Ailsa Wates
- Role:
- Rider
Ailsa has been riding her whole life. At the age of ten the Pony Club mounted games championship got her completely hooked on training herself and her ponies with Beryl who was a very dedicated and encouraging coach.
An eye opener into the competitive sport
Her first horse Pigeon took her round Weston Park U18CCI* Three Day at fourteen years old, and that opened her eyes to how competitive other young riders were and what calibre of horses they had - how this wasn’t all just fun but something you could be really serious about.
Representing Great Britain
In 2015 Ailsa took the ride on her mother Pip’s horse, Woodlands Persuasion (Perry), she went from BE 100 to being the youngest rider on the 2015 British Junior European team and going CIC** in one season. With her and Perry jumping ten double clears that year.
Getting a job with the Ultimate Horseman
2016 saw the pair complete their first CIC**L double clear in Lignieres, where Ailsa met Michael Jung for the first time and asked if she could work for him. Much to her surprise he said yes and in the winter she headed off to Germany with no horses and a lot of thermal clothing.
Working and riding for Michael completely changed Ailsa’s perspective on the sport, how to train horses and pretty much her whole life! She went out there not knowing if eventing was something she could do full time and returned three years later with no doubt in her mind this was what she was going to do.
More experience and getting to know Young Horses
Upon returning to England Ailsa began working for Shane Breen at Hickstead for a year and a half; where she learnt how to produce Young Horses right from the start and gained a huge amount of experience jumping. This Year also saw her as first reserve for the Gold Medal Young Rider winning team and finishing 9th at her second short four star.
The beginning of her own Yard
2020 saw Ailsa leaving Hickstead and setting up at Garlands her yard at home. She has several lovely young horses to produce to compete and or to sell and finished the season with her first CCI4* Long Qualification in Strezgom.
