Gemini Brittany Pledger
"Hunt Seat Equitation and Jumpers from beginner through advanced levels of riding.
Specializing in children and adult beginners, with a strong emphasis on proper horsemanship"
- Recognized by Riding Instructor Magazine as one of the "Top 50 Riding Instructors in the US" in 2007
- ARIA Certified Level II Hunt Seat Equitation
- Vice President Southern Welsh Association 2006-2007
- Former Joint Disctrict Comissioner, Buckingham Pony Club
- Former Board Member, Lee County Horseman's Association
- Southern Welsh Association, "You Never Outgrow a Welsh Award" Reserve Champion Award Recipient, 2006
Brittany is described by those who know her best as being "gifted" with an inate ability to understand and communicate with horses. She has been riding since childhood, and began training horses at a very young age. In the beginning, she was entirely self-taught, guided purely by instinct, reading, and studying the horse's own behavioural patterns she learned while observing wild-range BLM American Mustang horses. Additionally, Brittany has had great success in rescuing and rehabilitating Off-Track Thoroughbreds, and has retrained hundreds of OTTB's for second career as Hunters, Jumpers, and Equitation horses.
Brittany is in training with Nona Garson, presently in training and regularly attends clinics with other well-known instructors. She trained with former resident trainer and Grand Prix legend, Alain Vaillancourt (2001-2003). Additionally, she has had occasion to receive training from some of the world's greatest equestrians, including former chef d'equipe George Morris and Michael Page, USET member Peter Grey, and Show Jumping Hall of famer Kathy Kusner, among other greats; too numerous to mention.
Though her concentration is in Hunt Seat Equitation and Showjumping, Brittany is classically trained in Dressage and integrates proper fundamentals into her training regimen. She has studied horsemanship, riding, and training in all disciplines, including carriage driving, which is one of her favorite pastimes. Brittany has competed at national level, and also competed, and won, an International Prix Competition in Loiret, France. Brittany continues riding, teaching, showing, judging, and training but no longer competes in high-jumping competition, due to a spinal cord injury she sustained in 2003 while riding.
Brittany founded Hunter's Sound Stable (1998-2012), based in Fort Myers, Florida, and ran a successful show stable, where she helped forge numerous winning horse/rider parnerships. In 2000, she became certifed (Level II Hunt Seat Equitation) through American Riding Instructor's Association (A.R.I.A), under the tutelage of George H. Morris, Susan Harris, and Denny Emerson. In 2004, Brittany founded Buckingham Pony Club, Fort Myers, Florida local branch of United States Pony Clubs, where she served both as Joint District Commissioner and Riding Instructor/Team Coach. Her experience with Pony Club's time honored traditional methods helped her establish her current curriculum for riding instruction. She has had several students that she trained from inception, who went on to compete at national level; specifically Zone Finals, Marshall & Sterling Finals, Emerging Athlete's Program, Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association, and Pony Club Nationals.
Brittany is especially gifted when working with children and adult beginners, and training young/green horses, though her subjects have had success at the highest levels of Equitation and Showjumping. She is available for lessons, clinics, and horse show judging.
In 2012, Brittany founded Vantage Point Equestrian, located in Southwest Ranches, Florida, bringing her many years of expertise to the area She looks forward to establishing a successful Show Team and competing from local to National Level..
