By Sam Turner -
Alya Adnan Awadh Almheiri is arguably no ordinary teenager. At just 13 years of age, the term ‘precocious talent’ doesn’t really do her achievements much justice. Based at Sharjah Equestrian and Racing Club, Alya has enjoyed a 2023 to remember, registering a first National win in October prior to making a big splash in International competition at the recently-staged Virtus International CSI2* Show Jumping event at the Emirates Equestrian Centre.
The young Emirati rider partnered Douwecara to a stunning first place in The Date Room 110cm class, a strong event consisting of 96 riders and featuring a host of very experienced senior riders, many of whom have competed at the top level. A clear round in 58.27seconds was sufficient to see Alya pip Nawader Omar Saeed Al Nabooda to top spot on the podium, with the breakthrough victory achieved after just seven years in the saddle. It was a win that must surely give the talented teenage rider huge confidence going forward, with 2024 sure to be a big year.
However, Alya is refusing to be carried away by those first triumphs at national and international level and a number of other placings, keeping her riding boots firmly on the ground going forward. “There’s always room for improvement, and I learn new things every day from riding my horse on the flat and competing him,” Alya says modestly.
BACKED BY AN ‘AMAZING’ TEAM
“These things can strengthen our team as a bond and help me get better as a rider. “I can’t say I have any strengths that are different from any other riders, but I do have an amazing team of family, trainers and grooms that make things work well.” So how does Alya manage to combine her riding career with her studies? “I am lucky to be able to ride either before or after school, and my school supports me by sending the work online so that I am able to balance both,” she continues. “I would rather be in the saddle though, so I try and do that as much as possible and have a great family that supports my passion.” A strong family unit is the cornerstone of any success and Alya was primarily influenced and inspired from an early age by her close relatives, before those who compete internationally also appeared on the radar. “My aunties ride and I loved watching them as a young child,” she reveals. “There are many other riders who also inspire me for different reasons.
“From International riders like Marcus Ehning to Ludger Beerbaum to Jessica Springsteen and Mimi Gochman along with more local riders such as Omar Al Marzooqi and Abdullah Al Sharbatly – they all serve as an inspiration to me. “And of course, there is my trainer Alice Debany Clero who also does a wonderful job. It feels great to compete among all these amazing riders that I look up to – hopefully I can be on the same level as them one day.” So, what advice would Alya have for those young riders, eager to follow in the pathway she has followed? “I would tell them to love their horses above all and enjoy the ups and learn from the downs,” she adds. “Don’t compare yourself to others and don’t be discouraged when things go wrong. “In the end, it’s a sport and we are lucky that our partners are our horses.” Those words and messages of advice are further evidence that Alya is beyond her years, but then her performance in the showjumping ring have already fully showcased those admirable traits.
