What an unbelievable year 2022 has been! Although there are always some ups and downs, I am wrapping up this year feeling incredibly grateful for the enormous strides my team and I have made in the last 12 months.
In January, a few of my clients and I ventured to Florida where we spent the first quarter of the year training with Buck Davidson and competing on the east coast. When I first arrived in Florida, I met up with my two freshly imported horses from Argentina, Baral Triumph, owned by myself and Stacy Hougland, and RR Simple, owned by the Aspire Eventing RR Simple Syndicate including Stacy Hougland, Carol Mavrakis, Sue Nerman, and Kim Stuckey (still a few syndicate shares left – please contact me if you are interested in this amazing opportunity!). I got the opportunity to build a trusting relationship and strong foundation with both horses, while continuing to bring
Jos Bravio, owned by myself and Carol Mavrakis, up the levels.
In February, Bravio and I competed in our first Advanced together at Pine Top Horse Trials in Georgia. We placed 8th out of a large class of 43 and I could not have been more excited with how prepared he felt to tackle this new level.
In March, Bravio and I set out to tackle both my debut and his at the 4* level, competing in the 4* Short at Carolina International. Unfortunately, our cross country ride did not go as planned, which was certainly a disappointment, but thankfully we were both unscathed and consider it a learning opportunity. While at this show, I also competed my new Hanoverian RR Simple at the Training level. He won his dressage class with a 24.3 and conquered the rest of the show like a seasoned pro.
In April, Bravio and I came back with a vengeance and tackled the 4* Short at Chattahoochee Hills International. He was as sharp and brave as ever and we conquered the cross country course with zero jump faults.
Later in April, we made the trip back home to Colorado and my horses enjoyed a well-deserved vacation, while I spent some time developing my 4 year old KWPN mare Bacana, owned by myself and Carol Mavrakis. Bacana was more than excited to show me just how ready she is to start showing the world what she’s capable of!
In July, after Bravio got some time off, we traveled to Montana for the Rebecca Farm International Horse Trials. This is one of my favorite shows in the country and I was thrilled to have it be the venue where Bravio and I accomplished our very first 4* Long. Not only did we complete it, but Bravio proved to be the unbelievable superstar I have always known him to be, and we placed 3rd. I cannot express how amazing it felt to accomplish the feat of competing at this level, something I have been working towards my whole life.
Throughout the year, my team and I also traveled to Aspen Farms in Washington, The American Eventing Championships, which was held in Montana this year, and Morven Park
in Virginia. It was so rewarding to not only see the development of my horses throughout the year, but to see the amazing progress of each of my students. I am so lucky to have the incredible team that I do – talented, dedicated, and genuinely wonderful people who make being a coach such a joy!
Now that the competition season is over, Bravio is enjoying some time off and my other three are getting in tiptop shape in preparation for competing along the east coast in the new year. My goal is to get Bravio and I settled in at the 4* level and eventually compete in our first 5* next year. Bacana, Rey, and Baral will continue to get some experience under their belts and will start moving up the levels. I am beyond excited to get them all out competing again, as I am blown away by each of their individual talents every day. Big things are ahead for this amazing string of horses!
I am also incredibly excited and honored to announce that I have been selected as one of the six riders to receive the 2022 Rebecca Broussard Developing Rider Grant. This grant assists and encourages the education and development of event riders at the highest level of the sport, and it will most certainly help me to continue pursuing my dream. I am still in shock over this news, and am beyond grateful to the grant committee and the Broussard family for this opportunity.
The Aspire Team also came together in early December to celebrate our annual holiday party and auction. As always, all proceeds from the auction went towards the Make a Wish Foundation. This year, we were able to donate $10,000 and were able to fulfill a little 7-year old girl’s dream to have her very own Appaloosa mare. We spent weeks hunting for the perfect unicorn, and finally found one in Texas. I can’t wait to be there on the day when this little girl finally gets to meet her new pony. It is going to be an unbelievably special day!
To wrap up the year, it is most important to me that I express my endless gratitude to each and every one of you who have done so much to support me this year and every year. Thank you to my clients – it is such a pleasure getting to work with you all. You inspire me every day! Thank you to my coaches, Mariano Bedoya, Buck Davidson, Christian Garweg, and Sue Martin – I could not have achieved what I have this year without your wisdom and guidance. To my owners – thank you for giving me the opportunity to pilot the most incredible horses. They have so much potential and I am so excited to make you all proud this coming year!
To my sponsors – thank you for your continued support and for providing me with the best products out there. You keep my horses, team, and me performing our best! Thank you to my assistant, employees, working student, and grooms – Ally, Molly, Jess, Julie, Callie, and Laura, whether you are traveling with me or taking care of things at home, you take such impeccable care of the horses and of me. You guys are the best and I’m so thankful for your help. And lastly, to my friends, family, and my husband Jeff – thank you for always being my cheerleaders and for providing me with all the love and support I could ever hope for as I continue to pursue this dream of mine.
It has been a pretty incredible year, with some major milestones, and I am happy to end 2022 by reflecting on not only the successes, but the bobbles along the way and lessons learned. I am anxiously awaiting the new year so that I can get to work on achieving some even bigger goals in 2023. I can’t wait to make you all proud!
For now, I hope you all enjoy a happy and peaceful holiday season.
-Dani Sussman
