46 SIDELINES JUNE 2013
FOR HORSE PEOPLE • ABOUT HORSE PEOPLE
Continued on page 48
By Brianne Goutal
I rode my frst pony when I was four. My family would spend
the weekends escaping the traffc and craziness of Manhattan
and head to our home in Watermill, New York. There was a
local organic market nearby that offered pony rides. After some
persuasion, my parents let me take a turn. I was immediately
hooked; I knew I wanted to be an equestrienne.
Shortly thereafter, my mother enrolled me in Sagpond Pony
Camp. While most of my friends were spending their summers
splashing around in the pool or playing kickball, I was learning
how to tack up a pony. I loved it so much that I participated in both
the morning and afternoon sessions. After the summer, I moved
to Waterside Farm with Patti and Scot Foster on Long Island.
There was no place I would rather be than amongst shavings and
dust learning to care for my new four-legged friends. I look back
on those summer days with longing because I truly enjoyed every
second.
By the time I was eight, we had sold our home in Watermill so I
began training with Peter Lutz under our family banner Cloverleaf
Farms. Peter paired me with some of my best teammates, my
hunter ponies as well as my frst jumpers and equitation horses. I
bought Logan with Peter from Andre Dignelli’s Heritage Farm so
my appreciation runs incredibly deep. Peter also taught me the
fundamentals to build the strong foundation I still rely on today.
My junior years were spent under the tutelage of Frank and
Stacia Madden, who trained me in Equitation while Max Amaya
assisted me with growing my career in the jumpers. I spent most
of my time with Max because my horses were stabled under his
care. The Beacon Hill team’s rigorous training exercises at home
helped me learn to fnesse my equitation and develop Logan so
that we could execute the courses in competition. We all worked
very hard and I was so lucky to have the amazing team I had
supporting me.
In the fall of 2004 I piloted my jumper, Onira, to win the U.S.
e
Equestrian Federation’s Show Jumping Talent Search East in
Gladstone, New Jersey. Onira was a last minute choice because
the horse I intended to compete was injured only 48 hours before
the start of the Final. I chose to ride Onira instead of Logan
because the USET Finals course is comprised of larger jumps
and presents itself more
like a jumper course.
Later during Indoors
that year, Logan and
I won the Washington
International Equitation
Final in Washington,
D.C.
In 2005 our success
continued, making my
On the Road With Brianne Goutal
Brianne Goutal
Photo by Parker/Russell – The Book LLC 2013
Brianne and Logan
win the 2004 WIHS
Equitation Finals. Notice
McLain Ward and
Beezie Madden standing
near Logan’s head.
Photo by Al Cook Photography