This Rider Focus features show rider Ali Berwick. Ali has had great success producing and showing horses for herself and clients, including the winning the prestigious Garryowen Trophy in 2012 on Xlerate.

Show Horses: Where did you learn to ride?
Ali Berwick: I learnt to ride on my parent’s Pakenham Upper property in Victoria. I come from a very horsey family so I was riding before I could walk. Growing up I enjoyed pony club and all disciplines before purely concentrating on the show horses. I’ve always trained my horses with a dressage background, and have been taught by dressage rider and coach Samantha Bartlett since I was very young. The last 5 years or so I have worked and trained with Mark Kenzig.

SH: Your favourite horse to date?
AB: That’s a very hard question. I really do love all the horses that I am privileged to ride equally and don’t let success determine that. But my own DP Prayer and Xlerate were very special to me, as is France in more recent times.

SH: Your greatest personal achievement?
AB: My greatest personal achievement is not winning, it’s being lucky enough to do what I do – and be proud of what I do: that is producing beautiful and happy horses for the show ring.

SH: Where you are aiming for?
AB: My goal is to keep doing what I do. I have different goals for each horse I train. But my main aim is to always keep enjoying it; and concentrating on producing a small boutique selection of quality horses and never allow it to become too big.

SH: Your favourite photo?
AB: Is probably this photo of Xlerate at his first Nationals in 2012, because it shows the sheer joy of being so happy with our work.

Thank you Ali for talking with us and if any readers would like to know more about a particular rider, please drop us an email at admin@showhorses.com.au

Cheers
Rob
Show Horses