British dressage rider Alicia Laughton lives just outside Chippenham in Wiltshire. Married with two children, Lily (twenty-one) and Ed (nineteen), Alicia runs a fledgling dressage stud “we aim to breed top class dressage horses of international quality for sale to the amateur and professional market.” The beautifully presented Armada Stud also provides retired livery yard facilities alongside producing the youngstock.
Tell us about your horses
Alicia and Florence “totally love this horse”
Florence is a British-bred 12-year-old mare by Benicio who I’ve had for 4 years. I bought her off an advert on Facebook and she was only doing some low level Riding Club shows so was a bit of a steal! We started out at Novice and she’s been really consistent up through the levels, qualifying for the Nationals each year and she scored 67% in her first PSG a few weeks ago. Her work is very varied with three schooling sessions, two hacks and a polework session each week.
How did you start riding and transpire to dressage?
I started riding when I was three and Showing when I was four. Our trainer was unbelievably fierce, and we did as we were told! I then did a lot of Pony Club and did my first BE event when I was fifteen, starting at Novice and going through to Junior International level. The horse I had was a bit of a lunatic and unsellable but we were very much told to ride what we had and to make them better. When I was nineteen I decided to move to London with no plan and nowhere to live but felt I needed to see a bit more of the world. I sofa surfed for a bit until I got a job and found someone to live with, then gradually worked my way up ending up working at the Futures Exchange in the City and finally Credit Suisse. It taught me to be very resilient as, if you didn’t stand up for yourself, you wouldn’t survive long! I then found myself wanting to be back with the horses more and more so moved back to Wiltshire and started over again. I bought a horse called Dante for £8,000 as a 3 year old and managed to compete him up to Inter 2 and training at GP at home before retiring him when he was 19.
Who do you train with?
Alicia and Florence after a successful day at Chard Premier League
I train with Dannie Morgan and Carl Hester and try and have a training session every 3 weeks.
What do you love about dressage?
I love the process of taking a horse from knowing nothing to developing them into the best athlete they are capable of being.
It takes a team to do dressage, who is in your support team?
We are lucky to have an incredible support team at home. Everyone on the yard gets on extremely well and we have a zero-tolerance policy of any drama. Our priority is a calm, relaxed yard with happy horses. My husband is extremely supportive and I’m very lucky to have Lily always pushing me plus Dannie and Carl who have given me a lot more self-belief this year.
Proudest moments to date?
I think one of my highlights has to be training Dante from 3 years old up to GP and Lily medalling at the Young Rider Europeans.
What have you found challenging?
My most challenging moment was most days with Dante! A super talented horse but unbelievably complicated and complex. He definitely taught me to persevere and I think now that’s why I don’t like giving up on horses if they’re difficult as it’s so satisfying to see them come out the other side
What is your training philosophy?
My philosophy would definitely be treat each horse as an individual and don’t push them beyond what they are mentally or physically able to do. Some are naturally better athletes than others and not always capable of doing what we would perhaps like them to do.
Future aspirations?
I would love to do the Amateur CDI’s abroad so that’s what we’re working towards now.
Your Top Tip
Always work on balance and self-carriage
What is the best piece of advice that you have ever been given?
Be disciplined and push through any challenges. Just keep going!