BACOLOD City – Seventeen-year-old Negrense rider Sophia Louie Begre-Lacson stamped her class on the international stage after capturing the CSIY-B Two-Phase title in the second leg of the FEI Asia-Pacific Rising Star Academy in Pattaya, Thailand, giving the Philippines a gold-standard performance against the region’s best young equestrians.
Representing the country as its lone participant in the prestigious academy, Lacson produced a flawless round aboard Context 3 — a horse assigned through the academy’s horse allocation system — to top the featured morning event on the final day of competition and raise the Philippine flag atop the podium.
She sustained her momentum later in the day by finishing fourth in the CSIY-B Jump-Off class, emerging as the highest-ranked international rider in the event. The top three places were occupied by Thai riders competing on their own horses.
The impressive showing further enhanced Lacson’s growing international résumé, underscoring her ability to excel against elite regional competition despite riding a borrowed horse.
Lacson’s journey to international success has been far from conventional. Raised in Negros Island, she honed her riding skills on local ponies and developed much of her foundation through self-directed training during her formative years.
Her steady rise from grassroots competitions to the regional circuit has established her as one of the Philippines’ brightest young equestrian prospects.
The FEI Asia-Pacific Rising Star Academy, established by FEI Regional Group VIII, serves as a development pathway for future elite riders through training camps, educational programs and international competitions conducted throughout the year. Each participating national federation is allowed to nominate only one rider for the program.
Lacson’s breakthrough performance in Pattaya is expected to strengthen her preparations for future international campaigns, including her bid to represent the Philippines in the 2027 Southeast Asian Games and other major competitions.
She remains in contention as the academy moves to its remaining legs across the Asia-Pacific region, where she will continue carrying the Philippine colors against the continent’s top emerging equestrian talents./PN
