They Have Arrived!!

I got into Aston Farm this morning at 3 AM and Cooper is doing well. I have to say that this has been such an amazing experience so far.... it is truly astounding to look out the window of a plane with your horse and it makes me think about all the experiences that it has taken to get to this point and how truly lucky I am.

Now I have to say that I have never had two more interesting lorry rides in my life. The driver for the first lorry (which was the best experience) was the nicest person and I was genuinely sad to say goodbye to him, as well as the groom that I met (named Antonio) that works for Mr. Wetherill. I would have been far more stressed and worried if he wasn't there to help me along the way. (He's been to the WEG in Spain and traveled numerous times to Europe).

Paul W. at Mersant is amazing as well and he took us to Belmont to the races before we left when the horses had quarentine(I know Emma, I am seriously lucky). He even placed bets for us and I won $22.... cool.

I took a lot of pictures and I hope to post them somewhere for all to see. My horse was next to this awesome Mercedes SUV.....Can you believe that?!


I better go walk Cooper....poor little guy he looks sleepy!

We're Off!!

So I am writing this next blog from my iPhone as I am on my way to the airport. The past few days have opened my eyes to how amazing everyone is in my barn, my life, and our sport. From an amazing cupcake display of true artistic talent from Mary Williams (see photo on left), to Boyd Martins advice (which is too funny and sometimes controversial), and as simple as a text from OCET's Lauren Kieffer...... I feel like we have a great group of people in this sport and in my life.

I am packed and in a rig at the moment and we've already been pulled over.... SWEET. My highly tattooed driver and the pretty interesting groom that's flying with Mr. Wetherill's grand prix horses are in good company.

The barn was a bit exciting as I left, with Emma leaving with Big Phil's horses to the Daca (Waradaca), captain Kevin Keane (our top notch vet) going down to continue his current dominance at training level in our sport........and the brand new people who are working at the barn and being a bit thrown in to the deep end due to the fact that half our staff is either at the Daca or off at weddings... nice. Gotta love TPF "ain't no place like it".

Well wish me luck hopefully we make our flight thanks to lovely cops here!

Jennie and Cooper

Getting Ready for the Big Trip

Hello Everyone
I am excited to say that with the help of Emma Ford I am packed and ready for the big trip over seas. A lot has happened since my last post including Cooper and I being pushed up to the B Training List which I am very excited about. I also have been asked to blog for the Chronicle of the Horse Website so please stay in tune there for all the updates on the big trip.

Cooper is going well and is feeling better than ever on the flat and tuned up on the jumping. This trip has been planned for quite awhile and I would like to thank the people that given me motivation to do well even when that motivation has come in different forms.

I wish everyone the best and cant wait to get over there.

Talk to everyone soon
Jennie

The Fork CIC***

Well I have to say that this was a great learning experience and I think Cooper and I come out of The Fork's *** with a lot more knowledge. The dressage was windy and I miscalculated how much warmup I would need! He put in a good effort and was still 6th out of sixty some so I was pleased even though I know it wasnt our best. The XC was good and I thought quite challenging but Cooper handled it great. The last water I rode not well and lost my postition but Cooper was top notch and cantered through it like a champ. I am so lucky to have such a amazing horse. I went slow and was focused on putting a 0 on the board! I was in tenth going into showjumping and he jumped amazing. Putting up one of the few double clean rounds and moving into 3rd.

Cambalda had a great weekend as well ended up 6th out of 36th horses. He had a good dressage and received a 28 and blazed around the XC, I pulled a rail showjumping which was to bad but all in all a good weekend for this young horse.

I am also pleased to have the Wildasin family be apart of Coopers life as well as mine and thank them truly for there support.

BACK IN PA!

and now the planning for the big trip starts!

Getting ready for the Fork

Hello Everyone,

Im am excited to say that Cooper was great this weekend at Southern Pines! I am so happy to be getting so much help from Mark Phillips and it was wonderful to have him there to help me warm up. Cooper dressage was great except for I was early in one of my changes ( he got a bit excited) and I have to admit I have been concentrating so hard on the connection that I need to get back to practing the movements as well. He was great on the XC, though a bit green in the beginning he become more and more confident throughout the course and I took him quite slow and stayed with the plan. Showjumping was great and he really did put in a good round. Ending fourth I was quite pleased with the weekend and really look forward to the fork next week.

Hope everyone is well,
Jennie

Interview with the Event Radio Network

Jennie makes her radio debut in a March interview with the Event Radio Network.

Click here to listen to the entire interview and encourage your friends to listen!

USET Foundation Awards Jacqueline Mars Training Grant to Jennie Brannigan

From A Press Release by Phelps Media Group

Gladstone, NJ – The USET Foundation is pleased to announce that the Jacqueline B. Mars International Competition and Training Grant has been awarded to 21-year-old Jennie Brannigan of San Diego, CA. The grant is given to an Eventing rider who has been identified and recommended by the USEF Eventing Selectors, with an impressive record and potential to represent the United States in future international competition.

For the full article, please follow this link.

Update from Aiken

Hey Everyone,

I just wanted to keep everyone updated as to how the horses are going this season. I had the opportunity to train with Captain Phillips all last week on both horses which went amazingly well I am very excited. I also was picked to continue my training with Mark this season which I am thrilled about! I had some great goes on some of the young horses for phillip and Ping won the preliminary horse division at Pine Top 11 and was second out of 24 horses this weekend at Pine Top. ( it rained so much the XC was cancelled for prelim)

Cooper continues to step up to the plate and was third in the OI at Pine Top 11.... I ran him slow XC as I am trying to save him for the bigger competitions. This weekend (after my training with Mark) Cooper dressage was fantastic and he won the dressage by 8 points on a 25.... He then show jumped clean and we popped in some big studs on Sunday and had a canter around! He ended up winning even though the going wasn't great and I ran very slow.... I really worked on the things that Mark wanted me to improve upon and was pleased that even though I was cautious I still had a good result from the weekend!

I couldn't be more proud of Cooper his attitude is fantastic and he is proving himself every where he goes. I am very lucky!!!!!

Hope this email reaches everyone well,
Jennie Brannigan

Jennie received a Jackie Mars Grant & is Selected for the Developing Rider List!

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy new year and say thank you for all the help and support I have received from everyone this season. What a year it has been, the highlights being numerous.

Wanted to share some amazing news with everyone. I just received word from the USEF High Performance Committee that I have received a Jackie Mars grant for $20,000 for Cooper and I to run Bramham CCI***next season (in England). I also found out that I was selected for the 2009 Developing Rider List.

So hopefully another good year is in store!
Best Wishes for your New Year as well!

Jennie