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62 SIDELINES MAY 2011 FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE S I D E L I N E S

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By Jan Westmark

Atlanta junior rider Brynn Elliott didn’t start her riding career until she was 12, but that hasn’t kept her from embracing the sport with gusto. “I became interested in competitive riding when I was eleven and begged my parents to allow me to have lessons at a local barn. They were cautious because they knew that all young children go through a ‘horse-phase’ and they didn’t want to invest in something that I was not fully committed to.”

Brynn said her parents taught her to never do anything half-hearted and to follow the motto, “You have to be all in.” Brynn accepted their challenge and said that this philosophy has helped her to be driven in every area of her life.  

Brynn said she that her early years were flled with hints of what was to come. “I was obsessed with horses as a child. All of the movies I watched had to do with horses. Every meal was characterized by my constant talk of horses. To my dismay, nothing seemed to come from it, until one day my father walked in the door and out of nowhere said, ‘Well, she starts riding this week!’ I was ecstatic!”

Sidelines: Where did you begin your riding career?

BE: I went to Brad Spragg’s barn in the beginning of June 2006, he owns The Atlanta Hunt Club in Smyrna, Georgia, and in November I showed in the short-stirrup division at the Atlanta Fall Classic. That was my frst horse show. My frst day of showing was on my twelfth birthday, and as they say “The rest is history!” 

Sidelines: What horses and divisions do you compete in? 

BE: I ride Been Swayed in the large juniors and Any

Wonder in the small juniors. We have also just added Cooper, another small junior who had previously been with Hayley Barnhill, into the mix. He has tons of experience in the juniors and so he will help me with the transition from the children’s hunters. 

Sidelines: What do you consider your career highlights? 

BE: I would defnitely say the Classic Company year-end awards in 2010. Been Swayed and Any Wonder both received Classic Company Horse of the Year Awards. That same weekend, during the Atlanta Fall Classic Week 2, I won the Best Child Rider award on Any Wonder. I also had a horse, Purple Label, who sadly died from an incurable injury. He was such an amazing horse. And I could go on and on about him. I won the NHJL NAL WASH Children’s Hunter Classic on him. I scored an 88 in the fnal round and that round was the last time I rode him. It was truly a blessing to have had that experience with him.

Sidelines: What are your goals in the horse world?

BE: I intend to continue in the juniors and learn more about riding hunters in a smooth, effortless way. I am not sure if my trainer knows this yet, but I would really love to compete in the hunter derbies. We will see! I also want to compete in the equitation divisions and eventually win the Maclay. Every junior rider says that at some point, but it has been a goal of mine since my frst horse show in short stirrup and I would love to be able to do it. I have learned not to be in a rush to move up. It comes when it comes; and then when it does, it’s great. 

Sidelines: What are your personal goals?

BE: I really enjoy school and I am looking at going to an Ivy League school to study Theology or Philosophy. I also enjoy

On Course with Brynn Elliott

Bry com Hun