About
Alexa Derr began her riding career as a hunter jumper at 7 years old. When Alexa first began riding, she was fortunate to get the opportunity to ride many different lesson ponies, teaching her at a young age that no two horses are the same. Within her first year of riding, her trainer recognized her talent and passion and suggested that she should find her own pony. After 7 years of competing in hunters and lower level dressage, Alexa outgrew her pony, Louie, and decided to focus her time and attention solely on the discipline she is most passionate about: dressage. At that time, she purchased and trained Mi Alma, a 3-year-old OTTB. She trained him successfully to 1st level and taught him to jump. Mi Alma had numerous year-end high point awards and a trip to the under-saddle breed show classes at Dressage at Devon before selling him as an event prospect at the age of 6.
By the age of 16, Alexa completed the United States Pony Club ratings through her C2 flat and HB in Horse Management receiving many "exceeds standards" throughout her tests. She credits the USPC for teaching her the skills needed to successfully coordinate the health care and management for each of her FEI competition horses and the horses in her training program, while assisting in the management of her parent's stable. Through giving back to her Pony Club, she also gained experience teaching kids the essential fundamentals of dressage.
Thanks to the opportunity to lease two FEI schoolmasters, Alexa gained exposure to the international dressage competition as well as obtaining the skills demanded of a successful FEI Young Rider. In just one year, Alexa went from riding training level at schooling shows to competing FEI Prix St. Georges in Wellington, Florida. This was no small feat as Alexa had quite the up-hill battle learning the ropes of the FEI levels. Cara Klothe and her own Ocarina along with trainer Ange Bean got her to 3rd level and FEI Juniors in a few short months. After Alexa's lease on Ocarina, she began leasing Just Livingston owned by Caroline Stearns. The winter of 2013, Alexa was accepted into Lendon Gray's inaugural Winter Intensive Training Program in Florida where Lendon guided Alexa down her first centerline as a FEI Young Rider. Just two months into the program, she went on to win the first Florida Youth Championships as a Young Rider. That same year, at the age of 18, Alexa earned her USDF Silver Medal and placed at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships and the USEF Festival of Champions. She was also a participant at the Courtney King Dye Horse Mastership Clinic.
In 2014, Alexa earned two scores towards her gold medal at the Intermediate 1 level with Just Livingston with scores up to 69.xxx% and completed her bronze medal on Caroline Stearns' Lady Shiraz. Highlights for her final year with Just Livingston include: winning both the FEI Young Rider Team test and Jr/YR Intermediate 1 test at the USDF GAIG Region 1 Championships and placing 3rd as the highest placed U.S. Young Rider at Dressage at Devon.
In 2015, Lendon Gray presented a new opportunity for Alexa: to rehab and train a horse that was being donated to Dressage4Kids. This horse, Versace N., was imported as a six-year-old in 2008 by the Peslar Family of Everglades Dressage LLC. He was schooling parts of the Grand Prix when he obtained an injury. Through the donation, Alexa learned a whole new world of high-performance riding and care, veterinary services, proper footing, and various therapeutic benefits. Alexa was connected with international Grand Prix rider and trainer Eiren Crawford who helped her meticulously train to the FEI Inter-2 level. Alexa and Versace were very successful at 4th and FEI Prix St. George Levels in 2016 earning scores up to 72% at PSG. They finished the year placing Reserve Champion and 4th in Fourth Level and FEI PSG, respectively, at the CBLM Finals.
In 2017, Alexa and Versace wintered in Florida with Eiren Crawford to help advance to the U25 and Open Grand Prix levels. While in Florida, they competed at the FEI Intermediare 2 level: a first for both Alexa and Versace. They scored well at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival under FEI judges. Less than three months later, they began competing in the open Grand Prix with scores up to 67% with the additional help of Scott Hassler. They are continuing to train and compete at the Grand Prix level.
2018 brought the addition of Hesselhoej Gentleman: a 2015 Danish Warmblood gelding. They successfully competed in the 3yo materiale classes with USDF champion and reserve champion year-end placings. It is Alexa's hope to develop this super smart and athletic horse up the levels. He is a barn favorite with his lovable personality and trainability.
Alexa continues her education by taking regular lessons with her coach and mentor, Olympian Allison Brock. She also attends regular clinics with George Williams and Lendon Gray and participates in many unmounted seminars.
