Simone Pearce and Will Marq, a nine-year-old by Rio Marq x Lanciano. Image supplied.
Eighteen months into her move to Team Fuchs, Olympian and World Championship rider Simone Pearce is already making waves at her new Swiss-German base. With a Grand Prix star now under saddle and more rising stars coming through, the Australian dressage star is proving that this collaboration with one of the biggest names in show jumping has all the right ingredients.
Team Fuchs is best known for its legacy in show jumping, spearheaded by Swiss Olympian Martin Fuchs. But in early 2024, the team launched an ambitious new dressage program with Simone at the helm. The goal was bold but clear: to develop top-level dressage horses and establish a multi-discipline presence at the world’s biggest events.
WILL MARQ MOVES IN
In just a short time, Simone has developed a standout Grand Prix horse who has made an immediate impact in the arena. Will Marq, a nine-year-old by Rio Marq x Lanciano, impressed at the Winterlingen Winners CDI in Germany, scoring 74.033% — more than three percentage points ahead of the runner-up in his first start at the level.
Owned by Martin Fuchs and Antonio Seguí Sintes, Will Marq has an unlikely origin story. He was discovered on a tiny island off the coast of Spain, and though his pedigree suggested promise, Simone wasn’t convinced he was the right horse for her at first.
“I didn’t think he was the horse for me,” she admits. “But every day he impresses me more and more. His attitude, his work ethic — he’s just blown me away. He’s an absolute joy to ride.”
While his debut performance featured a string of 8.0s and 7.5s across the board, Simone notes that there’s still room for refinement — especially in the passage, which currently averages 6.5s. “Passage is his weak point right now,” she says. “But I actually think it’s going to be one of his strengths. There’s so much more to come from him.”
Simone and Will Marq claimed the Grand Prix at Winterlingen Winners CDI in Germany. Image supplied.
Martin Fuchs, CEO of Team Fuchs and Simone’s fiancé, shares that optimism. “We are incredibly proud to have a Grand Prix-winning combination after just 16 months in the dressage sport,” he says. “Simone, Emily [Reudavey, Simone’s groom] and Will Marq are an outstanding team and have made a step towards our big goals.”
With a potential appearance at an international competition on the cards for Will Marq at the end of July — and a long-term goal of team selection for the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen — the pair’s trajectory is clearly aimed at the very top.
QUEEN IN WAITING
But Will isn’t the only horse with Grand Prix ambitions in Simone’s stable. Queen, a striking nine-year-old mare by Desperados x Gribaldi, is quietly preparing to make her Grand Prix debut later this year.
“She’s the complete opposite of Will,” Simone laughs. “Where he just wants to train and work, Queen is a queen — and she wouldn’t be called that if she wasn’t a diva.”
Although Queen has had limited outings at M-level (Medium), Simone says the mare has all the talent, power, and presence to step up. If all goes to plan, both Queen and Will Marq could be in contention for major team selection next season.
Outside of those two, the stable continues to grow steadily. Simone is currently working with six dressage horses, including Kenzo, who has competed at Inter II, and Kylie, now progressing through M-level. There’s also a growing cohort of promising young mares — “about 10 at the moment” — as the team continues to build a pipeline of talent.
“We’re always looking for more young horses,” Simone says. “The goal is to have depth and options — horses at all stages — so we can build something sustainable and long-term.”
CROSSING DISCIPLINES & BORDERS
A typical day is, as Simone puts it, “hectic.” With horses based in both Switzerland and Germany, Simone splits her time depending on Martin’s competition schedule.
“When Martin is home, I stay in Switzerland and drive about an hour each way to the dressage stables in Germany,” she explains. “I’m usually on the first horse by 8am — dressage in the morning, then I help with the jumpers in the afternoon. We both really learn from working across the disciplines.”
Martin Fuchs, winner of the Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen with Leone Jei. Image by CHIO Aachen/Jasmin Metzner.
“We both really learn
from working across
the disciplines.”
It’s not just Martin and Simone supporting each other — Simone is also dipping her toe into the showjumping world. She recently made her international debut at CSI Gorla Minore, where she and Neughschwents Loretta achieved three placings from three starts. They competed in the CSI1* 110cm two phase (third), CSI1* against the clock (fourth), and CSI1* 115cm accumulator (eighth). Despite their success and being surrounded by a knowledgeable jumping team, Simone says a multidisciplinary career isn’t in the plans.
“It’s so much fun — but we’re not going any higher,” she laughs. “I just wanted to reach international level so I could come to all the big comps with Martin and not be stuck at home by myself.”
HUMBLE BEGINNINGS, BIG AMBITIONS
Simone is no stranger to hard work. Her journey to the international stage began humbly, and she credits her early experiences riding all kinds of horses — “whatever I was given, however it behaved” — with shaping her into the rider she is today. “It taught me so much,” she says. “I feel like I can handle anything now.”
From those early days to a 74% Grand Prix debut with a horse she nearly passed over, Simone Pearce’s story is one of instinct, dedication, and patience — all qualities that now underpin the exciting new chapter she’s writing with Team Fuchs.
As Will Marq continues to shine and Queen prepares for her own breakthrough, the future of this dressage powerhouse is looking very bright indeed. EQ
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