The 20-year-old rider Alexia Stan belongs to the hope of the Romanian horse show jumping. With her stallion Handyman she participated also at the IPPOS SPRING TOUR in Thessaloniki this year. In the interview, she talks about her beginnings, about her love for horses and determination to do this sport as well as her plans for the future.
How did you start with the horse show jumping?
I really wanted to do this sport since I was a little girl. But my parents did not support this idea at the beginning. I do not come from a horse riding family. I started to get into this sport slowly when I started riding. I am still evolving but I think I am in a really good point now. I started to do it professionally like four years ago. Now, I am doing 1.25 and 1.30 classes with my horse. And I am also starting to develop also a young horse which I believe will turn out good in the future.
How hard was it to start when you did not have the background in this sport in your family?
I was a bit lucky because my parents were friends with someone who has a really good club in Romania where I am based – in Brasov. Then I moved to Bucharest with my horses to start training there and I am so based in Bucharest now.
Do you study something or this is your fulltime job?
I am starting the university this year so I take this more like a hobby. But we will see what comes next. I will study business. Maybe, when I finish my studies at the university, I will start to do something related to horses. Maybe, I will start some business, I am not really sure yet. We will see in the future.
How much do you travel with your horses?
I started to compete internationally like two years ago so I travel pretty much. I have two horses and they are mine. In the future, I will see, I take it slow now. The young one is coming and hopefully, it will be ready for the future.
Do you have any specific goals for the future – do you dream of Olympic Games?
No, at the moment, I do not have such big dreams but I just see how everything goes.
Do you have any special place or city where you like it the most?
I relay like competing in Šamorín, Slovakia. And this is also my first time here and I like this venue a lot. Hopefully, we will come back in the future. There are amazing conditions for horses and also riders. There is a really nice atmosphere here.
What else do you have in your schedule this year? Who do you take with you for the competitions?
Now, we go to Bulgaria next week, then we are going to be in Athens and then the rest of the international shows, we need to figure it out. My aim for this year is the Balkans championships in the ladies category, which will be in September.
I travel just with my team – with my coach, my groom, it depends on the competition. We all know each other in the Romanian team and plan competitions together if we can.
Do you have some other hobbies in your free time?
Honestly, I spend most of my time with horses and riding. Other than that, I spent my time at school. I had some free time after I finished my high school and this year, I decided to go to the university.
