BACOLOD City — A 16-year-old Negrense showjumper is set to take a major leap onto the international stage after being selected to the prestigious Asia-Pacific Rising Star Academy (APRA), an elite development program under the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) Regional Group VIII.
Sophia Louie Begre-Lacson is one of only 12 riders chosen from across the Asia-Pacific region to participate in the year-long high-performance program, where she will represent the Philippines among the region’s most promising young equestrians.
The APRA serves as a strategic talent identification and development platform that bridges the gap between national-level competition and the international arena. The academy features four international legs across the region, each structured in a rigorous five-day format that includes intensive training clinics, educational workshops, and CSI Youth competitions.
Participants undergo advanced technical drills, mental performance training, athlete fitness conditioning, horsemanship sessions, and equine welfare education — all aimed at preparing them for elite-level competition.
Eligibility is highly selective, limited to riders aged 16 to 21 who demonstrate technical proficiency at 110 centimeters and above, along with a strong commitment to long-term athletic development. Final selections were conducted by World Championship and World Equestrian Games rider Daniela Moguel in coordination with FEI Solidarity.
For Sophia, the selection marks more than a personal milestone. It reflects years of perseverance rooted in humble beginnings on Negros Island.
Raised far from established equestrian hubs, she built her foundation riding and training local ponies, often without access to elite horses or high-performance facilities. Largely self-taught and driven by determination, she steadily honed her skills with the belief that Filipino riders can compete on equal footing with the best in the Asia-Pacific region.
She is no stranger to international competition. In 2023, Sophia won a silver medal in the 1-Meter Team Event at the FEI SEA Youth Cup in Bangkok. She has since competed in CSI Youth events in Seoul, Jeju, Malaysia, and Jakarta, consistently demonstrating technical precision and composure under pressure.
Through the Asia-Pacific Rising Star Academy, Sophia will now train and compete alongside the region’s top emerging talents while proudly carrying the Philippine flag on a broader platform.
Despite the challenges of developing in a sport often associated with significant resources, Sophia remains focused on her long-term goal of qualifying for and representing the Philippines at the 2027 Southeast Asian Games.
Beyond medals and milestones, she also envisions a more inclusive future for equestrian sport in the country.
“My goal is to one day make the sport more inclusive in the country by developing my own local horses and coaching my own athletes,” Sophia said.
Her selection sends a strong message to aspiring athletes nationwide — that international pathways are within reach, even for those who begin outside traditional centers of advantage.
As she embarks on this year-long campaign, Sophia carries with her the pride of Negros and the growing aspirations of Philippine equestrian sport — proof that grassroots beginnings can lead to the global arena./PN
