensive once they're trained, but buying a foal allowed me to acquire an upper-level equestrian prospect at an affordable price for a dedicated horse trainer. I placed a deposit, and my dream started becoming a reality. A few months later, I flew to England for his foal inspection, meeting him for the first time. The judges were impressed, awarding him a Premium rating.

Once he was old enough, I had him flown to America to watch him grow in my pastures. From the start, his personality was magnetic—always friendly and curious. He was a challenge to start under saddle, often preferring to play rather than work, which occasionally led to some unexpected dismounts on my part!

Fidelis, or Fritz as he’s known around the barn, is now 7 years old and has turned into quite the dashing gentleman. He’s incredibly athletic and powerful to ride. He loves his job, though he can be a bit lazy on certain days. I think he believes it should be a true partnership, with me working as hard as he does! Our eyes are firmly set on the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. By then, Fritz will be 11 and ready to compete at the Grand Prix level. Follow our journey over the next four years as we work toward our own underdog story.