By:
Victoria White
    Senior hunter seat performerÂ
Kelsie Brittan clinched MOP in Equitation Over Fences this season after defeating Fresno State's Erica Rosinksi, 87-85, and earning the highest score in the event. The Westlake, Texas, native was also named UEC Equitation Over Fences Rider of the Week (Week Four) by the NCEA.
    She tallied another 80-point victory this season in the Mustangs' win, a 9-8 thriller, at South Carolina during the fall. Her prep honors include third at 2013 International Derby Finals, winner of Tier II and Top Junior Rider at Michigan Horseshows by the Bay 2013 and Grand Junior Hunter Champion.
    Ahead of this Friday's 10 a.m. home meet against UC Davis, Brittan answered questions on what makes the SMU Equestrian squad special, her proudest equestrian accomplishment and some personality questions, too!
Q: How long have you been involved in equestrian and what is your favorite early memory in the sport?
A: I began riding when I was eight years old. My favorite early memory would be when my family bought our farm outside Dallas, TX. I would spend countless hours playing with my ponies and other various animals on the farm. I would make the miniature horses run around and jump over their little jumps. I always loved spending just as much time on the horse and off the horse.
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Q: What do you love most about the sport?
A: What I love most about this sport is the animal. I have always had a love for animals and that is the reason I even got into the sport itself. The bond between rider and horse is incredible and how the rider cultivates a bond with their horse, the rider and horse understand each other's signals and limitations without speaking a word to one another, is astounding to me.
Q: What equestrian accomplishment are you most proud of?Â
A: I am most proud of my placing in the International Hunter Derby Championships of 2013. I placed third in the Tier I competition and finished the highest Tier II rider, as well as the highest placing junior rider.
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Q:Why did you choose SMU?
A: I transferred to SMU in the summer of my junior year. After competing on another NCAA Equestrian Team, I decided to leave for several reasons and knew that SMU was the right school for me to attend for the duration of my college years. The location itself in the center of Dallas, TX, should sell itself, but the incredible coaching, girls and horses on this team is what attracted me to move to this school. I wish I had attended this university sooner.
Q: What is special about being a part of the SMU Equestrian Team?
A: I think this team has so much personality, but with this smaller team we all know each other very well. All of us girls on the team influence each other in such a positive way and have something more than just teammates for a few years. Everyone [who's] a part of this team has a voice and is respected amongst the team members and all have the common goal: to compete and win.
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Q: What was the moment like when the team won UEC Championships last year, and how'd that day go overall?
A: We were able to host the UEC Championships this year and were very lucky to get to have all the other teams come to our facility and compete on our horses. We began to prepare for this championship competition weeks prior, but we knew that our hard work and dedication for our preparation and attention to detail would pay off, and it did!
Q: Can you describe some of your favorite memories or funny stories with your teammates?
A: My favorite memories on the team usually come from our long traveling for meets. Saying this is something unique since we are all together for 12-18 hours a day and still have fun times and lots of laughs together.
Q: Who is your favorite SMU horse?
A: I am a little bias to this question, since my family donated one of our amazing show jumping horses earlier this year named Hamilton. He is so extremely talented and has adapted to college riding career greatly and loves this program. I am so happy for him to be apart of the SMU Team now.
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Q: What advice would you give your freshmen and sophomore teammates?
A:Â I would give to the under-class to be appreciative. We are all so lucky to be a part of this team, and we create the environment we are in for the SMU Team. Not many people in the world can say they are a Division I athlete at a top ranked university and on a winning team. It goes by fast, so don't take it for granted.
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ALL ABOUT KELSIE
- Favorite class subject: Anatomy
- Favorite quote: "There are such things as "desirable difficulties."- Malcom Gladwell
- Â Fav pre-meet meal: Starbucks
- Favorite emoji: Double Pink Hearts
- Favorite TV show: Desperate Housewives
- Favorite book:Â David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell
- Favorite movie: The Blind Side
- Favorite Disney character: Mulan
- Favorite animal: Dolphin
- Favorite thing about SMU: The beautiful campus
- Fav thing to do in Dallas: EAT
- Dream vacation: Thailand
- My nickname is: Kels
- One word to describe me when competing: Determined
- One word to describe me when not competing: Encouraging
- The person who has had the greatest impact on my athletic career: My Mom
- Best pump-up song: Work Hard/ Play Hard- Wiz Khalifa
- When I was little, I dreamed of being a: Vet
- Early bird or night owl: Night Owl
- Few people know that I: Was a ballerina for 11 years
- My most prized possession: My Cat, Tyga
- Three things on my bucket list are:
          -Visits the elephants in Thailand
          -Go to Pulenta- a winery in Argentina
          -Deep Sea fishing in Australia
- After I graduate, I plan to: Work for my mom's company- Hey Sugar Candy Store
- My dream job is: Working for a company I am passionate about and in a top position for it.
- I am most thankful for: My family, all the support they have given me my entire life to help myself become the best "Me" I could ever be. They pushed me and found ways for me to find my talents, learn and grow and encouraged me to dream.
