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Monday, January 22 2018 / Published in Sidelines Spotlight

Jennie Brannigan: The Grit To Stay on Top

Jennie Brannigan with Stella Artois at Millstreet in Ireland 
Photo by Erin Rose

By Dani Moritz-Long

At 22 years old, eventer Jennie Brannigan was poised for Rolex and even the 2010 World Equestrian Games. She had the perfect partner in Cooper, a horse she had started as a 4-year-old, and an impressive track record — winning nine of 10 events in 2007–2008, landing atop the 2008 Adequan/USEA Gold Cup leaderboard and bringing home the gold for their team and individual wins at the NAJYRC.

Nothing was going to stop her; nothing could stand in her way. Or so she thought — until an unwelcome reality check did.

After an injury sustained at Fair Hill, Jennie made a choice that changed her life. She made the grueling, but humane, decision to put Cooper down, her horse of a lifetime who took her from an unknown rider with lofty ambitions to the center of national attention.

Losing the horse she described as a talented and beautiful partner with incredible heart could have easily derailed her young career, but, thanks to mentors like Phillip Dutton, Boyd Martin and Susie Hutchinson, Jennie mustered the strength and perseverance to continue.

“I think [losing Cooper] was important because that’s what the sport really is,” she said. “It’s beautiful and amazing, but it’s heartbreaking.”

The U.S. captured the top three places at the FEI Nations Cup CICO3* at the Great Meadow International in July. Jennie, center, took home her second individual title, having won previously in 2015. Lynn Symansky, right, placed second and six-time Olympic veteran Phillip Dutton finished third.
Photo by Isabel J. Kurek

True Grit

Her loss — while tragic — proved pivotal in her career. She remembers the sage advice she received from Phillip Dutton. “You can choose right now to let the loss of that horse define you,” he said, “or it can be a part of your story.” Jennie chose, like many others, to ride on.

“You look at the riders who are successful — people who didn’t have the money or had other setbacks,” she said. “All these competitors have their own story that they could dwell on. One thing that’s made me successful is grit. I try to teach my students and the people I come across that you have to ride like you want it more than life, and that’s the number one thing it takes to be a successful event rider.”

That means that when Jennie is riding — whether she’s running beginner novice or a four-star — she means business. “I love my horses,” she said, “but, when I ride, it’s my job to get the job done. The day I leave the start box and don’t ride like that, that’s the day I quit.”

Jennie celebrates her victory with Cambalda at the FEI Nations Cup at Great Meadows.
Photo by Isabel J. Kurek

An Upward Climb

Fortunately, Jennie’s grit and persistence paid off. Rebounding from her loss of Cooper, fellow riders, owners, friends and family rallied around Jennie to help her start the next chapter of her career. A year after losing Cooper, she once again gained national acclaim with one of her current partners, Cambalda, or Ping for short, owned by Nina Gardner.

The duo earned the title of Horse of the Year in 2010 and continued to impress onlookers in subsequent years. This year, they’ve continued their success with wins at the three-star level. In July, Jennie and Ping rode to the individual title for a second time at Great Meadows International during the FEI Nations Cup Eventing Competition and also helped the U.S. Eventing Team secure the win.

Thanks to a partnership with several owners, who believe in Jennie’s ability to bring up horses, Jennie is also working with a string of other impressive equine partners — each with the potential to climb the eventing ranks.

Working with each of them to bring out their best, Jennie says, is one of her favorite parts of the job. “What’s important to me is enjoying the process of training the horses,” she said. “I get joy from taking a horse who won’t load in the trailer and getting it to load without beating it and taking the time to understand him. I like competing at a high level, but I like riding Training Level too.”

Jennie and Cambalda made the cross-county course look easy at the Great Meadows International Nations Cup.
Photo by Lauren R. Giannini

An Eclectic Resume

Jennie — a self-described yes-person — also enjoys taking on new opportunities as they present themselves. This includes foxhunting with her boyfriend, which Jennie describes as a nice break from competitive eventing, and exercise riding for racehorse trainer Michael Matz, a hobby she picked up a few years ago.

“I’m an adrenaline junkie,” she laughed, “so I enjoy feeling out of control sometimes.”

Exercise riding has also proven beneficial on the event course, she explained. “It has made me lighter, and a bit tougher,” she said. “Plus, I appreciate the variety of it and sharing my love of horses with those not necessarily in the same sport.”

Jennie and Cambalda sail over a stadium jump.
Photo by Lauren R. Giannini

Giving Back

Today, while continuing her professional career in eventing, she also gives back to others through Brannigan Eventing as a coach, trainer and clinician. Through this program, based in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, she’s happy to pass on her years of training with eventing legends and the life lessons she’s learned along the way — from the necessity of grit to the power of saying yes.

She also hopes to continue passing on her contagious love of horses — and the reason she has made a career of heartbreaking spills and unbelievable thrills.

“It’s important to enjoy riding just because it’s fun,” she said. “That’s why I started, and I hope that I can always do things not just because it’s my job, my passion or my career, but because it’s fun.”

For more information, visit Branniganeventing.com.

 

 

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Tagged under: brannigan eventing, jennie brannigan

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We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on o We are starting a ‼️new series‼️ here on our socials where we share some of the lovely stallions, and their breeders featured in each month's magazine. Our first feature on this #STUDSunday is...