With a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from Albright College, Alexa is able to embrace both of her passions: dressage training and industrial/operational business.
Highlights:
USDF Bronze, Silver & Gold Medals
USPC C2 Flat and H-B Certifications
B.S. Business Administration and Marketing
By the age of 16, Alexa completed the United States Pony Club ratings through her C2 flat and HB in Horse Management receiving many "exceeds standards" throughout her tests. She credits the USPC for teaching her the skills needed to successfully coordinate the health care and management for each of her FEI competition horses and the horses in her training program, while assisting in the management of her parent's stable. Through giving back to her Pony Club, she also gained experience teaching kids the essential fundamentals of dressage.
Thanks to the opportunity to lease two FEI schoolmasters, Alexa gained exposure to the international dressage competition as well as obtaining the skills demanded of a successful FEI Young Rider. In just one year, Alexa went from riding training level at schooling shows to competing FEI Prix St. Georges in Wellington, Florida. This was no small feat as Alexa had quite the up-hill battle learning the ropes of the FEI levels. Cara Klothe and her own Ocarina along with trainer Ange Bean got her to 3rd level and FEI Juniors in a few short months. After Alexa's lease on Ocarina, she began leasing Just Livingston owned by Caroline Stearns. The winter of 2013, Alexa was accepted into Lendon Gray's inaugural Winter Intensive Training Program in Florida where Lendon guided Alexa down her first centerline as a FEI Young Rider. Just two months into the program, she went on to win the first Florida Youth Championships as a Young Rider. That same year, at the age of 18, Alexa earned her USDF Silver Medal and placed at the North American Junior Young Rider Championships and the USEF Festival of Champions. She was also a participant at the Courtney King Dye Horse Mastership Clinic.
In 2014, Alexa earned two scores towards her gold medal at the Intermediate 1 level with Just Livingston with scores up to 69.xxx% and completed her bronze medal on Caroline Stearns' Lady Shiraz. Highlights for her final year with Just Livingston include: winning both the FEI Young Rider Team test and Jr/YR Intermediate 1 test at the USDF GAIG Region 1 Championships and placing 3rd as the highest placed U.S. Young Rider at Dressage at Devon.
In 2015, Lendon Gray presented a new opportunity for Alexa: to rehab and train a horse that was being donated to Dressage4Kids. This horse, Versace N., was imported as a six-year-old in 2008 by the Peslar Family of Everglades Dressage LLC. He was schooling parts of the Grand Prix when he obtained an injury. Through the donation, Alexa learned a whole new world of high-performance riding and care, veterinary services, proper footing, and various therapeutic benefits. Alexa was connected with international Grand Prix rider and trainer Eiren Crawford who helped her meticulously train to the FEI Inter-2 level. Alexa and Versace were very successful at 4th and FEI Prix St. George Levels in 2016 earning scores up to 72% at PSG. They finished the year placing Reserve Champion and 4th in Fourth Level and FEI PSG, respectively, at the CBLM Finals.
In 2017, Alexa and Versace wintered in Florida with Eiren Crawford to help advance to the U25 and Open Grand Prix levels. While in Florida, they competed at the FEI Intermediare 2 level: a first for both Alexa and Versace. They scored well at the Adequan Global Dressage Festival under FEI judges. Less than three months later, they began competing in the open Grand Prix with scores up to 67% with the additional help of Scott Hassler. They are continuing to train and compete at the Grand Prix level.
2018 brought the addition of Hesselhoej Gentleman: a 2015 Danish Warmblood gelding. They successfully competed in the 3yo materiale classes with USDF champion and reserve champion year-end placings. It is Alexa's hope to develop this super smart and athletic horse up the levels. He is a barn favorite with his lovable personality and trainability.
Alexa continues her education by taking regular lessons with her coach and mentor, Olympian Allison Brock. She also attends regular clinics with George Williams and Lendon Gray and participates in many unmounted seminars.
With a B.S. in Business Administration and Marketing from Albright College, Alexa is able to embrace both of her passions: dressage training and industrial/operational business.
Highlights:
USDF Bronze, Silver & Gold Medals
USPC C2 Flat and H-B Certifications
B.S. Business Administration and Marketing