Briana Burgess is an International Grand Prix rider and Top 10 World Young Horse Championship Finalist. She spent 12 years based in Germany, training under some of the world’s top coaches, including Johan Rockx, Penny Zavitz-Rockx, Monica Theodorescu, Patrik Kittel, Helen Langehanenberg and Christoph Koschel.
Now based in the South of France at Domaine Equestre Des Grands Pins, Briana specialises in developing young horses to Grand Prix level and travels the world offering elite-level dressage coaching and clinics. Her training philosophy focuses on classical principles, horse welfare, and developing a genuine partnership between horse and rider.
We caught up with her during her recent trip to South Africa to talk about her training principles, her love of young horses, and her thoughts on the sport today.
Achievements
2014
• Shortlisted for Australian Team – World Equestrian Games
2015
• Placed at CDI Munich and CDI Vidauban on the World Dressage Masters 5* Tour
• Winner – CDI Vidauban Grand Prix Special
2016
• Top 10 – Nürnberger Burg-Pokal Qualification (German Championships)
2017
• Top 10 finish – World Young Horse Championships (Six-Year-Old Division)
2018
• Longlisted – Australian Team, World Equestrian Games Tryon
Meet Briana
HQ: How did your journey into dressage begin?
Briana: I grew up around horses in Australia. My grandfather had Arabians and Thoroughbreds, and my mother also had an interest in horses—though not professionally. I started riding at a local riding school when I was about eight years old.
In my teenage years, I was already competing at Prix St. Georges level, but I was frustrated because I wasn’t getting the kind of learning I wanted. I was obsessed with the European dressage scene and the depth of knowledge there, so as soon as I finished school, I moved to Belgium to become a working student with Johan Rockx. I did everything—managing horses, cleaning boxes, preparing for shows—and soaked up as much learning by riding under a professional as I could. From there, I spent three years with Monica Theodorescu and ended up staying in Germany for 12 years.
HQ: Which horse really made your career?
Briana: That would be La Scala. I was around 25 when we made it to Grand Prix. He was actually a carriage-driving horse originally and had been passed between owners. Getting her to the Grand Prix level and competing at 4*/5* events was a huge achievement. We were also listed for the Australian team.
HQ: And what does your current setup look like?
Briana: I’m now based in the South of France. After so many years in Germany, I needed a bit of a change, and I love it here. I currently manage and produce a group of young horses between four and eight years old for their owners, and we’re preparing to start competing. I also travel around the world giving clinics to dressage riders.
HQ: What are your goals for the future?
Briana: I love training. That’s my passion. Young horses are especially rewarding because they’re a blank canvas—you get to educate them and enjoy the journey together. Between three and nine years old, horses go through tremendous physical and mental changes, and it’s a privilege to guide them through that.
My goals aren’t purely competitive. I let the horses tell me when they’re ready. My role as a rider is to listen to them, not push my own ambition. Horses should never be vehicles for our egos. I focus on what each individual horse needs to thrive.
Training principles
HQ: What are the key principles of your training?
Briana: The training scale exists for a reason—it’s a roadmap for developing horses correctly in body and mind. If you follow it, you’ll build a sound, capable horse.
Especially with young horses, it’s critical not to push too early. If you challenge them beyond their level of physical development, you create resistance and risk injuries. My first priority is to assess their readiness—physically, mentally, and emotionally. I study their bodies, their nutrition, their movement. If they’re not ready, I won’t ask.
You have to look at the horse as a whole. People often make the mistake of overworking young horses, and then injuries follow. I believe in developing them as athletes—slowly and mindfully.
HQ: How do you see the training scale being applied?
Briana: I teach a lot of clinics in Australia and other countries, and I often find that the training scale isn’t always well understood. People talk about “their system,” but the training scale is there as a clear identifier of whether you are on the right track—it’s there to ensure horses are developed correctly.
Of course, every horse is different, and how you apply the training scale can vary. Some need a softer ride, some need more support—but the structure doesn’t change. The principles remain; only the application differs. You adjust your riding, not the method.
HQ: When you’re evaluating a young horse, what do you look for?
Briana: First, I want to feel a connection. I want to know the horse is willing to form a relationship. I assess his natural balance, how he moves, and how he accepts the contact. I want to feel a swinging back underneath me as this indicates that the horse will find the work easier. I don’t look for the world’s biggest mover. I want to see how the horse uses his body—his hind leg activity, shoulder freedom, and balance. Ultimately, though, rideability and temperament are the most important things. A horse might not have the flashiest gaits, but if he has a good mind and wants to learn, that’s a horse I want to train.
Management
HQ: What’s your approach to managing these top-level athletes day-to-day?
Briana: I keep it as natural as possible. I don’t over-blanket. I limit bandaging because heat build-up can damage tendons. My horses go in the paddock every day, and I use the horse walker regularly to ensure consistent movement. I believe in simple, consistent, horse-friendly management. They need to be allowed to just be horses.
The sport today
HQ: Have you seen changes in dressage breeding since being in Europe?
Briana: Definitely. I’m not a breeding expert, but from my observations, the modern horse has much more blood—more Thoroughbred influence. They’re lighter, more expressive, and more refined. The model has changed dramatically.
HQ: Social media has created a focus on big movers and flashy gaits. What’s your view on that?
Briana: I think sometimes people can get a bit distracted by big movements and flashy gaits. Of course, there are exceptional equine athletes that are born with incredible suppleness and elasticity, but at the end of the day, the focus needs to come back to a correctly educated horse. It’s also worth noting that correctly educating a horse leads to a horse improving the quality of his gaits and allows him to really shine.
HQ: How do you find dressage in South Africa?
Briana: It’s too soon for me to make broad statements, but wherever you go, correct training and a focus on the basics is essential. Riders often want to skip ahead to the movements, but movements are just extensions of solid basics. If you’re doing tricks without correct foundations, it’s not dressage—it’s just tricks.
HQ: Finally, what do you think it is that makes dressage such a special and unique sport?
Briana: I think part of it is that people often only see the finished product — the best of the best — and they don’t realise what goes into getting there. When you find the right partnership with a horse and put in the time to build that trust and communication, that’s when dressage becomes truly special. You won’t have that connection with every horse, and that’s what makes the sport so unique. It’s all about developing a relationship where your horse trusts you and you trust them. Things don’t always go perfectly, but when you see riders at the top, you’re seeing years of hard work, training, and figuring out exactly what the horse needs — at home, at shows, and everything in between. That’s when it all comes together, and their aids are so refined you hardly notice them. It’s really a team effort, and that connection is what makes this sport so amazing.