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Contact Cheryl Maye at (703) 431-9096 for more information
https://www.mayeshowponies.com/more-info/stallions

You can find ALL of the stallions featured towards the back of the magazine in the equestrian gallery. Keep a look out EVERY Sunday for a new handsome STUD muffin🧁 and don't forget to subscribe to get your very own edition of Sidelines Magazine, the magazine for horse people, about horse people 🦄

📸  SAS Equestrian
‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️ The purpose of this ‼️ROB JACOBS COLUMN‼️

The purpose of this month’s column is to help the young equestrians of our sport develop and maintain healthy friendships within the industry. Cultivating healthy relationships with other members within the industry is not as easy as one may think. As a young equestrian, it may be difficult navigating friendships at the barn and at horse shows. Typically, kids have friendships within the barn they ride at but also friendships with others from different barns in their area. 

Initially, it may seem as though making other friends in the sport would be easy and ideal; after all, there is the common interest of horses. However, because of the natural therapeutic benefits of horses, the sport has a history of attracting all types of people, with a wide range of personalities. This can be both an advantage and a drawback. We are now in an era that acknowledges the growing need to discuss and manage one’s mental health. 

One thing I have learned is that we are likely to notice mental health challenges at an age younger than most people may think. Some of the friendship dynamics I have observed over the years have caused me to pause and really think about the future of our sport. Without looking for a source to blame for the cause of this, i.e. social media, parents, school, teachers, etc., I think if all adults involved worked to encourage, affirm, love, and respect our youth, the likelihood of them developing authentic friendships with their peers may increase.

Both humans and horses were designed to have connected relationships. These relationships allow a greater sense of security when one experiences challenges in life. Cultivating the quality and authenticity of these relationships requires intentional work. 

Thank you Rob for providing your helpful insight on developing healthy relationships. Check out his tips in his column you can find in the link in our bio.
Never miss a story by subscribing to Sidelines Magazine🦄 

Photo by Blenheim Equisports

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Don't get caught without your green on today!🍀🍀
 
In today's featured article, we have Jessica Howington, who is dressed for the occasion in her green shirt! Jessica is the Owner/Rider at CrownView Dressage, a Realtor with Showcase Properties of Central Florida, and a Nurse Practitioner! Jessica has been involved with horses since she was a little girl. Everything from bareback to eventing she tried until she found her love for dressage.

Today, she and her family own CrownView Dressage, a 157-acre training, boarding, and breeding facility in Ocala, Florida. Jessica started training and teaching but felt as if her life was still missing something. Until Jessica focused on horses full-time, she didn’t realize how important the healthcare field was to her life. Jessica missed seeing patients and being in the medical field. Jessica is now back to working again as a nurse practitioner while also focusing on training her five competition horses, including her Grand Prix mare Cavalia. 

Jessica feels lucky 🍀 to have two amazing parents who have supported her in all of her endeavors and instilled the importance of work ethic, morals, dedication, and sacrifice. 

You can read all about Jessica and how she's finding fulfillment in her busy lifestyle in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine! Click the link in our bio for more 

✳️Tag us in your “lucky” photos for a chance to be featured on our story! Happy st. Patrick’s day everyone!🍀🍀

📸Photos by Melissa Fuller, msfullerphotography.com 

#stpatricksday #irish #stpattysday #green #ireland #luckoftheirish #stpaddysday #shamrock #happystpatricksday #lucky #saintpatricksday #leprechaun #stpatricks #stpatrick #kissmeimirish #clover #paddysday #march #potofgold #stpattys #love #beer #guinness #shopsmall #handmade #stpatricksdaydecor #stpatricksdayoutfit #fourleafclover #stpatricksdayparade #luckycharms
Like many equestrians, eventer Devon Tresan is no Like many equestrians, eventer Devon Tresan is no stranger to balancing a busy schedule. From serving as president of the Pony Club South Region Youth Board to working on her online high school courses and modeling gigs, Devon has nearly every minute of her time planned out. And with her horses right in her backyard in Ball Ground, Georgia, she wouldn’t have it any other way.

Devon’s fast-paced lifestyle stems from growing up around her parents’ animal casting business, Animal Casting Atlanta, where they train and provide animals for projects in the film industry. Devon’s parents, Carol and Greg, took her on her first film job at just two weeks old; both parents pushed Devon toward acting when she was younger. While Devon didn’t want to be an actor herself, she did follow in their footsteps with her love of animals, especially horses. 

“My parents’ company has provided animals for ‘The Hunger Games,’ ‘Black Panther,’ ‘Suicide Squad,’ a majority of the Marvel TV shows, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ and so many more,” Devon said.

Devon started her equestrian journey when she was 9 years old. Initially, the Tresans bought a flashy gray Welsh pony, I Am Superman, for Devon to take in the hunter ring. However, Superman lived up to his name and proved to be too speedy for the job. 

“He was super cute and just a great little ride,” Devon said, “but he was still a pony! He made me work hard for everything we accomplished together. I was lucky enough to ride with a trainer who did both hunters and eventing, so we were able to switch disciplines pretty easily. Those eventing lessons together kickstarted my love for the sport.”

Read all about Devon and her busy life in this month's edition of Sidelines Magazine. Click the link in our bio for more
@TrDevon Lane Tresan  @Devontresan

📸Photo by Carol Lane Tresan
📸Photo courtesy of Devon Tresan
📸Modeling photo by Sara Hanna, @atlphotos 

#model #fashion #photography #love #style #instagood #photooftheday #beauty #instagram #beautiful #like #horse #horses #horsesofinstagram #equestrian #horseriding #equine #pony #pferd #equestrianlife #horselove #dressage #horselover #instahorse #Sidelinesmagazine
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