Pauline Alberts studied chemistry, but the engineer fell deeply in love with horses. She now travels around the world as a trainer and jury member. The 49-year-old Emense has participated in numerous World Cups, European Championships and Asian Games. She traveled to Singapore, the United States, Switzerland, the Iranian capital, Tehran, and others.
In Iran, Alberts provided clinics for national referees and was also active as a coach at the US Para Championships. She is currently managing a number of Japanese riders who want to qualify for the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Fifth place in the national championship in Ermelo
The list is far from complete, but what should certainly not be neglected is her role as a passenger. Alberts has entered “only” eight competitions this year with rival horses Julie Dolly and Lalique van de Oude Meerdijk, but she has been very successful in them.
With Jolie, Alberts became the reserve champion of Drenthe in the ZZ light class in February and finished in the medium class at the national championships. “With Lalique, my first home-bred horse, I became Drenthe champion in the Z2 class this summer and fifth in the National Championships in Ermelo. This is a very nice result.”
The love for equestrian sports is very deep
Alberts’ love for equestrian sports runs deep. “It has become a way of life for me, but I can also talk about other topics. That’s why I also work one day a week as a member of the NHL Stenden support team in Emmen. Something completely different than just horses.”
Seven days a week
How do you get more hours in the day? A question Alberts thinks about almost every day. “I work every day of the week from 6:30 in the morning until about 9:30 in the evening. On the one hand, I have a free life because I can design my own design, but on the other hand, I am also very restricted. I look after more than twenty horses, most of which are owned by other owners »
Working in international sports federations
So Alberts took part in competitions into consideration. In addition to her international work, she is busy with the dressage and boarding stable De Oude Meerdijk, which she founded nearly twenty years ago with the support of her parents. “It’s a horse stable and I give dressage lessons to regional talent here. In addition, I’m an active member of the KNHS dressage judging panel and an examiner for potential trainers.
Talented teenage girl
At the age of ten, she was introduced to equestrian sports. “I actually wanted to ride horses four years ago, but my parents didn’t think it was a good idea. I was still very nervous, very skittish.” When she was 12, she had her own foal, followed by a three-year-old horse. Things moved quickly and Alberts achieved her first successes as a teenage girl: in dressage Z2 she became reserve champion of Drenthe and then placed fourth at the National Championships.
Her parents initially did not like her desire to work with horses. “According to them, you can’t make a living doing this.” After high school, Alberts studied chemistry at the Drenthe University of Applied Sciences in Emmen. “As close to our house as possible, so I can keep riding.”
Alberts never capitalized on her engineering title in chemistry, but instead followed her heart and decided to go into horses. “I got my teacher’s certificate and started teaching while I was studying. My parents quickly saw that it was no longer a fad. They supported me on all fronts to continue riding.”
Lots of top 10 ratings
Over the past 40 years, Imensee has become champion of Drenthe with numerous horses and won several top ten finishes in national championships. “The best thing is to train the horse to the highest standard possible, and then essentially sell it to foreign parties. Saying goodbye is still very difficult, but that’s part of it. I still keep in touch with a number of owners around the world.”
No time to slow down
Alberts is approaching 50, but that’s no reason for her to slow down. She hopes to be able to participate in the sport for a number of years and train horses to the highest level. “It still gives me a lot of energy and joy every day when I work with the horses. I also really enjoy sitting on the couch for an hour with my dogs and cats. Or another moment of happiness, but there are often horses in my immediate vicinity.
