A late starter who took an unorthodox route into eventing, the five-star event rider’s life experiences nonetheless prepared him well. Pippa Roome meets him
Alex Bragg is proof that you don’t have to tread the beaten path through under-21 teams to make it as an event rider.
When his peers were collecting junior medals, he was an apprentice farrier and semi-professional rugby player. When they were taking tentative steps beyond the young rider bubble, he was a newly-wed with a baby on the way. When they were trying their first five-stars in their mid-twenties, he was unable to get a horse on the bit.
“I don’t think if you’d seen me ride 15 years ago, you’d ever have imagined I’d be going round a five-star – I was pretty bad,” he laughs. “I had these massive shoulders and neck, from playing rugby, and I rode like a silverback gorilla, going down the centre line with my elbows out.
{"content":"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"}
You might also be interested in…
Tamarillo at the World Equestrian Games in 2002.
Ginny Elliott and Master Craftsman
One of the first female Olympic medallists in eventing, Ginny Elliot also claimed three consecutive European titles to earn her
H&H magazine editor and eventing editor
Pippa is a true eventing geek and has been H&H’s eventing editor since 2005. She has first-hand experience of competing up to British Eventing intermediate and international CCI2*-L level, and has worked in the industry on a top event yard. Pippa enjoys nothing more than immersing herself in the sport at the highest level, reporting from the five-stars and international championships, including the Olympics.
