Horses for apprenticeship courses: Former student becomes one of the top dressage riders in the UK

When you think of apprenticeships most people probably think of engineering or hairdressing. But Essex’s largest provider of apprenticeships, The Nova Partnership for Apprenticeships and Skills, offers a massive range of areas that include the above but also cover everything from Technical Theatre to Graphic Design,

One former student of Nova partner, Badgeshurst Training Ltd in Orsett, who has shown what can be achieved by gaining an apprenticeship, is 19 year old Alex Hardwick, from Bishop Stortford, who is now regarded as one of the top young dressage riders in the UK.

Alex, said: “I’m competing nationally at the moment and the last time it was the nationals my horse and I won the medium restricted level national championship and am already competing in bigger shows and events,”

But, Alex wasn’t always jumping for joy as she found that the traditional education route was not for her when she was younger.

Alex continued: “I never really liked school if I’m quite honest, I never really felt like I fitted in there but with the apprenticeship, because I was around people who enjoyed what they were doing and wanted to learn. It was a great hands-on experience so for me it was just a fantastic alternative. In many ways my classroom, much of the time, was the stable yard.”

Like many people, Alex was not aware that apprenticeships were open to her and was surprised that such opportunities were available.

She added: “I think a lot of people still think you’ve got to go down the route of doing your GCSEs, three or four A levels and then a job or degree, they just don’t realise that these other avenues are open to you, which give you the best of both worlds, a job and a qualification.”

Alex’s success is a great advocate of the apprenticeship scheme, as her success has shown, and she even helps those students who are currently following the same path, which gives current students a success story to look up to.

And what a success Alex has been, both off and on the field. She said:”I’m now competing at more international shows and starting to ride more high profile shows. This year I was the highest placed rider under 21 in the Nationals so it’s great to be in that position.”

Of course, Alex hasn’t been alone in her success, her main competing partner is her horse, Rotspon’s Rockin’. “He is a complete show off and a showman. At home he is as dull as anything and doesn’t really like working but you take him out to a show, he knows what he is doing, his ears are pricked forward and he takes full advantage of being the centre of attention and the show experience in general. He is a star.”

The confident 19 year old isn’t one to rest on her laurels though as looking ahead to the Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games is something Alex doesn’t rule out.

She concluded: “I’d love the opportunity to be able to compete at that level, that is the dream for people in horses and even being able to think about that dream from where I am today has only really been possible through what I have gained through the fantastic start and know how I got through my apprenticeship.”