Alexandra Amar: Finding Balance Beyond the Show Ring

Swiss show jumper Alexandra Amar has established herself as a familiar face on the international circuit, competing at CSI events across Europe. Alongside building her career in the sport, she has balanced the demands of elite competition with another impressive commitment, currently completing her sixth year of law school. While horses remain at the center of her life, there is much more to Amar than what happens between the start and finish flags.

In this lifestyle interview, she opens up about the horse she would give anything to ride one last time, the routines that keep her going, and why tennis has become the perfect escape from the pressures of show jumping.

The horse she would ride one last time

Every rider has that one horse they never forget. For Alexandra Amar, the answer is immediate.

“Throughout the years, I carried a few horses in my heart that I particularly enjoyed watching, like Embassy II with Hans Dieter Dreher and Big Star with Nick Skelton. But if I could actually get one shot to ride a horse from history, it would be my former horse, Hallo C.

“I would give anything I have to enjoy one last round or another journey with this special companion. Our bond was special. I feel like I never got over him, and riding him was a privilege. I miss this feeling every day. It was the best feeling I ever had on a horse.”

Balancing horses and law school

Many people know Amar as a professional rider, but few realize she has been pursuing another career alongside her sporting ambitions.

“A fun fact about me that people would never guess. Well, it’s probably not very fun and definitely no secret for the people closer to me, but I am actually in my sixth year of law studies.

“Riding is my passion and I am fully devoted to it, but I actually manage handling my studies and my riding for quite some time now. I love having both in my life.”

Balancing university with international competition requires discipline, but Amar enjoys having two very different worlds that challenge her in different ways.

If horses could talk…

Like every rider, Amar has wondered what her horses would say if they could speak.

“I would ask straight up if he is actually happy. I would ask him how he feels when we enter the ring and, even though the answer would probably be painful, I would ask him which of my flaws annoys him the most.

“One thing I would be curious to know and be craving to ask him would be, what is the one thing that you have been trying to teach me for years and that I still haven’t understood?”

Her answer reflects the relationship she values most, one built on trust, communication, and the constant desire to understand her horses better.

Coffee first, always

Every athlete has a pre-training routine, and for Amar, it starts with one essential.

“I have my routine, to be honest. I need my morning coffee before getting on my first horse, otherwise I can’t start my day. Let’s say it’s my fuel.

“Let’s say that lately I have been a little diplomatically lectured about trying to grab a protein bar at the stables during intense training days. I realized it does help and I’m starting to enjoy this ritual as well.”

Simple habits, she says, make a difference during long days at the stable.

A different kind of competition

Away from horses, Amar has found another sport that gives her exactly what she needs.

“I play a lot of tennis. It became a way for me to let go of all the thoughts around horses. It’s a fun but competitive game.

“You get to run and exercise in a different way than you would do in riding. You use different muscles and make your body function in another way. It allows me to empty my mind and reset after a long day or a long weekend of shows.

“Also, lucky to have a good coach, so it helps a lot.

“I love the atmosphere around this sport and the athletes. It became my bubble and an entirely different world I can step into without any expectations or pressure. I play, but I’m also just a spectator in a way. It’s nice to enjoy and discover something new.”

For Alexandra Amar, success is about more than ribbons and results. While she continues to pursue her ambitions in international show jumping, she has also built a life that keeps her balanced away from the arena. Whether she is studying law, enjoying her morning coffee before training, or stepping onto the tennis court to clear her mind, those moments away from horses help her return to the sport with renewed focus. Through it all, one thing remains constant: her passion for horses and the special partnerships that have shaped her journey.

© Rights Reserved.