Simone Pearce to Leave Gestüt Bonhomme and Relocate to Bavaria

Dressage

Australia

Australian Olympian Simone Pearce has left her employer of one year, Gestut Bonhomme in Werder near Berlin (GER), and relocated to Bavaria. She has taken up a new rider's position at Sophia Ritzinger's yard.

Simone Pearce

The 31-year old Pearce arrived in Europe a decade ago, first as working student at Johan Rockx' yard in Belgium before moving to Stable Perlee in The Netherlands. From 2015 till 2018 she rode sales horses for Helgstrand Dressage in Denmark. At the end of 2018 she left Helgstrand to ride in north Germany, but ended up being recruited as a full-time rider for Gestüt Sprehe under the supervision of Sabine Rüben.

Pearce made her international debut as an Under 25 rider on her own Little Lion (by Leandro x Rastell) in 2013 and campaigned Wladimir OA (by Flemmingh x Florestan), Santiago (by Stedinger x Dacaprio), and Scolari between 2016 and 2019 at international Grand Prix level. Pearce's big break through in sport came aboard Gestut Sprehe's stallion Destano, who took her to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

In May 2022 Pearce surprised by announcing her move to Gestut Bonhomme where she took over the head rider's position from Lena Waldmann, who left. Simone got the ride on the Grand Prix level competed Fiderdance, which took her to the 2022 World Championships in Herning (25th in the Special) and 2023 World Cup Finals in Omaha (7th in the Kur).

Ritzinger in Bavaria

Pearce on Just Perfect at the 2018 World Young
Horse Championships. The horse sold to Ritzinger
in 2019

Pearce has now decided to move to Bavaria, where she will ride for Thomas and Monika Ritzinger.

"Unfortunately, only a short time after the highly successful FEI World Cup Finals in Omaha, we received the news that Simone Pearce would become self-employed with a sponsor at her side. She will leave Bonhomme Stud in mid-June," Bonhomme explained.

Simone's new base will be at the Ritzinger's who own an equestrian centre in Niederaichbach near Bergsdorf. It is the home of young rider Sophia Ritzinger.

Sophia Ritzinger first came into the spotlight when she successfully competed at international pony level with Den Ostrik's Dailan. In 2018 she moved to junior level with Ray Dance and Romano and was named the first reserve for the German team on Romano for the 2018 European Junior Riders Championships. In 2019 she got Haydn HR and in 2020- Hove's Tatiana followed. In 2021 she competed Haydn and Just Perfect and in 2022 she focused on campaigning Just Perfect. Sophia has been training with Constanze Rugheimer.