Briana Burgess (left) at the World Dressage Championships for Young Horses with Simone Pearce in 2017.
© Michelle Hicks
By Equestrian Life
Australian dressage star Briana Burgess has made a name for herself both in her home country and abroad in recent years, stamping herself as one of the country’s top international riders.
Growing up as a horse-mad kid, she was fortunate enough to get the ride on Rozzie Ryan’s chestnut mare Daylight – a horse that took her successfully through the Young Rider ranks. A brief visit to Europe after finishing high school saw Briana hooked on the idea of working at an international dressage stable – and her dressage career has been on an upward trajectory ever since.
In 2008, Briana returned to Europe – this time with Daylight – and trained in Belgium with Canadian dressage rider Penny Zavitz-Rockx for six months. From there, she took up a working student position at the stables of the great German Olympic champion, Monica Theodorescu, for the remainder of the year; the planned six months subsequently turned into nearly four years!
The years that followed saw her train with Patrik Kittel, and it was during this time that Briana eventually purchased her first Grand Prix horse, La Scala. From 2014-2016, the pair competed internationally and were long-listed for Australian team selection for the World Equestrian Games in Normandy. The top score of this partnership was achieved at the 2015 CDI4* in Compiegne, where they were awarded an impressive 74.150% (third place) in the Freestyle.
Briana Burgess and La Scala.
© Briana Burgess/EQ Life
In 2017 she represented Australia at the World Dressage Championships for Young Horses, in the six-year-old division with Gerion (owned at the time by Mary Hanna). In the qualifying round for the final they finished in fourth place with a score of 8.94, and then finished eighth in the final with 8.4 – producing the second highest result for an Australian rider at the World Young Horse Championships to date!
Briana Burgess and Gerion in 2017, riding in Custom Coda saddle.
© Michelle Hicks
Since then, Briana and her most recent Grand Prix horse Sissi have competed internationally at Grand Prix and were long listed for last year’s World Equestrian Games in Tryon. Her final stop in Europe was Christoph Koschel’s yard, capping a impressive decade of international experience.
Now, a new chapter beckons.
Briana recently visited Australia and held a number of clinics on home soil, even stopping by the Sydney CDI in May to train and warm up the talented young rider Jorjia Beard-Adams, who was riding Wildlife 6 in the U25 Grand Prix. The event holds fond memories for Briana, who competed there with Daylight all those years ago.
Catching up with her there, she revealed her plans to begin a new chapter of her career in the international dressage hub of Wellington, Florida, where she is to work as the head rider for Oded Shimoni. Oded is a veteran of two World Equestrian Games, two European Championships and has qualified two horses for the Olympic Games.
Gaining international experience over the past decade has proven to be a successful career step for Briana. “I decided that was the best move for me, to start as a working student and work my way up. I can definitely recommend it to any young rider looking to improve and get better at dressage,” she says.
“I feel very lucky to have had these experiences and to have been able to work with these people. It’s been an excellent learning ground in Germany, and I’m very thankful for the years that I had there. I’m looking forward now to doing America and seeing what we can get done there. It’s an exciting time for sure!”
While on home soil, she held a number of clinics – including one at Ellanbrae Park in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges, a training facility and warmblood stud that produces top dressage horses. A number of riders took the opportunity to learn from Briana at this clinic, including Jorjia Beard-Adams, Carolyn and Charlie Welsh, and Louisa Smith.
Carolyn Welsh riding Rubingold, owned by Ellanbrae Park, riding in an Everest R Vienna by Custom Saddles.
© Kirsty Beard
Briana Burgess riding the 2018 Bundeschampionate 4-year-old winner, Dante Quando, owned by Ellanbrae, in the Everest R by Custom Saddles.
© Kirsty Beard
Briana’s focus on training is about finding balance and allowing the horse to enjoy its work. During her clinic, she discussed the biomechanical requirements to enable the horse to work correctly and strengthen over time; she is always looking towards the Grand Prix! With the young horses, Briana also loves her riders to get off their backs and let the horse find its own balance and harmony.
Jorjia Beard-Adams riding her Grand Prix horse Wildlife 6 in the Coda by Custom Saddles.
© Kirsty Beard
Jorjia has found that Briana’s teaching techniques have really helped her take that next step to Grand Prix level. “It has taken my riding to the next level through a clear teaching of correctly executing the Grand Prix movements,” explains Jorjia. She also says that besides training at the top level, Briana has helped her immensely with young horse training. “Briana has opened doors for incredible opportunities in the new future,” she says.
Louisa Smith riding her own AEA Flaminio in the Advantage R Custom Saddle, with Briana coaching.
© Kirsty Beard
Briana Burgess’ recent clinic was held at Ellanbrae Park, Victoria.
© Kirsty Beard
It’s fantastic to have Australian talent such as Briana back on home soil – even if only briefly – to pass on lessons from abroad and to help train our next generation of young riders.
We wish Briana the best of luck in the USA, and look forward to catching up when she next visits Australia!
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