A conversation with an equestrian
Brooke Burchianti, 16, is a kind-hearted and talented equestrian and a junior at Avella High School. She owns eight horses and is C-3 certified at the United States Pony Clubs, where she has won both “member of the year” and “rider of the year.”
Brooke has also evented at the preliminary level with her horse, Hope, and competed at second level dressage with her horse, Whit. Brooke has been riding for many years and plans to continue long into the future.
Here is a conversation with Brooke:
Flipside: What do you enjoy most about riding?
Brooke: I enjoy the passion and extreme dedication involved in riding. Some people don’t think it’s really a sport or even a hobby. But it’s so much more than that to most equestrians. My life revolves around these horses. They each have their own personality, which a lot of people fail to recognize. I just love every one of them and I love that I can give them a job and gain their trust even though their instincts tell them not to. They have given to me, too. Sometimes I think I’d be lost without them.
Flipside: When did you first start riding?
Brooke: My mom rode horses very successfully, so I guess I was destined to ride. I remember sitting on my mom’s horse when I was about 4 years old and getting my first pony at around 6 years old.
Flipside: Why did you begin riding?
Brooke: I pretty much started riding because my mom always did. I always loved the horses, from the day I saw them. I always wanted to get as good as my mom and I’m still striving to get there.
Flipside: How do you train for a competition?
Brooke: I ride at least six times a week. Each horse has its own program to be the best I can get them. The ones I event I condition a lot, including cantering hills and doing trot and canter sets.
Flipside: How do you care for your horses?
Brooke:I brush them and bathe them regularly. They get their feet done by the farrier every five weeks or so. They also get regular veterinary care. They are athletes and must be treated as one. We laser their backs and joints once a month and they are on some sort of supplement to keep them in good health.
Flipside: How does riding affect your family and school life?
Brooke: It can be hard. My family is extremely supportive and do all they can for me to chase my dream. It is very hard to keep up on school grades, but I have found good balance and keep A’s and B’s.
Flipside: What are your favorite memories from all the years you’ve been riding?
Brooke: Doing preliminary for the first time was probably one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. It was more fun than I can explain in words.
Flipside: What’s the worst thing that has ever happened to you while you were riding?
Brooke: I have never broken anything or gotten extremely injured, but it’s a dangerous sport. Once, I fell off, but my foot got caught in the stirrup and I was drug halfway across our dirt arena face down. I was only 7 years old, so it was quite traumatic. Losing my first pony, Xena, was also very hard for me.
By Madeline Jackson
Junior, Avella