Alanna Watt (AW) hasn't posted any updates yet.
Alanna here! Taking on the world's longest & toughest horse race, by far the biggest challenge I have ever set goals for! I have always adored horses and I have 3 of my own right now and if I am not there I am at work, with all the 2yos! Youngsters are definitely my favourite, I enjoy teaching the younger ones, watching them develop and progress through life. Naturally horsemanship is always my preffered way of doing anything and I long to learn more liberty.
I have ridden from a young age, but my most exciting time has definitely been throughout the past 7 years, riding a wide variety of horses of all ages and abilities, over jumps, cross country fences, first shows, dressage, showjumping, hunting and fun rides. I used to work full time exercising large hunters and wacky polo ponies, I then moved on to a competition yard with top quality horses including backing and competing in first shows, and for 3 years I have been riding racehorses, between uni! I am currently on a pretraining yard for Ben Dehaan, receiving and producing top quality horses for high profile trainers and owners, therefore our sole purpose is preparing the 'babies' for the racing world!
The Mongol Derby is the biggest challenge I can ask of myself, all my true passions lie within this race, foremost being semi-wild horses, they are born to roam and if they get a bit excited, well more excitement for me! The vast landscape of Mongolia intrigues me, I love the natural world, I am always looking for new places to discover, whether it be on horse or foot. Last but not least the culture, I love traditional ways of living, being in the wilderness, I can't wait to speak to the true Mongolians, it all seems to good to be true!
Ben Dehaan
Ben Dehaan started out his career as a jump jockey, riding all over the world in all kinds of different races, making it through the jockey championships etc. He has been lucky enough to ride the Grand National 11 times, he won the Grand National on a horse trained by Jenny Pittman, whom was the first woman trainer to succeed in training a winner. Ben Dehaan went on from his years of race riding to become a trainer himself, although he had a small yard of only 20-25 horses, he is well known for his horsemanship. In the past few years, Ben Dehaan has now changed to pre-training racehorses, which means he now holds 60+ top class horses, mainly 2yo Colts for the Hong Kong Jockey club! But he also has many of Nicky Henderson's youngsters and Clive Cox's too Ben is my employer, without this job, I would have found it impossible to get the money and training up to stratch! He has also offered to buy me some riding kit, which is amazing!!
Natalie Lloyd-Beavis
Natalie is a racehorse trainer in the valley of lambourn. She does a bit of everything! Race-training, retraining, pre-training, transport, liveries etc. I keep my trio of horses on her yard and she helps me out with bits when needed! Like clippers and transport!