Simone Pearce On the Move, Leaves Sponsor Thomas Ritzinger

Dressage

Australia

Australian Olympian Simone Pearce is on the move, leaving her affluent sponsor Thomas Ritzinger eight months after having relocated to Bavaria.

Across Europe

The 32-year old Pearce came to Europe a decade ago, first working for Johan Rockx in Belgium before moving to Stable Perlee in The Netherlands.

From 2015 till 2018 she rode for Helgstrand Dressage in Denmark, but left the yard at the end of 2018 to ride full-time for Gestüt Sprehe in Germany. Her career took flight during this time as she broke through at Grand Prix level with Gestut Sprehe's stallion Destano, who took her on the Australian team to the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.

In May 2022 Pearce made the surprising move to Gestut Bonhomme near Berlin and competed Fiderdance at 2022 World Championships in Herning and 2023 World Cup Finals.

Ritzinger

After one year at Bonhomme, she left that yard to ride for Thomas Ritzinger in Bavaria.

With Fiderdance at the 2022 World Championships

In the period that Simone was there, Ritzinger obtained Pearce's Immerdale (by Everdale x Samaran) for daughter Sophia to ride and he bought the talented young horse No Limit with whom Simone won silver at the 2023 World Young Horse Championships in Ermelo, alongside two other youngsters. Simone also scouted for a Grand Prix horse that could be an Olympic hopeful, but it wasn't found despite a big search all over Europe.

Sprehe sent Destano to Bavaria as her potential Paris ride and after 1.5 year show break the combination returned to the CDI Motesice (73.217% in the GP) and this month rode at the World Cup qualifier in Basel (SUI) (69.456% in the Grand Prix). Nationally Pearce competed in four classes, her last was in June in the Inter II aboard Peggy Nears' Divine Charming (by Dancier x Weltmeyer).

Baden-Wurttemberg

Pearce has now decided to leave Ritzinger and begin her own business at Gestüt Hirtenhof in Aach, Baden-Wurttemberg.

"I genuinely wish Thomas nothing but the very best and hope that he and I can work together under different circumstances in the future," Pearce told Eurodressage.

Martin Fuchs supporting Simone at the 2024 CDI-W Basel
(Photo © Stefan Lafrentz)

Simone will be taking Destano, All We Need, Snap Chat, Morricone III, and Evi Strasser's Fleur Belle Tyme and Song of Joy to her new base. Pearce is in a relationship with 2019 European show jumping champion Martin Fuchs.

"I’m really happy to be moving closer to Martin and getting to grow my personal life as well," she added.